An Accidental Man (37 page)

‘Austin, you did mean it about our being together again soon?'

‘In
our
little sty, different but still piggy. Yes, though God knows how. If you'll ever forgive me and I ever forgive myself.'

‘Not yet, but soon.'

‘Not yet, but soon. That appears to be our motto. It saves us from thinking.'

‘And you will come now often! I won't go away, you know that.'

‘Yes, I'll come. You won't go to the Tisbournes', will you, Dorina, you won't go anywhere?'

‘No, I won't. And don't be afraid that Mavis and —'

‘No, no. But oh God I must get you out of here to somewhere. I must get a job, I must try to get myself functioning somehow.'

‘Yes, yes. Better go now, Austin.'

‘Yes. We haven't done too badly, have we, Dorina?'

‘No, my darling, we haven't done too badly.'

Norman Monkley looked at his wife. He moved his lips and his lower jaw convulsively. It did not look like an attempt either to speak or to smile. He was holding his wife's hand. She was weeping.

‘Don't cry now, he'll get better,' said the nurse.

‘Will he?' said Austin. Austin and Matthew were standing by the window.

‘Of course he will,' said the nurse.

Norman was conscious and seemed to recognize his wife. He had not yet spoken.

‘You've been so kind, you gentlemen, so kind,' said Mrs Monkley. ‘Norman will be so grateful when he's himself again.'

‘Well, we must go, I think,' said Matthew. ‘Miss Argyll will come this afternoon, and I'll come again tomorrow.'

‘And thank you for bringing the flowers and poor Norman's novel.'

‘Not at all.'

‘God bless you and reward you, sir.'

‘Amen,' said Austin.

They left the room. Norman's eyes followed them with an expression of puzzlement.

As they came out into the sun in the hospital grounds Austin said, ‘What did the surgeon say?'

‘He said a complete recovery was very unlikely but conceivable.'

Austin was silent.

Matthew said, ‘Why did you hit him, really?'

‘I didn't like his novel. It was muck, you know, muck. Of course I didn't mean to hurt him. I just tapped him playfully.'

After a silence Matthew said, ‘I hear you saw Dorina yesterday.'

‘Yes.'

‘Was that all right?'

‘What do you mean?'

‘Well, you know —'

‘Your question is impertinent. Dorina is my wife. It's of no conceivable interest or concern of yours.'

‘It is of
interest
,' said Matthew. ‘Sorry. I know that everything I do and say annoys you.'

‘Yes. Think that over some time when you're feeling so bloody superior to everyone.'

‘I don't feel superior to everyone.'

‘You do.'

‘All right, I do. But in a way I can't help it. It's chemical. Just as it is with you.'

‘Just as it is with me to feel that I'm scum. Yes. You could be right. There's your girl friend waiting.'

‘Won't you come and talk to her? Let us give you a lift. Come and have a drink somewhere.'

‘No, thanks. I'm going this way. To the bus stop.'

‘Austin, don't cut yourself off from people, it's not good. Are you coming to the Odmores' party this evening?'

‘Don't be funny. By the way.'

‘Yes?'

‘Thanks for helping me the other day.'

‘Not at all. Au revoir.'

‘Goodbye.'

Mavis said as Matthew reached her. ‘How's Norman?'

‘Conscious but not talking. The surgeon thinks he probably won't recover his mind.'

‘He won't remember?'

‘No.'

They got into the car.

‘Poor Norman. Poor Austin. Austin wouldn't see me?'

‘No. So Dorina said nothing about yesterday?'

‘Nothing.'

‘No sign of her moving?'

‘No. But I hope she will go to the Tisbournes. We must all just be a little firm with her. I really think it would do her good. It's not just for us.'

‘I agree. I'm tired of living in the car. Dear Mavis —'

‘I know. Did Austin say anything about yesterday?'

‘No. I just infuriate him.'

‘The funny thing is that Austin really loves you. You're the great love of his life.'

‘Rubbish, my dear. Now where shall we go?'

‘Let's go and sit beside that nice quiet parking meter in Onslow Square.'

