"No man could be luckier in a daughter" he said. "Not one moment of worry, nary one. Of course if Jane hadn't quarrelled with Julia before she died I might easily have called on Jane for help. I know I thought of it. But Liz, it seemed disloyal to my wife, she would have turned in her poor grave. So I struggle on alone."
He paused. Miss Jennings appeared incapable of speech. He was gazing through the great window on what looked to be a white sheet of water from which a few black trees in bud leaned against driving rain.
"And it's come out quite perfect" he proceeded. Miss Jennings blinked. "I can't say too much in praise of my girl. So I'm going to give a party!"
"A party?" she exclaimed.
"Well she doesn't meet enough people" Mr Pomfret announced. "How could the child when she looks after me at night and works all day? I'm not much use to her Liz" he said. "My wretched job keeps me pretty well occupied! But Mary never gets a minute off."
"That makes two in that case."
"How d'you mean?" he inquired.
"There's Jane going to give a twenty-firster for Philip and now you'll have yours."
"I never heard about Philip's" he protested. "As a matter of fact I was to have had drinks yesterday at Jane's but she went off to Brighton with Penelope and Dick Abbot. Jane would have told me then only she never got the chance. Who's she having?"
"Oh all of us I believe, John."
"And some young people too I should hope" he said.
"So dreadful dull with nothing but us older people."
"Speak for yourself" she protested rather dryly.
"I was" he assured her. "In that case I think I shall wait until I see how Jane's comes off. I really can't afford a party, who can these days! Yes I'd rather wait and see. Of course Mary and I will be invited."
"Did you think of giving a dance-with champagne?"
"My dear girl where's the money to spring from? And you can't make out it's expected nowadays?"
"People do. Several get together still" she explained.
"No that wouldn't go at all" he decided. "Only yesterday bless her I asked if there were even anyone Mary specially wanted and she wouldn't have it. No let's see what sort and kind of a show Jane puts on first."
"And how's little Penelope?" she inquired."
"My dear Liz damn all that silly nonsense is what I insist. The child's just living till she can pick on something new to upset her, you mark my words."
"I'd've thought it made everything so difficult with Jane."
"Old Jane's all right" he said, "But my God you're lucky not to have children of your own yet Liz."
"I wouldn't mind" she muttered.
"Well I must say, that's a weight off me now I haven't to give a do for Mary right off" he announced, visibly taking heart. "Yes you're lucky all right. Lord the things that keep coming up! No rest at all. Though I've not got anything against the child, please understand."
"Mary's sweet" she agreed in a perplexed voice.
He thought of something else.
"How did you come to hear of Jane's party?" he demanded.
"Philip told me."
"I didn't know you ever saw him" Mr Pomfret complained with lazy amazement.
"I had to go round to the office. As a matter of fact my business took me to his boss" she boasted.
"So did you look in on Mary in M?"
"There wasn't time darling and I'm not sure she'd have been overjoyed."
"Good God Liz, what nonsense you can talk. Why Mary'd have loved it! Pity you didn't you know. She's managing marvellously well. No more than a junior in length of service of course but already she's established and doing damned important work too let me tell you. To tell the truth I once knew her chief. I'm always meaning to ring the woman one day to ask. But what holds me back is Mary's face if she got to hear. Oh she's independent, Liz, and won't take any manner or means of help. And I respect her for it."
"Philip was handing round the tea and buns" Miss Jennings informed him. He burst into rueful laughter.
"Well maybe my dear you did best not to explore further than Department C. You might have come on Mary with a mop and bucket between M and N. No, as for her it's not only what she tells me, which is little enough in all conscience, because I have other sources, I know what I'm talking about. But I'm not far wrong when I say Philip's an ungodly failure. What you told me just now doesn't come one bit as a surprise."
"Is that really so? I had no idea" Miss Jennings protested and seemed pleased.
"Don't breathe a word to anyone least of all to Jane" he implored. "He's not quite all she's got, there's still little Penelope practising to become St. Francis, but it would kill poor Jane all the same. Oh now what made me say any of that! Liz I'm growing crabbed and ill-natured in middle age."
"You aren't" she said.
"I jolly well am! Oh yes, worse luck! Never mind. Forget it."
"Good heavens John you remember about nine weeks ago when we were discussing his mother and she promptly came in, well here's Mary with Philip."
He twisted round in the chair.
"They can't afford this" he said into the room in a loud voice. Then he saw. They were standing before Pascal, dose together in an attitude of humility while Gaspard sneered in their faces. It was plain they were not known.
"Excuse me Liz" Mr Pomfret asked over a shoulder. He got up. "Can't have that, you understand" he said and went across. "Hello there" he called. Pascal and Gaspard stepped back as he strode to kiss Mary. She seemed to shrink while Philip put on an embarrassed grin. Mr. Pomfret shook him warmly by the hand. After some more talk which Miss Jennings watched with a tender smile, Pascal, obsequious again, at once led the young couple away to a good table. As they went John said something to his daughter who sent Liz a startled glance.
When he sat down once more John said "Well I only hope he pays."
Miss Jennings replied "Why here she comes."
Mr Pomfret rose to his feet. "Fancy seeing you" Mary greeted Miss Jennings shyly. Her wrist was loose when she took Miss Jennings' hand.
"Oh darling" Liz cried "you look so sweet."
"You both do look wonderful" Mary mumbled. Another phrase or two and she made her escape.
As he sat down again the father said with satisfaction "My girl's got manners. I rather pride myself on that as a matter of fact."
"She's sweet" Miss Jennings repeated. "You didn't expect to see them here then?"
"Those two? My dear Liz I never interfere. But I certainly imagined she was lunching back home this afternoon. Not that she can't do just as she likes of course. I thought she said something about tea. I must have misheard. And I didn't know they ever met."
There was a pause while he watched his daughter.
"Were you told about Arthur Morris?" she next inquired.
"No? Not more bad news, you can't surely mean? What is it?" he asked turning back to her.
"Now they're having to take the ankle off."
This time neither laughed or even smiled.
"Good Lord" he cried "like so much else it's beginning to be a bad dream. Who's his doctor then? Can't they do anything for him?"
"Poor Arthur isn't it bad luck?" she said.
"Frightful" he agreed. "Now what are you proposing to have now? Cheese or sweet or both? Where is Gaspard? First they don't or won't recognize one's own children and then they can't bother to take an order. Here Pascal!" He waved.
"Only coffee for me darling. I must watch my figure."
"Would you mind if I had a bite of cheese? Look Pascal you won't give my daughter a table and then there's no one to get us on with Miss Jennings' luncheon. She'd simply like some white coffee and I'll have cheese and biscuits."
The man hurried off. "What were we saying?"
"About Arthur."
"Why" he protested "it's the most frightful thing I ever heard in all my life! Poor old fellow. No knowing where these things'll stop either. And the bill too if you don't mind, waiter. I am sorry to hear that" he ended.