Dance to Your Daddy

'To the best of my knowledge and belief, miss, it was the old Standard I've seen in the garage. The colour was the same, but they've been keeping far enough away-I've lost them now and again on the bends-for me not to be able to read the number plate, so, of course, I couldn't take my oath on it.'

(2)

'Do we dare to ask how you got on this afternoon, my dear Beatrice?' asked Romilly, when they were gathered ready for tea.

'Certainly. We spent a short time-twenty minutes, perhaps-gazing at the sea. We also had our first session.'

'Were other people there?' asked Judith. 'If so, didn't they stare?'

'Why should they stare?'

'Oh, well, surely they would think Trilby's get-up rather unusual.'

'Have you been in London recently?'

'No, I haven't. Why?'

'If you had, you would see nothing unusual in the way Mrs Romilly was dressed. The latest fashions for the young are so bizarre that even a Georgian costume, complete with jabot, lace ruffles, knee-breeches and buckled shoes, would be considered rather unenterprising, and, in any case, Rosamund had covered her finery with a heavy, caped coat.' She thought it unnecessary to mention that she and Rosamund had not left the car. They had lowered the windows and sat warmly wrapped up in the car rugs.

'Really!' said Judith. 'I wonder how Trilby has learnt about the London fashions, then?'

'Oh, they are pictured in the newspapers, no doubt,' said Dame Beatrice. 'I suppose you allow her to see a newspaper from time to time?'

'Never mind the fashions,' said Romilly. 'How did she behave?'

'She was no trouble, if that is what you mean. Of course, I have yet to gain her full confidence.'

'But you have already had an effect on her?'

'Very possibly. I should have even more effect on her if I could remove her from this house for a time.'

'She made no attempt to throw anything into the sea?' pursued Romilly, completely ignoring the suggestion.

'Certainly not; neither did we make any attempt to drown one another.'

'You are being facetious, my dear Beatrice.'

'In my opinion, you yourself have been treating matters all too seriously. There is nothing more debilitating for any invalid than to allow her to think she is worse than is really the case.'

'Well,' said Judith, 'I hardly see how Trilby could be worse than we think her. To change the subject, Uncle Romilly, our guests begin to arrive tomorrow. I wonder, Dame Beatrice, whether you would care to see what arrangements I have made for them? I imagine that you will not take the after-tea session Uncle Romilly had arranged, as you have been with Trilby all the afternoon?'

'No, I shall not need to see her again today.'

'While you are showing Beatrice over the house, I think I would like to talk to Trilby myself,' said Romilly. 'I am interested to find out what she thought of her afternoon out.'

'Not if you wish me to continue the treatment. Any interference at present would set her back, I'm afraid,' said Dame Beatrice. 'I do beg of you not to question her.'

'I am her husband.'

Dame Beatrice shrugged her thin shoulders.

'I have no desire, of course, to make an issue of it,' she said, 'but, after all, you may be her husband in name, yet you neither have her at your table nor in your bed.'

'Plain speaking!' Romilly looked surprised and amused.

'There are times in every doctor's life when there is nothing else for it. The professional, not the individual, speaks, so you must bear with me and allow me to give the orders where my patient is concerned.'

'Very well.' They were seated in front of one of the two fireplaces in the great hall. 'Shall we go into the drawing-room?'

'No, let's have tea in here,' said Judith. 'I'm warm and comfortable by this beautiful log fire. It seems a pity to move. Ring the bell, Uncle.' Romilly did this, but the bell was not answered quickly enough to please Judith, who spoke sharply when Amabel's sister, at the end of five minutes, appeared from the corridor which Dame Beatrice had traversed twice that afternoon. 'You've been a long time coming, Violet!'

'Sorry, Messus Judeth, Oi'm sure. Us ben looken after Messus Trelby. Such a lovely tea her've etten, ee'd hardly credet, her haven such a poor appetoite as a rule.'

'Really!' said Romilly. 'That is excellent news, Violet. She's found an appetite, has she? I'm delighted.'

'Tea in here, and at once,' said Judith. 'Bring that small table forward, and we may need another one. You and Amabel can carry it here from the drawing-room.'

'Ee can have Messus Trelby's trolley. That ud be best, Oi reckon.'

Violet, having proved her independence, retired to bring in the tea.

'You'll have to speak severely to that girl,' said Judith, flushing until her face looked as round and as red as