“Those are the plans at the moment,” I explained. “But it is all a little uncertain.”
We sat down on a seat and watched two children with their nurses throwing breadcrumbs to the ducks.
Helena came up with John Milward. “We’re going to walk on a little way,” said John. “We’ll see you later.”
Peterkin and Joe Cresswell exchanged smiles.
I liked Joe Cresswell; he was very relaxed. He talked about his home and mostly of his father, to whom, it was obvious, he was very attached.
“I hope he gets this job,” he said. “He’s set his heart on it. Sorry, Peterkin. If my Pater’s in, yours will be out.”
“He can win some other time. You think this is more or less settled, do you?”
“Between ourselves, Miss Cadorson, I am sure I can trust you … but Lord Melbourne has hinted …”
“I suppose he would have a lot of say.”
“Of course he’d rather it went to one of our party.”
“It seems a very important matter,” I said.
“These things are important in politics, Miss Cadorson. One thing leads to another. That is why it is such an exciting game.”
“When will your by-election come up?”
“In a few months.”
“You’ve got a good chance if you’re nominated,” said Peterkin. “It’s a safe Whig seat and your father is a name.”
Joe Cresswell smiled. “I don’t really want to get through on my father’s name.”
“You can’t help it,” retorted Peterkin. “It’s even the same Christian name. Just Joe … instead of Joseph. You could hardly be nearer than that.”
“Yes, I suppose so. And if you went in you’d have your father’s name.”
“I should live in the shadow of it. That’s one of the reasons against politics. I wouldn’t mind going into his business but he doesn’t want that. He says I’m not cut out to be a businessman.”
“What then?”
“I don’t know. But I do rather fancy politics.”
There was a silence for a while. Then Joe Cresswell turned to me. “I shall look forward to your season,” he said. “Next year is a long time to wait. I hope you are not going back to Cornwall just yet.”
“I daresay I shall be here a few weeks longer.”
He gave me a very pleasant smile.
“Then I hope I shall see you again … soon.”
Helena and John Milward came back and we decided it was time we returned.
That had been a delightful morning. Helena was in the realms of bliss and I had to admit that I had enjoyed my encounter with Joe Cresswell, son of that other candidate for high office.
That evening was one of the rare occasions when Uncle Peter dined with us, and during the course of the meal the meeting in the Park was mentioned.
Uncle Peter beamed on us.
“Didn’t you think Joe a very pleasant young man, Annora?” he asked.
“Yes, Uncle. I did. I thought he was very interesting.”
He turned to Aunt Amaryllis. “We should ask the Cresswells to dine,” he said.
“Before … the decision?”
“I think very soon, my dear. I don’t want people to think there is any ill-feeling between us … just because he has the better chance. We’re the best of friends really. That’s how it is in politics. You’re the bitterest enemies across the floor of the House, but outside all that enmity evaporates. Yes, let us have them to dine soon … Cresswell and his wife.” He glanced at me. “And you might ask young Joe, too.”
Within three days they came. It was a very enjoyable evening. I very much liked Mr. and Mrs. Cresswell. He was rather serious—and very precise, I imagined; she was jolly, rather scatter-brained, just the opposite of her husband—but very domesticated, kindly, motherly, not in the least clever. Yet they seemed ideally suited. I was pleased to meet Joe again and he was put next to me at dinner so that we had a good deal of conversation together, and I learned more about his hopes of following in his father’s footsteps.
“Like the Pitts,” I said.
“You’re flattering us … at least myself.”
“You never know. People have to wait for chances. Then greatness emerges. We have to wait and see.”
Uncle Peter looked on us benignly as though he was rather pleased that we were getting on so well together.
We had a little music afterwards. Helena sang and I played a few pieces on the piano with Joe turning over the music for me.
I thought how creditable it was of both Uncle Peter and Mr. Cresswell, with this important post coming up which was going to mean so much to the one who held it—to be so friendly with no sign of bitterness between them.
There was some talk about the Cresswells’ country home in Surrey. Mrs. Cresswell said it was always full of young people at the week-end. The Cresswells had a large family—three girls and three boys. Joe was one of the younger ones.
Mrs. Cresswell must have noticed how well I was getting along with Joe for she said: “You must visit us one week-end, Miss Cadorson. Do … before you go back to Cornwall.”
“It would have to be soon,” said Aunt Amaryllis. “Sir Jake is a man who makes quick decisions. He could well arrive next week and declare they must all go back to Cornwall to prepare to go to Australia.”
“Australia,” said Joe. “That’s interesting.”
“My father has some property there. He was there once … a long time ago.”
Aunt Amaryllis looked faintly uneasy and Uncle Peter amused.
“It will be tremendously exciting,” said Joe.
“Well, we must fix this visit soon,” said Mrs. Cresswell. “What about next week-end?”
I looked at Aunt Amaryllis. “Why not?” she said. “If you would like that, Annora.”
“I should very much,” I said.
“Of course,” went on Mrs. Cresswell, “Helena and Peterkin must come with you.”
So it was arranged.
I saw Joe quite frequently, even before the week-end. There was another meeting in the Park when he appeared with John Milward. Helena was delighted. She felt she was a connoisseur of romance and she scented one between Joe and me.
I did not want to go as far as that. I liked Joe. But I could not think of him without seeing Rolf. I compared them and, charming as Joe was, he did not stand up well to the comparison. I suppose it was because when I was young I had set Rolf up as an ideal. He had seemed incomparable; and in spite of everything he remained so. There was a certain power about him which, I supposed, was the essence of masculinity. My father had it; so had my grandfather to a great degree even in his old age. Joe lacked it. Joe seemed vulnerable as none of those others did. One felt about them that no matter what happened they would rise above it. The fact was Joe seemed boyish almost when I thought of him beside Rolf. There was no doubt in my mind that, but for the fears which had grown out of that terrible night, I would have been deeply in love with Rolf. Perhaps I still was. That was why I clung to my original image of him, deceiving myself, telling myself that there was some mistake. Yet I had never been able to bring myself to ask him outright; and the reason was that I feared the answer.
Was I always going to think of Rolf? Would he always come between me and anyone else of whom I might grow fond?
Joe was interested in me. At least that was what Helena thought; and, I believed, so did Uncle Peter and Aunt Amaryllis. Aunt Amaryllis liked young people to be happy together and therefore she thought it was pleasant for them to fall in love, particularly if they were suitable in their parents’ eyes. I think Uncle Peter was pleased because he was anxious to show that in spite of the rivalry between himself and Joseph Cresswell, there was no rancour.
So we came to that week-end which turned out to be one of the most pleasant I had enjoyed for a long time.