An Unofficial rose

Felix had just decided to take refuge in the still-room among the Wellington boots when he turned to find that Miranda was standing beside him and regarding him with a hostile look.

Conversation with Miranda was the last thing which Felix felt able at this juncture to sustain. What after all did one say to a child whose father had just publicly gone off with his mistress? How much did Miranda understand about the matter? How much did she know of the Facts of Life? How old was she, anyway? Utter paralysis gripped Felix.

As she showed no signs of going away but still stood provocatively beside him, he muttered, 'Bad business, Miranda. Sorry to hear about it.

'Sorry to hear about what? said Miranda in a clear voice.

'Well, about your father — going away — well, all that.

'You know all about it too, do you? said Miranda. 'It looks as if everybody knows. I think everybody knew before Mummy did. Felix could make nothing of this. But at least the child was composed.

'Do you think it will be better in the long run? said Miranda.

Felix was taken aback. 'I don't know, Miranda, I can't say really. I believe your mother is in the kitchen with Mr Swa

'Mummy got a letter from the lawyer about the divorce, said Miranda.

'Oh, did she? This was appalling.

'Yes, said Miranda. 'He said there should be no difficulty as it was a simple case of adultery. Mummy will have to appear in court, but Daddy won't have to.

Felix stared about him in desperation. He could not stand any more of this. A quick glance at the bright faces of Clare and Mildred made him shudder. He mumbled an apology to Miranda and fled in the direction of the kitchen.

He knocked on the kitchen door and entered at once. A

A

Of course, she doesn't know, thought Felix, she doesn't know anything. She did not know that he had been sitting at Seton Blaise waiting for exactly this to happen, she did not know about Hugh's crime. A mind like A

'I'm so glad, said A

'You'll do no such thing, said Douglas Swa

Did Mildred come with you, Felix? Douglas, would you go and ask Mildred to sit in the drawing-room? And thank you for being so sweet and helpful and for coming so soon. I'll just talk a bit with Felix now, I think.

Douglas Swa

'My dear, he said. 'My dear. He took the chair, drawn close to hers, which Swa

A

'Well, you have something to make a fuss about, I should think! aid Felix. He squeezed her hand rhythmically.

'It was such a shock, the letter, said A

Felix could not trust himself to speak in case his feelings about A

'You see, he always came back for Christmas and for Miranda's birthday and was here a lot of the time really. I liked to feel it was his base, that he needed it. This last time he was home was terrible, of course. But it wasn't usually so bad. It's extraordinary what one can. urvive in a marriage. And I kept thinking things might get better. They did get better when Fa

'Well, it's not your fault, said Felix.

'It is, it is, she said with a groan. 'These things are never unjust!

'I can't agree, he said. 'But did you not — somehow expect it now?

'Why now more than another time? No. But I might have known, ns he came secretly last week to see Miranda. Nancy Bowshott told me.

'Didn't Miranda tell you?

'No. And I didn't say anything to her. God! how painful! She put one hand to her side. 'He took his toys away, she added. 'I should have known then that it was the end!

'His toys?

'Yes, it sounds so silly, but he had them beside his bed, things he'd had as a child, a toy dog and a —’ She became silent, breathing hard. Then great copious tears rolled down her cheeks and she hid her face with a cry.

Felix was overwhelmed. He put his arms right round A

Miranda came into the room and shut the door sharply behind her.

Felix quietly released the sobbing A

'Felix, said A

'All right. Is Douglas to go away too?

'Yes. Tell him I'll ring him.

'Am I to go away too?

'Yes, please. I'll ring you later.

Felix moved reluctantly towards the door. He would have liked to have held A