Overture to Death

“Very thoughtful of you, Eleanor, but I am quite capable — ”

“Of course you are, Idris, but at the same time — ”

They both stopped short. The antagonism that had sprung up between them was so obvious and so disproportionate that the others were aghast. The rector abruptly brought his palm down on the table and then, as if ashamed of a gesture that betrayed his thoughts, clasped his hands together and looked straight before him.

He said, “I think this matter can be decided later.”

The two women glanced quickly at him and were silent.

“That is all, I believe,” said Mr. Copeland. “Thank you, everybody.”

ii

The meeting broke up. Henry went to Dinah who had moved over to the fire.

“Ructions!” he said under his breath.

“Awful!” agreed Dinah. “You’d hardly believe it possible, would you?”

They smiled secretly and when the others crowded about Dinah, asking if they could have their parts before Monday, what sort of clothes would be needed, and whether she thought they would be all right, neither she nor Henry minded very much. It did not matter to them that they were unable to speak to each other, for their thoughts went forward to the morning, and their hearts trembled with happiness. They were isolated by their youth, two scathless figures. It would have seemed impossible to them that their love for each other could hold any reflection, however faint, of the emotions that drew Dr. Templett to Selia Ross, or those two ageing women to the rector. They would not have believed that there was a reverse side to love, or that the twin-opposites of love lay dormant in their own hearts. Nor were they to guess that never again, as long as they lived, would they know the rapturous expectancy that now pressed them.

Miss Prentice and Miss Campanula carefully avoided each other. Miss Prentice had seized her opportunity and had cornered Mr. Copeland. She could be heard offering flowers from the Pen Cuckoo greenhouses for a special service next Sunday. Miss Campanula had tackled Jocelyn about some enormity committed on her property by the local fox-hounds. Dr. Templett, a keen follower of hounds, was lugged into the controversy. Mrs. Ross was therefore left alone. She stood a little to one side, completely relaxed, her head slanted, a half-smile on her lips. The squire looked over Idris Campanula’s shoulder, and caught that half-smile.

“Can’t have that sort of thing,” he said vaguely. “I’ll have a word with Appleby. Will you forgive me? I just want — ”

He escaped thankfully and joined Mrs. Ross. She welcomed him with an air that flattered him. Her eyes brightened and her smile was intimate. It was years since any woman had smiled in that way at Jocelyn, and he responded with Edwardian gallantry. His hand went to his moustache and his eye brightened.

“You know, you’re a very alarming person,” said Jocelyn.

“Now what precisely do you mean by that?” asked Mrs. Ross.

He was delighted. This was the way a conversation with a pretty woman ought to start. Forgotten phrases returned to his lips, waggishly nonsensical phrases that one uttered with just the right air of significance. One laughed a good deal and let her know one noticed how damned well-turned-out she was.

“I see that we have a most important scene together,” said Jocelyn, “and I shall insist on a private rehearsal.”

“I don’t know that I shall agree to that,” said Selia Ross.

“Oh, come now, it’s perfectly safe.”

“Why?”

“Because you are to be the very charming lady who has lost her memory. Ha, ha ha! damn’ convenient, what!” shouted Jocelyn, wondering if this remark was as daring as it sounded. Mrs. Ross laughed very heartily and the squire glanced in a gratified ma

“This’ll show Henry,” thought Jocelyn. “These modern pups don’t know how to flirt with an attractive woman.” But there was an unmistakably sardonic glint in Henry’s eye, and the squire, slightly shaken, turned back to Mrs. Ross. She still looked roguishly expectant and he thought, “Anyway, if Henry’s noticed her, he’ll know I’m doing pretty well.” And then Dr. Templett managed to escape Miss Campanula and joined them.

“Well, Selia,” he said, “if you’re ready I think I’d better take you home.”

“Doesn’t like me talking to her!” thought the squire in triumph. “The little man’s jealous.”

When Mrs. Ross silently gave him her hand, he deliberately squeezed it.

“Au revoir,” he said. “This is your first visit to Pen Cuckoo, isn’t it? Don’t let it be the last.”

“I shouldn’t be here at all,” she answered. “There have been no official calls, you know.”

Jocelyn made a slightly silly gesture and bowed.

“We’ll waive all that sort of nonsense,” he said. “Ha, ha, ha!”

Mrs. Ross turned to say good-bye to Eleanor Prentice.

“I have just told your cousin,” she said, “that I’ve no business here. We haven’t exchanged calls, have we?”

If Miss Prentice was at all taken aback, she did not show it. She gave her musical laugh and said, “I’m afraid I am very remiss about these things.”

“Miss Campanula hasn’t called on me either,” said Mrs. Ross. “You must come together. Good-bye.”

“Good-bye, everybody,” said Mrs. Ross.

“I’ll see you to your car,” said the squire. “Henry!”

Henry hastened to the door. Jocelyn escorted Mrs. Ross out of the room and, as Dr. Templett followed them, the rector shouted after them:

“Just a minute, Templett. About the youngest Cain.”

“Oh, yes. Silly little fool! Look here, rector — ”

“I’ll come out with you,” said the rector.

Henry followed and shut the door behind them.

“Well!” said Miss Campanula. “Well!”

“Isn’t it?” said Miss Prentice. “Isn’t it?”

iii

Dinah, left alone with them, knew that the battle of the music was postponed in order that the two ladies might unite in abuse of Mrs. Ross. That it was postponed and not abandoned was evident in their ma

“Of course, Eleanor,” said Miss Campanula, “I can’t for the life of me see why you didn’t show her the door. I should have refused to receive her. I should!”

“I was simply dumbfounded,” said Miss Prentice. “When Taylor a

“Disappointed! The greatest piece of brazen effrontery I have ever encountered. He shan’t have my lumbago! I can promise him that.”

“I really should have thought he’d have known better,” continued Miss Prentice. “It isn’t as if we don’t know who he is. He should be a gentleman. I always thought he took up medicine as a vocation. After all, there have been Templetts at Chippingwood for—”

“For as long as there have been Jernighams at Pen Cuckoo,” said Miss Campanula. “But, of course, you wouldn’t know that.”

This was an oblique hit. It reminded Miss Prentice that she was a new-comer and not, strictly speaking, a Jernigham of Pen Cuckoo. Miss Campanula followed it up by saying, “I suppose in your position you could do nothing but receive her; but I must say I was astonished that you leapt at her play as you did.”

“I did not leap, Idris,” said Miss Prentice. “I hope I took the dignified course. It was obvious that everybody but you and me was in favour of her play.”

“Well, it’s a jolly good play,” said Dinah.

“So we have been told,” said Miss Campanula. “Repeatedly.”

“I was helpless,” continued Miss Prentice. “What could I do? One can do nothing against sheer common persistence. Of course she has triumphed.”

“She’s gone off now, taking every man in the room with her,” said Miss Campanula. “Ha!”