‘Is that Mavis Argyll? She hasn't been to a party in years.'

‘She's got very grey, but she still has the dewy spiritual look.'

‘Is it true that she and Matthew —'

‘Sssh. Hello, Matthew. I hear you're giving your porcelain to the Fitzwilliam. The Ashmolean is furious.'

‘My Alma Mater, you know.'

‘Sebastian has got a job in the Bank of England.'

‘Gracie Tisbourne has real orchids in her hair.'

‘More money than sense.'

‘Hello, Oliver, how are Oldie Bookies?'

‘Is that huge lout really Ralph Odmore?'

‘Mollie Arbuthnot's boutique is losing a hundred a week.'

‘The Odmores have invited everybody.'

‘Even Austin Gibson Grey I'm told.'

‘That's going too far.'

‘Hello, Karen, you didn't answer my letter.'

‘Sebastian darling, one is so busy.'

‘Gracie and Ludwig have bought a manor house in the Cotswolds.'

‘Oh, Mr Enstone, how charming of you to come.'

‘Richard, you know Mr Enstone.'

‘Is it true that Matthew and —'

‘Sssh. Hello, Mavis, what a stunning dress. I hear you're selling Valmorana?'

‘No, I'm not actually, at least I haven't decided.'

‘Hello, Gracie. Shame Patrick couldn't come.'

‘Hello, Ralph. Yes, Patrick is quite one for the girls now.'

‘Oh. Girls? What girls?'

‘Hester, is Austin coming?'

‘I hope so. It would be rather an achievement to have Austin.'

‘Is it true that Henrietta Sayce has gassed Mollie Arbuthnot's cat?'

‘It was in the interests of science.'

‘Henrietta Sayce is very scientific.'

‘Such a clever family.'

‘Ludwig says he's never met Karen.'

‘Gracie has been keeping them apart.'

‘Dr Seldon is discussing hormones with Oliver.'

‘Patrick Tisbourne is chasing some girl.'

‘They start so young nowadays.'

‘Geoffrey Arbuthnot is looking care-worn.'

‘He's thinking about Mollie's boutique.'

‘Karen has chucked the pig biz.'

‘Is it true that Karen and Richard —'

‘Sssh. Hello, Richard, I hear everyone is dying to go on your yacht.'

‘I'm thinking of going commercial, actually.'

‘Ludwig and Gracie have bought a priory with a swimming pool.'

‘Henrietta Sayce has been blackmailing her brother for years.'

‘Is Austin Gibson Grey here? I just want to look at him.'

‘May I fill your glass, sir?'

‘Thank you, dear boy.'

‘Everything Ann Colindale is wearing was bought at Mollie Arbuthnot's boutique.'

‘Mollie Arbuthnot's boutique is losing five hundred a week.'

‘Oliver has palmed his ghastly sports car off on Ludwig.'

‘When does
Annapurna Atom
set off for foreign climes?'

‘What is
Annapurna Atom
?'

‘Richard Pargeter's yacht.'

‘Richard Pargeter is going commercial.'

‘He hasn't broken it to the Tisbournes yet.'

‘George won't go if he has to pay a penny.'

‘Dear George is the meanest man in the world.'

‘George once gave us some non-vintage champagne for Christmas.'

‘How terribly sweet of Ann to wear those ghastly things.'

‘Ann is an angel.'

‘She's the only one in our set.'

‘Matthew and Oliver are discussing Lord Kitchener.'

‘Mavis, I really am going to come with my motor-car and take Dorina away.'

‘Is that Charlotte Ledgard over there?'

‘By herself in the corner as usual.'

‘Why does she come if she hates it.'

‘Dorina is going to live with the Tisbournes.'

‘Henrietta Sayce is on LSD.'

‘Gracie and Ludwig are buying a house in Ireland.'

‘Please won't somebody go and talk to Mr Enstone.'

‘Hester is so worried about Ralph.'

‘Ann, you look so lovely in white, so pure.'

‘Thank you, Richard dear. Richard —'

‘Richard Pargeter is charging the Tisbournes the earth for that trip to Greece.'

