‘He’s embroidering a counterpane,’ said Davey, ‘it’s his wedding present for Polly. He calls it a bedspread.’
‘Oh, really!’ Aunt Sadie shuddered. ‘He is the most dreadful man! Better not tell Matthew – in fact, I wouldn’t tell him you’ve been over at all. He nearly has a fit every time he thinks of Boy now, and I don’t blame him. Bedspread indeed!’
15
Soon after this Polly announced to Aunt Sadie that she would like to go to London the following day, as she had an appointment there with Boy. We were sitting alone with Aunt Sadie in her little room. Although it was the first time that Polly had mentioned her uncle’s name to anybody at Alconleigh, except me, she brought it out not only without a tremor of self-consciousness but as though she spoke of him all and every day. It was an admirable performance. There was a pause. Aunt Sadie was the one who blushed and found it difficult to control her voice, and when at last she replied it did not sound natural at all, but hard and anxious.
‘Would you care to tell me what your plans are, Polly?’
‘Please – to catch the 9.30 if it’s convenient.’
‘No, I don’t mean your plans for tomorrow, but for your life.’
‘You see, that’s what I must talk about, with Boy. Last time I saw him we made no plans, we simply became engaged to be married.’
‘And this marriage, Polly dear – your mind is made up?’
‘Yes, quite. So I don’t see any point in all this waiting. As we are going to be married whatever happens, what can it matter when? In fact, there is every reason why it should be very soon now. It’s out of the question for me to go and live with my mother again and I can’t foist myself on you indefinitely. You’ve been much too kind as it is.’
‘Oh, my darling child, don’t give that a thought. It never matters having people here so long as Matthew likes them. Look at Davey and Fanny, they’re in no hurry to go, they know quite well we love having them.’
‘Oh, yes, I know, but they are family.’
‘So are you, almost, and quite as welcome as if you were. I have got to go to London in a few weeks, as you know, for Linda’s baby, but that needn’t make any difference to you, and you must stay on for as long as ever you like. There’ll be Fanny, and when Fanny goes there are the children – they worship you, you are their heroine, it’s wonderful for them having you here. So don’t think about that again. Don’t, for heaven’s sake, rush into marriage because you think you have nowhere to live, because for one thing it’s not the case at all, since you can live here, and anyhow, it could never be a sufficient reason for taking such a grave step.’
‘I’m not rushing,’ said Polly. ‘It’s the only marriage I could ever have made, and if it had continued to be impossible I should have lived and died a spinster.’
‘Oh, no you wouldn’t,’ said Aunt Sadie, ‘you’ve no idea how long life goes on and how many many changes it brings. Young people seem to imagine that it’s over in a flash, that they do this thing, or that thing, and then die, but I can assure you they are quite wrong. I suppose it’s no good saying this to you, Polly, as I can see your mind is made up, but since you have the whole of your life before you as a married woman why not make the most of being a girl? You’ll never be one again. You’re only twenty. Why be in such a hurry to change?’
‘I hate being a girl, I’ve hated it ever since I grew up,’ said Polly, ‘and besides, do you really think a lifetime is too long for perfect happiness? I don’t.’
Aunt Sadie gave a profound sigh.
‘I wonder why it is that all girls suppose the married state to be one of perfect happiness? Is it just clever old Dame Nature’s way of hurrying them into the trap?’
‘Dear Lady Alconleigh, don’t be so cynical.’
‘No no, you are quite right, I mustn’t be. You’ve settled upon your future and nothing anybody can say will stop you, I’m sure, but I must tell you that I think you are making a terrible mistake. There, I won’t say another word about it. I’ll order the car for the 9.30, and will you be catching the 4.45 back or the 6.10?’
‘Four forty-five please. I told Boy to meet me at the Ritz at one – I sent him a postcard yesterday.’
And by a miracle the said postcard had lain about all day on the hall table without either Jassy or Victoria spotting it. Hunting had begun again, and although they were only allowed out three times a fortnight the sheer physical exhaustion which it induced did a great deal towards keeping their high spirits within bounds. As for Uncle Matthew, who went out four days a week, he hardly opened an eye after tea-time, but nodded away standing up in his business-room, with the gramophone blaring his favourite tunes. Every few minutes he gave a great jump and rushed to change the needle and the disc.
That evening, before dinner, Boy rang up. We were all in the business-room listening to Lakmé on the gramophone, new records which had just arrived from the Army and Navy Stores. My uncle ground his teeth when the temple bells were interrupted by a more penetrating peal, and gnashed them with anger when he heard Boy’s voice asking for Polly, but he handed her the receiver and pushed up a chair for her with the old-fashioned courtesy which he used towards those he liked. He never treated Polly as if she were a very young person and I believe he was really rather
