``It's not two.''
``That's late for me. Look here, don't you come. Stay and enjoy yourself.''
``Of course I'll come,'' said Beaver.
It was a cold, clear night. Brenda shivered and he put his arm around her in the taxi. They did not say much.
``There already?''
They sat for a few seconds without moving. Then Brenda slipped free and Beaver got out.
``I'm afraid I can't ask you in for a drink. You see it isn't my house and I shouldn't know where to find anything.''
``No, of course not.''
``Well, goodnight, my dear. Thank you a thousand times for looking after me. I'm afraid I rather bitched your evening.''
``No, of course not,'' said Beaver.
``Will you ring me in the morning ... promise?'' She touched her hand to her lips and then turned to the keyhole.
Beaver hesitated a minute whether he should go back to the party, but decided not to. He was near home, and everyone at Polly's would have settled down by now; so he gave his address in Sussex Gardens, and went up to bed.
Just as he was undressed he heard the telephone ringing downstairs. It was his telephone. He went down, two flights in the cold. It was Brenda's voice.
``Darling, I was just going to ring off. I thought you must have gone back to Polly's. Is the telephone not by your bed?''
``No, it's on the ground floor.''
``Oh dear, then it wasn't a very good idea to ring up, was it?''
``Oh, I don't know. What is it?''
``Just to say `goodnight.' ``
``Oh, I see, well--goodnight.''
``And you'll ring me in the morning?''
``Yes.''
``Early, before you've made any plans.''
``Yes.''
``Then goodnight, bless you.''
Beaver went up the two flights of stairs again, and got into bed.
``... going away in the middle of the party.''
``I can't tell you how innocent it was. He didn't even come in.''
``No one is going to know that.''
``And he was furious when I rang him up.''
``What does he think of you?''
``Simply can't make me out at all ... terribly puzzled, and rather bored in bits.''
``Are you going to go on with it?''
``I shouldn't know.'' The telephone rang. ``Perhaps that's him.''
But it was not.
Brenda had come into Marjorie's room and they were having breakfast in bed. Marjorie was more than ever like an elder sister that morning. ``But really, Brenda, he's such a dreary young man.''
``I know it all. He's second rate and a snob and, I should think, as cold as a fish, but I happen to have a fancy for him, that's all ... besides I'm not sure he's altogether awful ... he's got that odious mother whom he adores ... and he's always been very poor. I don't think he's had a fair deal. I heard all about it last night. He got engaged once but they couldn't get married because of money and since then he's never had a proper affaire with anyone decent ... he's got to be taught a whole lot of things. That's part of his attraction.''
``Oh dear, I see you're very serious.'' The telephone rang.
``Perhaps that's him.''
But a familiar voice rang out from the instrument so that Brenda too could hear it, ``Good morning, darling, what's the diet today?''
``Oh, Polly, what a good party last night.''
``Not so bad for the old girl was it? I say what about your sister and Mr. Beaver.''
``What about them?''
``How long has that been on?''
``There's nothing doing there, Polly.''
``Don't you tell me. They were well away last night. How's the boy managed it? That's what I want to know. He must have something we didn't know about ...''
``So Polly's on to your story. She'll be telling everyone in London at this moment.''
``How I wish there was anything to tell. The cub hasn't even rung me up ... Well, I'll leave him in peace. If he doesn't do anything about me, I'll go down to Hetton this afternoon. Perhaps that's him.'' But it was only Allan from the Conservative Central Office, to say how sorry he had been not to get to the party the night before. ``I hear Brenda disgraced herself,'' he said.
``Goodness,'' said Brenda. ``People do think that young men are easily come by.'' -
``I scarcely saw you at Polly's last night,'' said Mrs. Beaver. ``What became of you?''
``We went early. Brenda Last was tired.''
``She was looking lovely. I am so glad you've made friends with her. When are you going to see her again.''
``I said I'd ring up.''
``Well, why don't you?''
``Oh, mumsey, what's the use! I can't afford to start taking about women like Brenda Last. If I ring up she'll say, what are you doing, and I shall have to ask her to something, and it will be the same thing every day. I simply haven't the money.''
``I know, my son. It's very difficult for you ... and you're wonderful about money. I ought to be grateful that I haven't a son always coming to me with debts. Still, it doesn't do to deny yourself everything you know: You're getting to be an old bachelor already at twenty-five. I could see Brenda liked you, that evening she came here.''
``Oh she likes me all right.''
``I hope she makes up her mind about that flat. They're going like hot cakes. I shall have to look about for another suitable house to split up. You'd be surprised who've been taking them--quite a number of people with houses in London already ... Well, I must be getting back to work. I'm away for two nights by the way. See that Chambers looks after you properly. There are some Australians Sylvia Newport discovered who want to take a house in the country, so I'm driving them around to one or two that might do for them. Where are you lunching?''
``Margot's.''
By one o'clock when they came back from taking Djinn to the Park, Beaver had not rung up. ``So that's that,'' said Brenda, ``I expect I'm glad really.'' She sent a telegram to Tony to expect her by the afternoon train and, in a small voice, ordered her things to be packed. ``I don't seem to have anywhere to lunch,'' she said.
``Why don't you come to Margot's. I know she'd love it.''
``Well ring up and ask her.''
So she met Beaver again.
He was sitting some way from her and they did not speak to each other until everyone was going. ``I kept trying to get through to you this morning,'' he said, ``but the line was always engaged.''
``Oh come on,'' said Brenda, ``I'll sock you a movie.''
Later she wired to Tony: Staying with Marjorie another day or two all love to you both.
Four
``Is mummy coming back today?''
``I hope so.
``That monkey-woman's party has lasted a long time. Can I come in to the station and meet her?''
``Yes, we'll both go.''
``She hasn't seen Thunderclap for four days. She hasn't seen me jump the new post and rail, has she daddy?''
She was coming by the 3.18. Tony and John Andrew were there early. They wandered about the station looking at things, and bought some chocolate from a slot machine. The stationmaster came out to talk to them. ``Her ladyship coming back today?'' He was an old friend of Tony's.
``I've been expecting her every day. You know what it is when ladies get to London.''
``Sam Braces wife went to London and he couldn't get her back. Had to go up and fetch her himself. And then she give him a hiding.''
Presently the train came in and Brenda emerged exquisitely from her third class carriage. ``You've both come. What angels you are. I don't at all deserve it.''
``Oh, mummy, have you brought the monkey-lady?''
``What does the child mean?''
``He's got it into his head that your chum Polly has a tail.''
``Come to think of it, I shouldn't be surprised if she had.''
Two little cases held all her luggage. The chauffeur strapped them on behind the car, and they drove to Hetton.
``What's all the news?''
``Ben's put the rail up ever so high and Thunderclap and I jumped it six times yesterday and six times again today and two more of the fish in the little pond are dead, floating upside down all swollen and nanny burnt her finger on the kettle yesterday and daddy and I saw a fox just as near as anything and he sat quite still and then went away into the wood and I began drawing a picture of a battle only I couldn't finish it because the paints weren't right and the grey carthorse the one that had worms is quite well again.''