‘Sebastian has got a job in the Bank of England.'

‘No wonder we're going to devalue.'

‘Penny Sayce is having a nervous breakdown.'

‘No she isn't, she's over there.'

‘Yes, but she's having a nervous breakdown.'

‘Penny Sayce is so worried about Henrietta.'

‘Karen, haven't you ever met Ludwig?'

‘I say, Richard, Karen hasn't met Ludwig.'

‘Ludwig, do struggle over here, there's someone who's dying to meet you.'

‘I've heard so —'

‘I've heard so —'

‘Ludwig, I want to talk to you seriously.'

‘Karen wants to talk to Ludwig seriously.'

‘Ann, I can't stand this, let's go out to the pub.'

‘Certainly not, Ralph, you are under eighteen.'

‘Mollie is so worried about Karen.'

‘Charles and Geoffrey are discussing the crisis.'

‘Patrick Tisbourne has won the history prize.'

‘Henrietta Sayce has been arrested.'

‘What for? Don't tell me, let me guess.'

‘Ralph Odmore has become a drop-out.'

‘Penny Sayce is so worried about Oliver.'

‘Karen is flirting with Ludwig.'

‘Char, you know it's fatal to sit down at a party like this.'

‘Thank you, Clara, I have never been a protagonist in the drama of life.'

‘Ralph Odmore is going through a rather boorish phase.'

‘He won't leave poor Ann alone for a minute.'

‘I hear they've shut Dorina up at last.'

‘For God's sake someone give Charlotte Ledgard a strong drink.'

‘Isn't that Dorina over there?'

‘They don't let Dorina come to parties.'

‘Oliver wants Matthew to come to see his incunabula.'

‘His what?'

‘Pinkie darling, I think I'm drunk, I can see two of you.'

‘Hello, Sebastian.'

‘Hello, Gracie.'

‘It's quite sort of private in the middle of the pandemonium, isn't it.'

‘Yes, I feel we are alone together at last.'

‘No one can hear what we say.'

‘Not even ourselves.'

‘Sebastian, you do look marvellous with those blue frills.'

‘Did Ludwig buy you the orchids?'

‘No, I got them myself at Moyses Stevens.'

‘May I send you some flowers tomorrow?'

‘Lovely, no one's given me flowers for ages.'

‘Patrick Tisbourne is in love with some girl.'

‘It's probably Henrietta Sayce.'

‘But she's only ten.'

‘Who is that brutish man with the dirty waistcoat?'

‘Is that Austin Gibson Grey?'

‘No, it's some Oxford thug that Ludwig brought along.'

‘He looks terribly drunk.'

‘He's an Irishman.'

‘He's the man who cuts Matthew's lawn.'

‘Don't be silly.'

‘Do you think Matthew is queer?'

‘His name's MacMurphy or something.'

‘He's pie-eyed.'

‘So is Clara.'

‘So am I.'

‘Karen, I mustn't, I'm getting quite drunk.'

‘Nonsense, Ludwig, the party is only just beginning.'

‘I'm delighted you're so interested in Greek vases, Karen. It's such an acquired taste.'

‘It is, isn't it. Let me fill your glass.'

‘Matthew is going.'

‘We shall be able to breathe.'

‘Oh hello, Andrew, I'm so glad you made it.'

‘I hope I'm not too late, Lady Odmore, it was so kind of you to ask me.'

‘I so much want you to meet my younger son. By the way, Andrew, who is that stout man? He hasn't made himself known to me.'

‘Oh dear, that's MacMurraghue. Hasn't he — he's gatecrashing — shall I take him away?'

‘Certainly not. Goodbye, Matthew dear, you must come to dinner soon.'

‘My God, there's Austin.'

‘No!'

‘It can't be, he looks quite distinguished.'

‘He's had one or two.'

‘Is that Austin Gibson Grey?'

‘Yes, you know, the chap who —'

‘Char darling, did you talk to Matthew?'

‘No.'

‘He's gone, I think.'

‘Yes.'

‘Andrew, we do hope you'll persuade Ralph —'