The Angel in the Corner - Monica Dickens [54]
He sat there like a dummy. He could see himself. He knew that he was scowling, while Virginia’s mother chatted in that high, surprised voice, making conversation, asking him silly questions, like a duchess entertaining a gamekeeper.
Virginia put her hand on his knee. Her hand was warm and tender. He knew that she was crying inside for him. What right had she to be sorry for him? He did not want that from her. He wanted nothing from her.
Her stepfather was genial enough, but even his good humoured talk fed Joe’s resentment. The old boy could afford to be genial. He was on the winning side. He was taking Virginia away to a life of college boys and smooth characters with fast cars. Joe was nowhere in the picture. Joe was an unfortunate mishap, who had blown in like a fly, but would soon be swatted away. Mr Eldredge offered him another drink. Joe refused and stood up, saying that he must go.
‘But you’ve only just come!’ Virginia’s mother smiled, as if to say: Look at him. Isn’t he ridiculous? ‘Do stay a little longer. I want to hear some more about that fantastic club. Jinny never tells us anything.’
‘No, I have to go. I have a date with a man in Charing Cross Road, just round the corner. That’s why I thought I might as well drop in here.’
Joe felt more pleased with himself. That was a good excuse for having come, and it got him out without loss of face. ‘Good night, everybody. Thanks for the drink.’ Did one shake hands with these bastards? Apparently not. No one moved a hand. He got himself to the door. He had not said much, but at least he had not been rude. Virginia should be proud of him after all.
With her mother’s eye on her, he thought that she would say good night to him coolly at the door; but when he opened it, she came out with him and shut the door behind her.
They stood at the top of the stairs, looking at each other. ‘Oh, God, Jin,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘It’s all right.’
‘You’d better go back in,’ he said. ‘They’ll give you hell.’
‘No they won’t.’ She laughed and put her arms round his neck. He kissed her as if it was the last time. He knew that it was. Virginia went back into the flat with her head up, not caring that her hair was tumbled and her lipstick smeared.
*
‘It could hardly be worse,’ Helen said ‘Get me a drink, Spenser. I am the most disillusioned woman in town.’
‘Why disillusioned?’ Virginia asked. She saw that she would have to fight this out now, if Helen were determined to attack her right away.
‘I am disillusioned because I thought that I had brought you up to certain standards. You have met the right people, been to the right places. I have tried to see that you made the right friends. Thank you, Spenser. That looks very strong. I think I need it.
‘The right young men,’ she continued, ‘have all been there for you to choose from. You have known, Jinny, what a gentleman is, if you’ll pardon an expression that I believe you do not like. That is why I cannot, why I simply cannot understand this – this lapse, this folly, this –’ She lifted a hand and let it fall limply on to her knee. ‘I am at a loss for words.’
‘What word are you looking for, Helen?’ Virginia asked politely. ‘If you’re trying to say that Joe is common, you can think of another word, because he’s not.’
‘I refuse to discuss this with you while you stand there looking like a wanton. Go and fix your hair and lipstick. Then I will talk to you.’
‘Oh, look, dear,’ Spenser said. ‘It’s getting late, and I’m tired. You’re tired too, or you wouldn’t feel so badly. Couldn’t we talk about this in the morning, if we must talk about it at all?’
‘I want to talk about it now,’ Helen