'I know. Then that will be lovely.'
'When d'you think he'll let you know dear?'
Mrs Jack showed irritation. 'No Badger no,' she said. On being spoken to the dog made as if to leap up at her. 'Down damn you,' she said. 'Oh you know how it is,' she went on, 'the usual, three days notice at the most. On top of everything you've got to be looking your best as though you'd been in and out of the London shops all winter.'
'You won't have to worry your head over that,' Mrs Tennant archly told her. 'Oh by the way did I ever mention about Mrs Welch's nephew coming over to stay?'
'How old is he?'
'Just the right age Violet, nine next March. I thought it would be nice for the children that's why I bought his ticket. His father's the chauffeur to old Lord Cheltenham.'
'My dear have you broken it yet to nanny?'
'No darling to tell you the truth I didn't dare.'
'It is a bit of a facer isn't it?'
'You see I couldn't very well refuse,' Mrs Tennant said, 'and it will be so good for the children.'
'What's he like?'
'Oh Mrs Welch is a most superior woman. I'm sure he'll be perfect. I wouldn't mind if there were any possible children down in the •village. But even Michael's eldest boy at the Lodge Gates is dressed as a girl.'
'Do they really still believe the boys get carried off by fairies?'
'Well if they do they could expect fairies to see through the skirts. But couldn't you say the little chap's been ill?' she asked her daughter-in-law.
'Then she'd think she'll have to nurse him,' Mrs Jack objected.
'But couldn't you promise her that Mrs Welch won't let him out of sight Violet?'
'It is so difficult isn't it? And it's just what Evelyn and Moira have been wanting. Anyway bother nanny.' The two women smiled at one another, grew mischievous. 'I'll tell you what,' Mrs Jack went on, 'why don't we say it's Mrs Welch's illegitimate? Then she'll be so thrilled she'll look after him like one of her own.'
Mrs Tennant tee hee'd.
'Oh Violet you are naughty,' she said.
'Well I don't know why not. After all the worry they bring it would be a score to give them something to really chatter about.'
'And then we should have to find another cook and another nanny,' Mrs Tennant objected. 'It's quite bad enough having them die on one. Besides, Nanny Swift will think it out for herself. I shouldn't be a bit surprised if she didn't start throwing dark hints before the child has been here ten days.'
'D'you think it's true then?'
'My dear what do we know about the servants? Agatha took the trouble only this morning to let out some frightful double meanings in connection with Kate and Arthur. I must remember to call him Raunce.'
'Kate? I'd've thought it would be Edith. I wish I had that girl's skin.'
'Yes she's a lovely child isn't she? D'you inow Violet I don't think I care what they do so long as they stay.'
'You poor dear,' Mrs Jack said. 'Why look,' she went on, 'there it is already.' And there it was close, on a low hill, surrounded by cypresses amongst which grew a palm tree, the marble pillars lying beside jagged cement topped walls against a blue sky with blue clouds. 'D'you think we have to go right up this time?' she asked.
'I don't think we need to-day, do you?' her mother-in-law replied. Calling to the dogs they turned for home. They began a talk about underclothes.
But Kate and Edith were not to get out of the Castle without difficulty. As they came down their passage ready dressed for the afternoon they were halted by a broken noise of sobbing.
'Why listen,' Kate said, 'it must be the old girl herself. Now what do you say to that?'
'You go on dear,' Edith answered, 'don't wait for me.'
'Ah now come on Edie, half the day's gone already, you don't want to bother.'
'Why the poor soul,' Edith said and went in, shutting the door after.
Miss Burch lay on her bed wrapped in a huge blue crocheted shawl. She had taken off her wig and wore a lace mob cap which hung askew. With hands inside that shawl and face sideways on the pillow over a patch of wet Miss Burch seemed given over to despair and sobbed and shook and hiccuped.
Edith took off her beret, sat on the bedside shaking her hair free.
'Oh Burchie Burchie,' she said, 'why whatever's the matter?'
She got no other answer than a wail. Then Miss Burch rolled over face to the wall. The cap twisted off her head. Edith gently put it back and because her shiny skull was sideways on that pillow she could only place the cap so that it sat at right angles to Miss Burch's pinched nose, as someone lying in the open puts their hat to protect their face and terrible eyes.
'Now then,' Edith tried again, 'what's this?' She spoke soft.
'Oh I can't bear it,' Miss Burch cried out, 'I can't bear it.'
'Can't bear what dear?' But the sobbing started redoubled.
'Now Burchie don't take on so, you shouldn't,' Edith went on, searching over this cocoon with her hand for Miss Burch's where it lay wrapped warm to her side, 'listen to me dear, it can't be so bad. You let me bring you a nice cup of tea.'
'I can't bear it,' Miss Burch replied a trifle calmer.
'It wouldn't take me more than a minute to run down. No one would ever know, the kettle was nicely on the boil in the hall when I just left it. You see now if that mightn't do you good."
'Nothing'11 ever be the same,' was all Miss Burch said.
'Now don't talk so wild Burchie. You just go easy and let me fetch you a good cup of tea.'
'You're a good child.'
'Of course I am. There dear. Rest yourself.'
Miss Burch began to sniff, to show signs of coming round.
'It wouldn't take but a minute to nip down,' Edith went on but Miss Burch interrupted.
'No don't leave me, Edith,' she said.