"Just you wait and see, Richard." She laughed lightheartedly.
"Well you've been wrong once and you can be again" he said.
"When?" she demanded.
"Not so long ago you told me since John had diabetes Jane would hurry the marriage along between Mary and Philip for reasons of her own."
"I also said she'd been against it Richard."
"All right" he agreed. "On the other hand you tell me now, Jane is packing Mary off to her father's old battlefields so that she can marry John."
"Because I've begun to see Jane must have it both ways. She'll prevent the wedding so that when poor sweet Mary travels home it'll be too late and the child'll have to look for a room on her own or in a wretched hostel."
"Come Liz you could put the girl up at a pinch what?"
"I might have my own plans Richard."
"General post eh?"
"I don't know what you mean" she said in a stern voice.
"I say" he exclaimed. "Dreadfully sorry and all that. It was nothing."
"That's better" she agreed, smiled sweetly at the man.
Now that the meal was done Miss Jennings got up from table to switch on lights and draw curtains to hide heavy rain pouring down outside. He rose to help. As she straightened the heavy folds he came behind, turned her with a hand on her shoulder and kissed the woman rather hard on the lips.
"Here" she cried drawing back. "What's this?"
"Oh nothing Liz."
"I like that after all we've discussed." She gaily laughed. "Anyone would think you'd taken our little gossip seriously."
"Must have been this excellent meal you've just given us" he grumbled in a good-humoured voice.
"That's better" she approved, patted his cheek and led the way next door to the sitting room.
AT THE weekend John Promfret asked Mrs Weatherby round for drinks at his place. When he had greeted her and settled her in, she immediately began "My dear isn't it absurd and wrong the way those two flaunt themselves nowadays all over London."
"Now Jane their engagement hasn't been announced yet, at least in the papers, and for all we know it may never happen but there can be no earthly reason why they shouldn't have a little time together to make up their minds, all the more so since I believe Mary is really off to Florence at last."
"You are sweet" Mrs Weatherby pronounced with marked indulgence. "I was speaking of Richard and Liz of course."
"Don't be absurd Jane!"
"D'you actually pretend you hadn't heard my dear?" she cried. "Why I thought everybody knew!"
"Knew what?"
"Just that they've started the most tremendously squalid affair, In one way I'm so glad for Richard even if I do pity the poor idiot."
"Nonsense" he said. "I don't believe a word. And why are you glad?"
"You ask simply anyone" she replied. "But as to Richard in some respects he's even dearer to me than myself. I'd give almost anything to see the sweet man happy."
"Isn't Liz the only future for his happiness then?"
"John dear you are so acute. D'you know I'm really rather afraid she is."
"I thought his allegiance was elsewhere" Mr Pomfret suggested and gazed hard at Mrs Weatherby.
"Oh no" she admitted with a cheerful look. "All that became over and done with ages back. Isn't it dreadful?" She giggled.
"Could you be having a game with me Jane?" She grew serious at once.
"Me?" she asked. "I wish I were." She watched him. "Why" she said after a pause "d'you mind so dreadfully?"
"I?" he demanded and seemed to bluster. "Been expecting it for weeks."
"Well then." She sighed.
"But why can't people come and tell one themselves when they've had enough?" he asked. "Not that you yourself did so with me more years ago than either of us probably cares to remember."
"Now John don't be disagreeable. Besides I was such a giddy young fool in those days."
"A very beautiful creature whatever you may have been" he gallantly said.
"Oh darling" she wailed "just don't remind me of how I look now!"
"You haven't altered at all" he protested. "Why do you speak as though you could ever be a woman my age?"
"Because I see you such a lot perhaps" she said.
"Good God if what you say is true well I don't feel as if I shall ever be able to speak to Liz again. And with due respect to you I can't seem able to think of her with Dick Abbot. Why I should have thought he'd have one of his choking fits."
"Don't be silly John" Mrs Weatherby cried in a delighted voice. "Besides for all we know he may have had. several over her already, poor sweet."
Mr Pomfret laughed with some reluctance.
"Really Jane" he protested "what you could ever have seen in that pompous ass shall never comprehend."
"Speak for yourself darling" she said. "And when I take you in hand, if I find time, you're going to lead a far more regular life let me tell you. Which reminds me. How are you in yourself?"
"Oh I still go for these tests and they give me the injections and I have to wear a little tag round my neck like during the war."
"Is there much in the injection part?"
"Nothing at all. Falling off a log!"
"John you're being so sensible and I do value you so very much. And have you any more news of the children?"
"Not so far as I can tell. I never seem to come across Mary for a chat these days."
"Ever since you put to her your idea she should go to Myra in Florence?"
"My idea Jane? I thought that was your suggestion."
"I still think it was such a wise notion of yours John to give the dear girl time to look about. But isn't Mary a little bit rash to throw up her job?"
"Well once they are to marry and will insist they must live on what they earn she might in time have to find a better paid one if Philip can't bring in more."
"Ah we shall have to wait and see" Mrs Weatherby replied. "You are so practical. Still you do think she is going?"
"As far as I know."
"Doesn't she discuss it with you then John? How very wicked and ungrateful of Mary!"
"Oh she hasn't much reason to be grateful has she? No she's talked everything over with Liz."
"Don't be absurd my dear, why that girl has to thank you for all she's got. And I'm really very surprised she should go to dear Liz. What Liz might dig up to say could hardly be disinterested, would it?"
"Well Mary went round to Arthur as you know Jane."
"To Arthur Morris? But-" and Mrs Weatherby gaped at him.
"Hadn't you heard? It was she found him dead."
The tears after a moment streamed down Jane's face. She might have been able to cry at will or it could be that she dreadfully minded.
"No John no-" she spluttered, struggling with a handkerchief. "It's been such a shock-you mustn't-poor Arthur-oh isn't everything cruel!"
She covered her face and broke into sobs.
"Now darling now" he said coming across to sit on the arm of her chair. He put an arm round Mrs Weatherby, took firm hold on a soft shoulder. "You mustn't let it get you down" he said. "Poor old fellow he didn't suffer, remember that. There, dear."
He sat in silence while her upset subsided. After a few minutes she excused herself and went along to the bathroom. He lit a cigarette. He waited, When she returned her fresh face wore a peculiarly vulnerable look.
"Do please excuse me darling" she announced, entering as once before like a ship in full sail. "It was because you see he was alone when it happened!!" She swallowed prodigiously. "But I can never in all my life mention him again. You do understand?"
"Of course."
She settled back in her chair.
"Philip said anything of late?" Mr Pomfret inquired.
"No. What about?"
"This engagement of theirs."
"No" she repeated. She paused. "John my dear" she began "sometimes I rather wonder if we don't discuss the children much too often. After all they have their own lives to bad and that at least we can't do for them! So I've simply given up asking. Do you mind?"