"You're very sweet" she approved. "As a matter of fact, and I spoke of this before, I've a good memory and I remember it very well, I actually am about to marry again, so there you are."
She turned a radiant and delightfully embarrassed blushing smile on her son who said, "And I haven't forgotten the mess I fell into when I asked you who. I suppose I mustn't try to find out now?"
"To tell the utter truth Philip" she admitted "I was not quite straight with you then, just for the once. Darling you must please be glad but it's my angel John Pomfret."
"Well I say! Oh splendid! When's the ceremony to be?" he burst out, then a sort of cloud seemed to cross his face and his voice dropped. "But now look here Mamma will there be a double wedding? Would Mary like that?"
"She can have whatever she says" Mrs Weatherby said, steadfast.
"And Uncle Ned? Is he pleased?"
Jane moved smartly on the sofa to get a cigarette.
"I don't know and I couldn't care less Philip. Oh my dear boy do rid yourself, oh do, of this family complex!"
"I'm really sorry. I'll try and remember" he promised.
"All the more so when there are mercifully so few of them left" Mrs Weatherby added.
"That might be one of the principal reasons, you see" her son pointed out. "But never mind. I say though this is marvellous! Have you broken it to Pen yet?"
"Oh my dear promise me you won't so much as breathe a single word. D'you think I ought to get hold of some doctor to tell her, not Dr. Bogle of course? And Philip we ought even to speak of this now in whispers." She suited the action to the word. " Isabella listens at keyholes I'm almost certain, then tells Pen in an Italian only those two can understand, but isn't she simply miraculously clever, darling Penelope!"
He laughed. "I promise" he said.
"Don't you think it the most dreadful thing you've ever heard and in one's own house, each word noted down, but what can one do, she's such a marvellous cook dear and my little growing love does benefit so from that?"
"You know Mamma Isabella's English is far too bad."
"Don't you be sure while Pen's teaching the woman our sacred language all the time. Oh but we shall never get at the whole truth. I often think we're not here below to find that out ever, till I believe the truth's even stopped having any importance for me in the leash Which is not to say I go about all day telling lies myself, you're my witness! No I meant generally. But Philip darling do promise you are pleased over John?"
"Of course I am. And have you told Mary?"
"My dear that must be for her father! And don't you dare breathe a word to the sweet creature till he's spoken."
"Oh quite" Philip promised. "I'll be most discreet."
"You swear!"
"Well naturally Mamma, anything connected with you!"
"You're sure? You're quite certain? Because I'd simply die! If she heard before the proper time I mean!"
"Whatever you say darling" he reassured her and smiled so it seemed with all his heart upon his mother. After which they discussed Bethesda Nathan and soon went off to bed.
THAT same evening Mr Pomfret had tea with his daughter in their flat.
"I don't know what you'll think of me darling" he be gan "but the fact is I really might marry once more this time."
"I know Daddy" she smiled. "You've said before."
"But not who" he insisted.
"I've learned never to ask again" she replied. "Can I now though?"
"Well I suppose you'll make out I'm a fool at my age Mary, it's Jane."
"Now how wonderful!" she cried with every appearance of genuine enthusiasm. "Oh I'm so glad for you!" She kissed him.
"You truly are?"
"Of course I am Daddy. And when's it to be?"
"Tell you the truth" he said, still with some embarrassment "we haven't quite got down to dates yet. Are you absolutely sure you're pleased?"
"But of course" she assured him and seemed altogether wholehearted. Then she started frowning. "D'you promise you haven't tried to get me out of the way for the wedding?"
"My dear child what on earth do you mean?"
"The Italian business" she said.
"I don't follow, monkey."
"Why you remember you were so keen I should throw up my job and go out to Italy?"
"Oh that! I swear to you I hadn't even considered it."
"You hadn't!"
"Well this thing about my marriage wasn't on the cards then."
"But you do want me at the ceremony Daddy?"
"Naturally! What sort of a father d'you imagine I am? Couldn't you fly back?"
"That's all right then. All the same why did you wish me away?" she asked.
"It's simply-" he began when she interrupted.
"Oh all right" she cried smiling once more. "Whatever will you think? Here's you getting married and I have to talk about myself!"
"Then you don't find the idea disloyal?"
"Daddy!" she brought out with a dazzling grin. "That's something must be entirely between you and your conscience."
"So you do" he reluctantly put forward.
"I said nothing of the sort" she protested.
"You see it's never easy to explain-" he tried once more.
"I didn't suppose it was" she agreed. "Lord there was me a few weeks back trying to tell about Philip and now the roles are properly reversed" she cried. "You're the one stuttering and stammering now" she said.
"I've meant to ask about Philip, Mary-"
"No" she cut in on him "this is not the moment. Let's talk about you, darling."
"You are sweet" he said. "How can I oblige? What d'you wish to know?"
"Well all of it of course! And right from the beginning."
"Oh that's rather a long story" he objected.
"Whatever yon say" she agreed. "So we'll keep everything for another time, very well." Then her face clouded over. "And where d'you both propose to live?" she demanded.
"I'm not sure my love. We hadn't really considered that yet. Wherever will be cheapest of course" he added with the whine of a guilty conscience in his voice. "In fact" he went on "Jane has been making pretty much of a point how things come cheaper for two people than they do for one."
"Oh I'd have to find somewhere else naturally" she admitted with what seemed to be amused if guarded acquiescence.
"Why good Lord monkey you surely wouldn't think we'd turn you out! Besides there's your own future to consider. No the little I meant was it's less expensive for three in one fiat than to live split up in two of them."
"And there's Philip, and Penelope."
"Well yes so there is! Bless me we may have to take a larger place that's all. And while we're about it we might move to a less disgusting neighbourhood than what Jane and I both live in now. I must speak to Jane. Because the way this particular quarter has gone down lately is too, frightful."
"I shouldn't bank on Philip and me setting up shop so very soon Daddy."
"Why what are you trying to tell now dear?"
"Very little. Anyway don't let's talk about me just this minute. Today belongs to you. It was only for when you. make your plans, that's why I said what I did. Anyway I'll have to get a room of my own. But still, enough of that, darling."
"However you wish Mary."
"Well doesn't everything seem very strange to you?" she demanded. "Your going to be married I mean?"
"Oh my love I'm so worried about dear Penelope!" he brought out at once. "Yes Daddy?"
"She needs a man in the house."
"Have a heart! She's not seven yet."
"I've such a responsibility towards Jane regarding the poor child" Mr Pomfret insisted. "There's no getting away from it, cardinal errors have been made with that little thing. She's just a mass of nerves. I owe this to Jane to get her right."
His daughter laughed, not unkindly. "Pen will be a match for every one of you I'm afraid."