"Richard dear one, how simply diabolically clever you can be sometimes! Oh Lord my horrid problems. But I do apologize, all this must be infinitely dull for you, and just when I'm so enjoying your delicious luncheon."
"Know what I think? I believe these things settle themselves."
"Oh but how?"
"Before you realize where you are you'll be in the Registry Office one of these days" he asserted. "And after not having asked the children's leave either."
"Do you really think I could fall in love once more?" she asked.
"I know you can" he said in a satisfied voice. She made a face.
"Richard" she grumbled and gave a scared laugh. "Behave yourself, we were talking of marriage, not anything else, not anything!"
"Like me to have a word with him then, Jane?"
"My dear isn't that too sweet, I do appreciate it, still I very much fear he might not actually listen. Oh I realize how rude this sounds. But he's not normal! No I don't mean that. I mean more he's so old-fashioned! Can you believe it, he even gets up to open the door for me!! Because if someone is not in the family then he never seems able to listens."
"If according to you he'll only pay attention to a stepfather he'll have to wait a bit then, won't he?"
"I don't know what to do. I'm at my wits' end" she said.
"Thought you maintained you'd never remarry."
"Why Richard I never uttered a word of the kind!"
"Only man you'll get hitched onto in the end then is your faithful servant" he said with a sort of forced joviality.
"Richard dear you're quite wonderful! You can't imagine what a solid comfort you are always." She gave him an exquisitely lingering tong smile.
"You wait and see" he insisted.
"I'll wait" she promised gaily laughing.
He frowned.
"Wish I could count on that" he remarked.
"My dear I do apologize" she said at once. "How abominably rude that was! But I told you I could never marry again because of little Pen. And I don't think you are being quite kind" she added with a grave reproachful look. "Richard I really believe you're almost making fun which doesn't suit you dear. Your sense of humour is not your long suit."
"I say, I'm truly sorry Jane. Fact is everyone's having trouble with their children these days. Only last week John Pomfret buttonholed me in the Club about his Mary."
"I'm miserable I'm such a bore Richards" She gave him an adorable smile of humility in which there was mischief. For a moment she looked very like her daughter.
"You aren't, good Lord no" he protested.
"But I am! Anyway I think Mary's such a vulgar child."
"Flattered to find you can bring yourself to confide in me on occasions" he said at his most formal. "Never could make up my mind about her yet" he said apparently of Mary Pomfret. "Striking girl though. Why, does Philip see much of her then?"
"My Philip? Certainly not. What's John's trouble over the girl?"
"A bluestocking, I fancy. Too taken up with her job. Unfeminine. Properly upset about her old John seemed."
"But how extraordinary Richard! Why that's just how I worry about Philip. So unmanly and serious for his years. What else did John say?"
"Well you know, one thing or the other."
"My dear what I do so like about you is your absolute loyalty. Of course if you'd rather not-"
"Tell you the truth I've pretty well forgotten now."
"In at one ear and out of the other like when I confide in you over Philip, is that it?"
"Now Jane, you know me."
"And that's just what I respect you for! It's so perfect to be sure what one pours out won't be all over London the next minute."
"Oh well" he said and seemed flattered. "But you say Philip and Mary never meet. Don't they work along the corridor in the same office?"
"Of course they do my dear. I thought everyone knew."
"Well then, ask Mary what she thinks."
"But it's, just because they talk every day that they don't see anything of each other. Would you take someone out at night when you sat opposite her six hours every twenty-four? Really Richard, what the world has come to! Besides he's too much of a snob as I said. And thank God for it where that girl's concerned!"
"Don't care for Mary then?"
"I don't see why one should be friends with one's old friends' children do you? Any more than we as children made a fuss of the horrid creatures our parents' friends brought us to play in the nursery. Of course I don't know the way Philip passes his spare time but I've a very good idea he doesn't spend that with Mary! I should hope not indeed." Mrs Weatherby began to look indignant.
"What's the gal done then, Jane?"
"Nothing so far as I know, nothing at all. I couldn't care less. But just because John is one of my oldest friends I don't see why I should like his daughter even if as you remember perfectly well at one time I loved her mother oh so dearly!"
There was a pause.
"Wish I knew something to suggest about Philip" he said at last.
"Let's not talk about the children any more" she said, relaxing. "Did you notice Liz and John had gone? How is that dread sad old affair of theirs, have you any idea?"
"Can't imagine, Jane. Don't know at all."
"I believe he's simply sick of her and she dings on in the most disgustingly squalid way." She laughed gaily again. "I can't imagine where Liz finds the strength. She's so ill!" She beamed on him. "Oh dear aren't I being illnatured all of a sudden! You don't think I'm very wicked do you?" She leaned forward, laid her hand by his. "I tell you what" she said. "We don't want to wait for coffee here. Richard, let's have it at your place darling."
His face showed eager surprise.
"I say, jolly decent of you, why not indeed! Let's go now" he said and in a few minutes they left. His great face was beaming.
PHILIP WEATHERBY and Mary Pomfret were sitting in the downstairs lounge of a respectable public house off Kightsbridge.
"Will your parent ever ask a relative to the house?" he sternly inquired.
"Why no Philip, I don't suppose he does."
"Nor my mother won't and it's inconceivable."
"I think Daddy may sometimes."
"You'd imagine my mother was ashamed of me. You see the position? I can't ring up and say 'This is your little nephew here and can I run round for tea?'"
"Poor Philip you must come to us after the office one day though you'll find us rather dull for you I'm afraid."
"I'd like it very much and it wouldn't be dull."
"I'll tell Daddy then."
"Have another light ale Mary?"
"Yes but this one's my turn."
"Is it? Oh all right." He took the money she had ready for him and went over to the bar while she got out a mirror and went over her face. In the way of the very young she did not look round the saloon.
When he came back with their drinks he said "D'you think our parents see much of each other still?"
"Now Philip why should they?"
"Didn't you know? They had a terrific affair once."
"But my dear how absolutely thrilling! I don't believe you."
"True as I'm here Mary. Arthur Morris told me."
"How sweet, did they really?"
"I don't think it's sweet in the least."
"I know but they had their lives to live after all. I mean their time is practically over now yon see, so why shouldn't they when they chose?"
"I'm embarrassed by them, that's why."
"Oh Philip now are you being fair? What difference does that make?"
"We could be brother and sister for one thing."
"Only half-brother, I don't mind do you?"
"Why should I?" Nevertheless he seemed quite awkward and when she looked at him out of the corner of an eye both hers creased in the tiniest amusement. "Only it's absurd that we shouldn't know" he added.
"What makes you think we might be?" she asked. He did not give a direct answer.