"I expect Pen will be all right" he comforted.
"She'll have to be" Mrs Weatherby replied with great conviction. "John tell me about yourself. How serious is it really?"
"Well I have to take things easy for a bit you know. I can't throw up the office worse luck but I'll have to be careful in the evenings."
"It's extraordinary my dear your saying what you have just done about the office" Mrs Weatherby exclaimed. "I was only thinking the other day over your sweet Mary and how bad all this working life is for these girls."
"Why Jane what on earth do you mean?"
"Oh nothing, certainly nothing which concerns the ghastly talk we had last time about their plans or rather the endless lack of ptans they seem to have. But John don't you think she should get right away before she setdes down?"
He turned rather white.
"Rid ourselves of her for a bit?" he inquired.
"Now don't turn so damned suspicious" she said equably. "I wouldn't be in the least surprised if my little plot didn't bring precious Philip up to the boil though poor darling I don't really know how much else he can do when he's already proposed and given her a ring." At this Mr Pomfret seemed on the point of speech but Jane waved him down. "No" she gaily cried "I won't allow you, just let it pass, I was only joking. But you know what things are for a girl. And whatever we may do to help them in the end there probably won't be much money. No I think she ought to have a change first."
"She's only just out of the nursery Jane where she's rested all her short life so far."
"Then they often start a baby so much too soon" Mrs Weatherby went on imperturbably, "terribly exhausting after all the excitement of the wedding. No John no you really don't understand about girls, how should you? And after that it's just one long grind darling until they're too old to enjoy a thing. I think you should send her to Italy for at least two months."
"But the money" he cried.
" "What made you get this idea Daddy."
"Nothing I just had it" he said in rather a surly voice.
"You didn't speak to Philip about Italy?"
"I promise not."
"Because he mightn't like my throwing up the job. He's funny that way you know."
"But if he heard you were to go to a better paid one?"
"My dear you don't understand at all. He's very seriousminded Daddy. He thinks we ought all to be in government jobs."
"What's so odd about that? Practically everyone is."
"Well I'm not going to try and explain Philip to you! Who is this Mrs Smith anyway? Would she like me?"
"Oh we all knew her at one time. Can't say I saw much of Myra ever. She was more a friend of Jane's to tell the truth."
"There Mrs Weatherby comes into it again" his daughter murmured.
Mr Pomfret seemed to ignore the comment.
"Rather a pitiable story" he mused aloud. "Drove sad William hopelessly to drink then left him when the poor fellow was done for. She's quite different now of course from all I hear, settled down quite remarkably from many accounts. You ought to ask old Arthur Morris. He keeps in touch I believe."
"But has she a fiat or what?"
"My, aren't you being practical all of a sudden, love! I suppose it's this wedding business."
"Now you of all people are not to laugh at me! I'm sure someone in this family must be sensible and it won't ever be you darling as you'll admit."
Sell a pair of cufflinks." she sweetly suggested. "As a matter of fact I had a letter from Myra Smith only yesterday. She's been in Florence all this time, fancy that! She wants to hear of an English girl to stay with her and as a return she asks to be taken in herself over here, she needs to see London again she says."
"But good God I couldn't put Myra up at my place. It wouldn't look decent!"
"With Mary not there, married to Philip you mean?
Oh well I'd negotiate my fences as they came if I were you John. Still, if it amounted to all that I could take the woman in here."
"I can't quite seem to see-" Mr Pomfret began when Jane interrupted him.
"I know you can't" she said "but you must remember you've been so fortunate all your life and now you have a touch of illness I simply shall not allow it to warp your judgement. Or Arthur Morris now? He has no use for his fiat while he's at the clinic. He could lend it to Myra."
"My dear Jane we've to get Mary out in Italy for two months first surely. In any case I'm sorry to say there's bad news about poor old Arthur. He's not so well at all they tell me."
"No no John" she cried "I simply don't want to hear!"
"Yes" Mr Pomfret went on "it seems they've told him he'll have to have his leg off now above the knee."
She covered her ears with two fat white hands.
"Too too disagreeable" she moaned. "And now that all one's friends have reached middle age is there to be nothing but illness from now on, first Arthur then, my dear, you? Oh tell me are you really all right?"
He laughed "There's nothing the matter with me compared with poor old Arthur" he assured Mrs Weatherby.
"That's all right then" she replied lowering her hands. "Let me get you another drink." When she had brought this and placed it on the table by his chair she leaned down and put her cheek against his own. Not for many years had she done the same. He closed his eyes. Her skin was the texture of a large soft flower in sun, dry but with the pores open, brilliant, unaccountable and proud.
"You swear you're all right?" she murmured.
"Oh yes."
"Because you of all men just must be" she said, gently withdrawing. For the rest of the time she did not mention Liz or the children and was particularly attentive.
A FEW evenings later Mr Pomfret said to his girl Mary "Monkey I've been thinking things over and I should like you to go to Italy for a bit."
" Italy Daddy? Whatever for?"
"Oh nothing in particular. I thought it might be a good idea that's all."
"But why?"
"Wouldn't you care to travel then?"
"Daddy, did Mrs Weatherby also think of this?"
"Good Lord no Mary. Whoever put it in your head?"
"I just wondered that's all" she explained rather grimly.
" Myra Smith would have you at her place in Florence." Mr Pomfret went on "and you could do the picture galleries and things."
"Be serious Daddy. However could I get leave from my job?"
"I've thought of that too" her father replied. "Why don't you simply throw it up? You slave frightfully hard all day at menial tasks, there's no future there Mary as you yourself said the other day."
"Give up my work!" she gasped.
"But they pay you so badly. When you're married you may have to find something that brings in more."
"I'm glad someone has mentioned the marriage at last" she said. "Just recently there's been almost what I'd call a plot of silence about it."
"I was only talking to Jane on the subject the other night dearie."
"When she suggested I should go?"
"Now monkey I've already told you. It was my plan and she thoroughly agreed as a matter of fact. Indeed it was herself said there could be no manner of fun in getting married these days, I mean things aren't easy still, girls have an awful grind to put a home together. Take a few weeks off before you settle down."
"But could you afford it?"
"Oh we'll find ways and means I suppose."
"Wouldn't it be better though to save for the honeymoon if you're so keen for me to go to Florence?"
This silenced him a moment.
"No" he replied eventually. " Venice for newly marrieds, Florence for girls before they become officially engaged. Next time you go round to see Philip just ask their Isabella!"
"I'm not sure I want to go Daddy."