A Tale of Two Families by Dodie Smith

Author:Dodie Smith [Dodie Smith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780944340
Publisher: Hesperus Press Ltd.
Published: 2015-10-08T04:00:00+00:00

12

At supper that evening (always ‘supper’ on Sundays, though otherwise indistinguishable from the usual ‘dinner’) Hugh remarked, ‘Well, eat, drink and be merry – for tomorrow Aunt Mildred comes.’

Fran said, ‘Now, listen, Hugh – in fact, listen everyone! It just isn’t fair to expect the worst of Mildred and, what’s more, it brings out the worst. What’s so wrong with her, anyway? What does she do? She’s a perfectly harmless old lady.’

‘She’s not and you know it,’ said May. ‘She rarely comes for so much as a meal without upsetting someone. How we’re all going to stand her for a fortnight I simply don’t know.’

Neither did Fran but she said firmly, ‘Nonsense, darling. Anyway, let’s all forget past irritations and do our best to be nice to her. Baggy, you’ll help me, won’t you?’

Mildred had only been invited to Rosehaven when June had felt it absolutely necessary, but Baggy knew her well enough to consider her annoying and what he would have described as ‘very fancy’. Still, she was Fran’s sister so there ought to be some good in her. Every day he became more devoted to Fran. ‘Of course I’ll be nice to her,’ he said kindly.

‘Sweet of you, Baggy.’ Not that Mildred cared much for elderly men; she often said she felt an affinity with the young. Remembering this, Fran appealed to Hugh again, ‘I wonder if you realise how fond of you she is.’

‘I don’t and I’d rather not,’ said Hugh, then added a trifle impatiently, ‘Oh, don’t worry, Fran. I shall only be seeing her at the weekends. I expect I can keep the peace – if only she’ll lay off calling me “Little St Hugh” and telling me my true vocation is the church.’

‘It’s meant as a compliment. She admires you enormously.’ This was untrue. Mildred had recently said to Fran, ‘Naturally I’m fond of Hugh but you must admit he’s a bit goody-goody. So’s his father. Of course they’re both handsome but give me George every time.’ If only George would be nice to Mildred, how Mildred would blossom. Fran, turning to him, said, ‘Well, I know I can count on you, George. Even to Mildred you’re always the perfect host.’

George had been wondering if, during the next fortnight, he could find it necessary to spend quite a few nights in London. But he might be a nuisance to Hugh and Corinna at the flat. Also, May might suspect he was up to something. (God knew he wasn’t; astonishing how little temptation he’d had to face recently.) And he was still very much enjoying life at the Dower House. He felt capable of taking Mildred in his stride and he would come home every night positively exuding bonhomie.

‘Tell me something she likes,’ he said to Fran. ‘Something I can bring home as a treat.’

‘Liqueur chocolates – anyway, she used to.’ Mildred was apt to be faithless to the things she liked, when someone took the trouble to buy them for her. But she’d like anything George gave her.

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