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“Why on earth should I marry an American?”
“You never know,” said Lady Mont, twisting off a faded aster; “it depends on what there is about. When I married Lawrence, he was so about!”
“And still is, Aunt Em; wonderful, isn’t it?”
“Don’t be sharp!”
And Lady Mont seemed to go into a dream, so that her hat looked more enormous than ever.
“Talking of marriage, Aunt Em, I wish I knew of a girl for Hubert. He does so want distracting.”
“Your uncle,” said Lady Mont, “would say distract him with a dancer.”
“Perhaps Uncle Hilary knows one that he could highly recommend.”
“You’re naughty, Di
“Perhaps she’s divorced by now.”
“No. I think she’s divorcin’ him, but it takes time. Charmin’ little creature.”
“I’m sure. Do think again, Auntie.”
“These bees,” replied her aunt, “belong to Boswell. They’re Italian. Lawrence says they’re Fascists.”
“Black shirts and no after-thoughts. They certainly seem very active bees.”
“Yes; they fly a lot and sting you at once if you a
“You’ve got one on your hat, dear. Shall I take it off?”
“Stop!” said Lady Mont, tilting her hat back, with her mouth slightly open: “I’ve thought of one.”
“One what?”
“Jean Tasburgh, the daughter of our Rector here—very good family. No money, of course.”
“None at all?”
Lady Mont shook her head, and the hat wobbled. “No Jean never has money. She’s pretty. Rather like a leopardess.”
“Could I look her over, Auntie? I know fairly well what Hubert wouldn’t like.”
“I’ll ask her to di
“Furlough, Aunt Em.”
“I knew that word was wrong. Take that bee off my hat, there’s a dear.”
Di
“I still like to hear them buzz,” she said.
“I’ll ask him too,” answered her aunt; “his name’s Alan, a nice fellow.” And she looked at Di
“He came down again whole, I hope, Auntie?”
“Yes; they gave him something or other for it. He says it’s very stuffy in the Navy now. All angles, you know, and wheels, and smells. You must ask him.”
“About the girl, Aunt Em, how do you mean, a leopardess?”
“Well, she looks at you, and you expect to see a cub comin’ round the corner. Her mother’s dead. She runs the parish.”
“Would she run Hubert?”
“No; she’d run anybody who tried to run him.”
“That might do. Can I take a note for you to the Rectory?”
“I’ll send Boswell and Johnson,” Lady Mont looked at her wrist. “No, they’ll have gone to di
“On the contrary, dear.”
“Very well, then; we can get out this way,” and moving to the far end of the yew-treed garden, they descended some steps into a long grassy avenue, and, passing through a wicket gate, had soon arrived at the Rectory. Di
“A—lan!”
A male voice answered: “Hal—lo!”
“D’you mind cold lunch?”
“There’s no bell,” said Lady Mont; “we’d better clap.” They clapped in unison.
“What the deuce?” A young man in grey fla
“Oh!” he said. “Lady Mont… Hi! Jean!” Then, meeting Di
“Alan, can you and Jean dine to-night? Di
“It’s a topper, Lady Mont.”
A girl, made all of a piece and moving as if on steel springs, was coming towards them. She wore a fawn-coloured sleeveless jumper and skirt, and her arms and cheeks were fully as brown. Di
“This is Jean,” said her aunt: “my niece, Di
A slim brown hand clasped Di
“Where’s your father?” continued Lady Mont.
“Dad’s away at some parsonical Conference. I wanted him to take me, but he wouldn’t.”
“Then I expect he’s in London really, doin’ theatres.”
Di
“So you’ll both come to di
“There’s a house-party,” said Di
“Oh! Ah! Best bib and tucker, Jean.”
The two stood in the porchway arm in arm. ‘Very attractive!’ Di
“Well?” said her aunt, in the grass avenue again.
“Yes, I quite saw the cub. She’s beautiful, I think. But I should keep her on a lead.”
“There’s Boswell and Johnson!” exclaimed Lady Mont, as if they were in the singular. “Gracious! It must be past two, then!”
CHAPTER 9
Some time after lunch, for which Di
Di
“I heard your testimonial read in the Police Court, Fleur.”
“Oh! that. It was what Hilary wanted, of course. I really don’t know anything about those girls. They simply don’t let one. Some people, of course, can worm themselves into anybody’s confidence. I can’t; and I certainly don’t want to. Do you find the country girls about you any easier?”
“Round us they’ve all had to do with our family so long that one knows pretty well all there is to know before they do themselves.”
Fleur scrutinised her.
“Yes, I daresay you’ve got the knack, Di
“Do tell me,” said Di
“Yes; he came home very angry.”
“Good!”
“He thought of bringing the thing up again, but it was the day but one before they rose. Besides, what does the House matter? It’s about the last thing people pay attention to nowadays.”