Loving

'Hard work never done a girl any harm.'

'But doesn't Miss Burch keep us two girls at it dear. Oh my poor feet.'

'Take your stockings off Katie and I'll rub 'em for you.'

'Not in that old egg you won't.'

Edith jumped down off the sill. She took up a towel which she laid under Kate's feet. She turned back to the washbasin to wet her hands in cold water. Then leaning over Kate who had closed her eyes she began to stroke and knead the hot feet. Her hair fell forward. She was smiling as she ministered, all her bare skin above Kate's body stretched white as spring again.

'Clean your teeth before you have to do with a woman,' Edith said, 'what talk is that?'

'Have you gone out of your mind then?' Kate asked, murmuring. 'But whoever said?'

'Mr Raunce.'

'So it's Mr to you? I shan't ever. I couldn't, not after he's been Charley all this time. Oh honey is that easing my arches.'

'It's only right now he's got the position,' Edith said. 'I wish I had your ankles dear I do.'

'But why the teeth?' Kate asked.

'I expect it's smoking or something.'

'Does Patrick?'

'Oh he's got a lovely lot,' Edith said. 'But I can't say as I shall see him even this evening. Talk of half days off in this rotten old country, why, there's nothing for a girl when your time is your own.'

'You're telling me,' said Kate.

Then Edith sat down on the side of the bed, and shook the hair back from off her face.

'Here we are,' she went on, 'the two of us on a Thursday and still inside, with nothing to move for. And the Germans across the water, that might invade any minute. Oh I shall have to journey back home. Why I'm browned off absolutely.'

Kate took her up. 'I don't think there's much in this talk about the Jerries. And if they did come over that's not saying they'd offer any impoliteness, they're ordinary working folk same as us. But speak of never going out why Charley Raunce hasn't shoved his head into the air these three years it must be.'

'Wrong side of the window is his name for it. He should've grown up with us as children. Kate, my mother had every window open rain or shine and so they stayed all day.'

'He writes to his,' Kate said, 'not like you you bad girl. When did she get word from you last?'

'There's times I say that's the one thing keeps me here. I daresn't go back when I've kept silent such ages, while she's on every week writing for news.'

'Why, listen to those birds,' Kate said.

Edith looked out. A great distance beneath she saw Mrs Tennant and her daughter-in-law starting for a walk. The dogs raced about on the terrace yapping which made the six peacocks present scream. The two women set off negligent and well dressed behind their bounding pets to get an appetite for tea.

'Was it the beginning or the end of June Jack wrote that he expected to get leave?'

'Why I told you,' Mrs Jack answered sweet and low. 'Any time after the third week in May he said.'

'I'm so glad for you both. It's been such a long time. I expect you'll go to London of course.'

'Simply look at the daffodils,' her daughter-in-law exclaimed. There's masses of new ones out you know. Oh isn't it lovely. Yes it's a hopeless time of the year here isn't it? I mean there's no shooting or fishing yet. He'd get very restless poor dear.'

'D'you know what I thought last night?' said Mrs Tennant. 'As I got into bed? I shall probably be down at Merlow all the time and you won't see anything of me but I half made up my mind I would come over with you.'

'How lovely,' her daughter-in-law replied clear as a bell. 'Oh but then we must have an evening all together. Jack would be terribly disappointed.'

'Darling you've seen so little of each other with this war coming directly after the wedding. I do feel for your generation you know. Of course I'd love it. Still I don't mean to butt in. I mean the leave is precious, you must have all of him.'

There fell a silence.

'Really,' she added, 'I'm not sure what I'm saying,' and dared to look full at her son's wife. This young woman was poised with an object, it may have been the dry white bone of a bird that she was about to throw. She flung it a short distance. The dog faced in the wrong direction, ears cocked, whining, while attendant peacocks keenly dashed forward a few paces.

'Oh Badger,' she said and wiped her fingers on a frilled handkerchief, 'you are so dumb.'

'We could do a play together,' Mrs Tennant proposed.

'How lovely. The only thing is the children. I imagine it's all right leaving them. I mean nothing can happen can it?'

'I'd thought of that. I don't think so. We did before.'

'I know. Then that will be lovely.'

'When d'you think he'll let you know dear?'

Mrs Jack showed irritation. 'No Badger no,' she said. On being spoken to the dog made as if to leap up at her. 'Down damn you,' she said. 'Oh you know how it is,' she went on, 'the usual, three days notice at the most. On top of everything you've got to be looking your best as though you'd been in and out of the London shops all winter.'

'You won't have to worry your head over that,' Mrs Tennant archly told her. 'Oh by the way did I ever mention about Mrs Welch's nephew coming over to stay?'

'How old is he?'

'Just the right age Violet, nine next March. I thought it would be nice for the children that's why I bought his ticket. His father's the chauffeur to old Lord Cheltenham.'

'My dear have you broken it yet to nanny?'

'No darling to tell you the truth I didn't dare.'

'It is a bit of a facer isn't it?'

'You see I couldn't very well refuse,' Mrs Tennant said, 'and it will be so good for the children.'

'What's he like?'

'Oh Mrs Welch is a most superior woman. I'm sure he'll be perfect. I wouldn't mind if there were any possible children down in the •village. But even Michael's eldest boy at the Lodge Gates is dressed as a girl.'

'Do they really still believe the boys get carried off by fairies?'

'Well if they do they could expect fairies to see through the skirts. But couldn't you say the little chap's been ill?' she asked her daughter-in-law.

'Then she'd think she'll have to nurse him,' Mrs Jack objected.

'But couldn't you promise her that Mrs Welch won't let him out of sight Violet?'

'It is so difficult isn't it? And it's just what Evelyn and Moira have been wanting. Anyway bother nanny.' The two women smiled at one another, grew mischievous. 'I'll tell you what,' Mrs Jack went on, 'why don't we say it's Mrs Welch's illegitimate? Then she'll be so thrilled she'll look after him like one of her own.'

Mrs Tennant tee hee'd.

'Oh Violet you are naughty,' she said.

'Well I don't know why not. After all the worry they bring it would be a score to give them something to really chatter about.'

'And then we should have to find another cook and another nanny,' Mrs Tennant objected. 'It's quite bad enough having them die on one. Besides, Nanny Swift will think it out for herself. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if she didn't start throwing dark hints before the child has been here ten days.'

'D'you think it's true then?'

'My dear what do we know about the servants? Agatha took the trouble only this morning to let out some frightful double meanings in connection with Kate and Arthur. I must remember to call him Raunce.'

'Kate? I'd've thought it would be Edith. I wish I had that girl's skin.'

'Yes she's a lovely child isn't she? D'you inow Violet I don't think I care what they do so long as they stay.'

'You poor dear,' Mrs Jack said. 'Why look,' she went on, 'there it is already.' And there it was close, on a low hill, surrounded by cypresses amongst which grew a palm tree, the marble pillars lying beside jagged cement topped walls against a blue sky with blue clouds. 'D'you think we have to go right up this time?' she asked.

'I don't think we need to-day, do you?' her mother-in-law replied. Calling to the dogs they turned for home. They began a talk about underclothes.

But Kate and Edith were not to get out of the Castle without difficulty. As they came down their passage ready dressed for the afternoon they were halted by a broken noise of sobbing.