The Book And The Brotherhood

`Hello, Reeve,' said Gerard. 'What a row in there!'

Reeve, rather formal, said, 'How nice to see you. These are my children Neville and Gillian. I think it's some years since you've met them.'

`They've certainly grown!' said Gerard. 'Glad to meet you.' He held out his hand to Gillian, then to Neville. The children murmured something gracious.

`Well, we're off,' said Reeve. He turned to Rose. 'Can we drop you where you're going?'

`No, thanks, I can walk. I just want a word with Gerard.'

`See you tomorrow then.'

`Yes, tomorrow,' said Rose.

Neville, who had been smiling subtly throughout this encounter, said, 'We'll take you to Yorkshire.'

With waves they receded, leaving Rose and Gerard beside, now outside, the drawing room door. These two stood in silence not looking at each other while Reeve and his offspring disappeared into the dining room to find their coats. They emerged, looked back, waved again, and vanished through the front door.

Gerard said to Rose politely, 'Can I get you a taxi for your next appointment?'

`I have no appointment,' said Rose. She felt she was going to cry again, and walked past him to the dining room, picked up her coat, came out and began to put it on. Gerard helped her on with her coat.

Rose said, moving towards the front door, 'Goodbye then. By the way, Gull and Lily are getting married. They're in there.'

Leonard Fairfax came skidding out of the drawing room holding a glass which he put into Gerard's hand. He hail adored Gerard all his life. 'I thought I heard your voice. I've been panting to see you.' Leonard resembled his father, wide the same close-curling hair and pretty red-lipped mouth, but was taller and thinner.

`Hello, faun,' said Gerard. 'So you're going to the Courtauld, I'm so glad.'

‘Just off, Rose?' said Leonard. 'Lovely to see you. Violet ha- gone upstairs with your parson!'

`Thanks so much,' said Rose. She opened the door. The new art nouveau lantern which Pat had installed illuminated the steps.

Gerard handed the glass back to Leonard. `I'm just going to see Rose along.' He picked up his coat which he had thrown down in a corner by the door.

`Don't be long!' Leonard shouted after him. 'Dad wants to see you. Peter Manson's coming, he rang up looking for you, And I want to fix lunch with you tomorrow!'

Rose and Gerard walked away along the road. A slight unconvincing rain was falling, slanted by the east wind Rose began to cry again, silently, covertly into her hand- kerchief.

Gerard said, 'Oh – damn -' Then, 'What's the matter?' `Oh nothing. I've got toothache.'

`I'm sorry. Will you see the dentist?'

`Yes. Look, don't let me keep you.' She checked her rearm and began to walk faster.

`So you're off again to Yorkshire tomorrow.'

`No, I'm not.'

`I thought Neville said so.'

`No. I'm having lunch with them. They've bought a flat in Hampstead.'

`How nice. So they're Londoners now.'

`Do go back, everyone's longing to see you. I can walk from here. I'll get a taxi in a moment anyway.'

`Where are you going?'

`Home. Look, there's a taxi. I'll say goodbye.' `Oh, all right.' Gerard flagged down the taxi and opened the door.

Rose got in. 'Nice to see you. I'll give you a ring sometime.'

`What the hell's the matter with you?' said Gerard. 'Are you ill?'

Rose began to cry again. Gerard got into the taxi and slammed the door and gave the taximan Rose's address. He patted her shoulder but did not put his arm round it. They rode in silence. When they reached Rose's flat and Gerard had paid the driver they mounted the stairs in silence.

They dropped their coats, Rose pulled the curtains and put on the electric fire. She said, 'Would you like a drink?'

`Yes.'

`Sherry?'

`Yes.'

`Anything to eat?'

`No thanks.'

She poured out two glasses.

`What is the matter, Rose?'

`Nothing's the matter! Perhaps I should ask you what the matter is! You disappear for weeks. When I ring you say you can't see me, then you don't answer the 'phone, or else you're away God knows where and it hasn't occurred to you to let me know. Well, why should you let me know. I've got no special rights, I'm not part of your family -'

`And I'm not part of your family, if it comes to that. You've evidently decided to live in the north and be a mother to those bright young things! Well, why not. Blood is thicker than water.'

`That's what Reeve says.'

`You make it clear that you've got a home elsewhere!'

`Well, it doesn't affect you. I've never had a home here.'

`That's not true. It depends on what you call a home.'

`Yes, indeed! I never thought I'd see you being jealous and vindictive -'

`I never thought I'd see you behaving like a silly petty female! I'm not jealous. Why the hell should I be?'

`Why indeed. I realise that you have quite another life into which I don't enter and when it suits you you vanish. How’s Derek Wallace?'

`Who?'

'Derek Wallace. That boy who brought that – that proof copy – from Oxford.'

'Rose, are you crazy – or bloody-minded – or what?'

'What do you expect me to do when you disappear-or am I supposed not to think about you? If you want me not to think about you you're certainly going the right way about it.'

'Rose, do you really imagine -'

'Of course it's not your fault, it's my fault. You've alwayq taken me for granted, that I'll always be there to be kind and useful. I shouldn't have hung around. Plenty of people advised me not to.'

'Well, why did you hang around?' said Gerard. 'I dlihi'i demand it. Of course I took you for granted. I don't see what you're complaining about or why you're suddenly so angry with me.'

'And why do you say "damn" and "what the hell's the matter?" and turn up late at a party where you might have known I'd be there wanting to see you! Oh I'm a fool, a fool'

'You said something about Gull and Lily getting married.'

'You're changing the subject.'

'It needs changing.'

'Yes, Gulliver's back from Newcastle – and he's got ajoh -and they're going to be married. And Gideon and Pat have adopted Tamar.'

'Have they?'

'Well, they're in charge, they've fixed everything, she's to go back to Oxford, there's to be a Tamargesellschaft, we'll Al contribute to help her through -'

'Good. But who says so?'

'Gideon, he arranges things now. Tamar's got a flat ofliri own, Violet's living at Notting Hill, Tamar's happy, Violct'm happy, all the things you might have done, only you hadn't time and didn't try -'

'I doubt if Violet's happy – but you're quite right that we didn't try enough -'

'Who's "we"?'

'Rose, just, please, be careful what you say.'

`It's come to that, has it, I have to "be careful what I say"! What about whatyou say? You accuse me of -'

'What have I accused you of except of being fond of your family?'

'I have no family. You are my family. That means I have no family. I've given you my life and you haven't even noticed.'

'You are talking nonsense which is designed simply to hurt tne. Of course you have family. It looks to me as if Reeve is 'simply taking you over, he's leading you away like a little docile domestic animal.'

'You mean he's exploiting me, he want's a housekeeper?' 'Well, why shouldn't he? He counts on the conventions of family affection.'