The Sweetest Dream

‘I have a big favour to ask of you,’ said Joh

‘And what is that?'

‘You know about Tilly, of course... you know, Phyllida's girl?'

‘Of course I know about her. '

Andrew, visiting Phyllida, had allowed it to be understood that it was not a harmonious household and that the child was giving a lot of trouble.

' Phyllida doesn't seem able to cope with Tilly. '

At this, Frances laughed loudly, for she already knew what was bound to come. She said, 'No, it's simply not possible, it isn't on.'

'Yes, Frances, think about it. They don't get on. Phyllida'sat her wit's end. And so am I. I want you to have Tilly here. You are so good with...’

Frances was breathless with anger, saw that the two boys were white with it; the three were sitting silent, looking at each other.

Sophie was exclaiming, ‘Oh, Frances, and you are so kind, it's so wonderful. '

Geoffrey, who had after all been so long visiting this house that he could with justice be described as a member of the household, followed Sophie with, ‘What a groovy idea. '

' Just a minute, Joh

' That's about it, ' admitted Joh

There was a long, long pause. It had occurred to enthusiastic Sophie and Geoffrey that Frances was not taking this in the spirit of universal liberal idealism they had at first assumed she would: that spirit of everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds, which would one day be shorthand for ' The Sixties' .

Frances managed to bring out: ‘You are perhaps pla

At this Joh

Frances was again silenced. She got up, went to the working surface near the stove, stood with her back to the room.

‘I want to bring Tilly here,’ said Joh

Colin and Andrew both got up and went to their mother, standing on either side of her. This enabled her to turn around and face Joh

Joh

Then he rallied, stretched out his arms, palms towards them, and said, 'From each according to their capacity, to each according to their need.’And let his arms drop.

'Oh, that is so beautiful,' said Rose.

' Groovy,’ said Geoffrey.

The newcomer, Jill, breathed, ‘Oh, it's lovely. '

All eyes were now on Joh

‘Do you mean to say,’ said Andrew, ' that Tilly's been out there in the car waiting, all this time?'

' Good God,’ said Colin. ' Typical. '

‘I’ll go and bring her in,’ said Joh

No one moved. Frances thought if her sons had not been so close, enveloping her with their support, she would have fallen. All the faces around the table were turned towards them: that this was a very bad moment, they had at last understood.

They heard the front door open – Joh

The girl was looking in appeal at Andrew, whom after all she did know, among all these strangers.

' Don't worry, I'll deal with it. ' He put his arm round Tilly, and turned to go out of the room.

‘I’ll put her down in the basement, ' he said. ' It's nice and warm down there. '

‘Oh, no, no, no, please, ' cried the girl. ' Don't, I ca

‘Of course not, if you don't want to,’ said Andrew. Then, to his mother, ‘I’ll put a bed in with me for tonight. ‘And he led her out. They all sat quiet, listening to how he coaxed her up the stairs.

Joh

He tried an appealing smile around, caught Rose's eyes, who did smile back, but she was doubtful, withstood passionate reproach from Sophie, nodded sternly at Geoffrey, whom he had known for years. And left. The front door shut. The car door slammed.

Now Colin was hovering behind Frances, touching her arm, her shoulder, not knowing what to do.

' Come on, ' he said, ' come on upstairs. ' They went out together. Frances began swearing as she climbed the stairs, first softly, so as not to be heard by the young, then loudly, ' Fuck him, fuck him, fuck, the shit, the absolute shit.' In her sitting-room she sat crying, while Colin, at a loss, at last thought of getting her tissues and then a glass of water.

Meanwhile Julia had been told by Andrew what was going on. She came down, opened Frances's door without knocking, and marched in. 'Please explain it to me,' she said. 'I don't understand. Why do you let him behave like this?'

Julia von Arne was born in a particularly charming part of Germany, near Stuttgart, a region of hills, streams and vineyards. She was the only girl, the third child in a genial gentle family. Her father was a diplomat, her mother a musician. In July 1914 came visiting Philip Le