When the grouse was finished she was left to the mercies of Captain Chadlington, which meant that she could indulge in her own thoughts until the end of the meal. He had given up asking what pack she hunted with in despair, and that was his only conversational gambit. Albert was sitting next to Sally again and Jane hardly even minded this. She was worn out with her emotions.
After dinner Lady Prague suggested ‘Lists’. Sally said she was tired and would go to bed. Walter settled down to the piano, and Albert pleaded that he had work to do.
‘Very well, if nobody wants to play we might as well go and listen to the wireless.’
‘It’s a wonderful programme tonight,’ said the general. ‘A talk on how wire-netting is made from A to B–Z, I mean – and selections from The Country Girl. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.’
They all left the room except Walter, who was playing some Brahms, and Jane and Albert who stood by the fire laughing.
‘Why are you going away so soon?’ she asked him, almost against her will.
‘I am wasting time here. I must return to Paris,’ he said. And then, abruptly: ‘Come with me. I’ve something to show you.’
Jane’s heart thumped as she followed him into the billiard-room.
Albert shut the door and looking at her in a peculiar way, his head on one side, he said:
‘Well?’
Jane put up her face to be kissed.
‘Darling, Albert!’
He took her in his arms and kissed her again and again.
‘Oh, Albert! I was so miserable. I thought you’d stopped loving me.’
‘Yes, I know. I meant you to.’
‘Oh, you monster! Why?’
‘Because it was the only way for you to make up your mind. I won’t be kept on a string by any woman.’
‘But I’d made it up completely after that walk. Yes, it’s no good shaking your head. I had, and I was going to tell you as soon as I got a chance to. Oh, darling, how I do love you!’
‘Come and sit here.’
Jane put her head on his shoulder. She had never been so happy.
‘When did you fall in love with me?’
‘The first time I saw you at Sally’s.’
‘Did you? Fancy, I thought you seemed so bored.’
‘How beautiful you are!’
‘Am I?’
‘Don’t say “Am I?” like that, it’s disgusting. Yes you are – very!’
‘Oh, good. Albert?’
‘Yes?’
‘Shall I come and live with you in Paris?’
‘Well, wives quite often do live with their husbands, you know, for a bit, anyhow.’
Jane sat up and stared at him.
‘Do you want to marry me?’
‘But, of course, you funny child. What d’you imagine I want?’
‘I don’t know. I thought you might like me to be your mistress. I never really considered marrying you.’
‘Good gracious, darling! What d’you suppose I am? An ordinary seducer?’
Jane grew rather pink; it sounded unattractive, somehow, put like that.
‘And may I ask if you’re in the habit of being people’s mistress?’
‘Well, no, actually I’m not. But I should love to be yours. Albert, don’t be so childish. Have you no modern ideas?’
‘Not where you’re concerned, I’m afraid.’
‘I don’t think I believe in marriage.’
‘Now you’re being childish. Anyway, why don’t you?’
‘Well, none of my friends have made a success of it, except Walter and Sally, and they’re such very special people.’
‘So are we very special people. If you can’t make a success of marriage you’re no more likely to make a success of living together. In any case, I insist on being married, and I’m the grown-up one here, please, remember.’
‘I’m not so sure. Still I expect it would be rather nice, and I do look terribly pretty in white tulle. You’ll have to meet my family, in that case, you know. You’re not really going to Paris?’
‘No, of course not – now. Let’s stay here for a bit and then we’ll go and see your parents. Will they disapprove of me?’
‘I expect so, most probably,’ said Jane hopefully. She had refused to marry at least two people she was quite fond of, on the grounds that her family would be certain to approve of them. ‘They simply hate artists. But we need never see them once we’re married.’
‘I think that would be dreadful,’ said Albert. ‘After all, you are their only child, think how they will miss you. I shall have to spare you to them occasionally.’
‘Darling, how sweet you are! Have you ever had a mistress?’
‘Two.’
‘Do you love me as much as them?’
‘I might in time.’
‘Will you love me for ever?’
‘No, I shouldn’t think so. It doesn’t happen often.’
‘Do you love me a lot?’
‘Yes I do. A great lot.’
‘When shall we be married?’
‘After my exhibition, about the end of November.’
‘Where shall we live?’
‘Somewhere abroad. Paris, don’t you think? I’ll go back and find a flat while you’re buying your trousseau, or you could come, too, and buy it there.’
‘Albert, you’re such a surprise to me. I should have imagined that you were the sort of person who would like to be married in the morning, and never think of a trousseau.’
‘Well, my angel, you know how I hate getting up, and after all, I’ve got to see your underclothes, haven’t I? No, I’m all for having a grand wedding I must say; one gets more presents like that, too.’
‘My dear, you’ve never seen any wedding presents or you wouldn’t call that an advantage.’
‘Still, I suppose they’re marketable?’
‘Shall we be frightfully poor?’
‘Yes, fairly poor. I have just over a thousand a year besides what I make.’
‘And I’ve four hundred. Not too bad. Walter and Sally have to manage on a thousand between them. I must say they’re generally in the deep end, though. I simply can’t think what they’ll do now, poor sweets. How soon shall I tell my family?’
‘Not till we leave here, if I were you. You might change your mind.’
‘Yes, I quite expect I shall do that. We won’t tell the Murgatroyds, either, will we? Just Walter
