Doting by Henry Green

Author:Henry Green
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781681371429
Publisher: New York Review Books
Published: 2017-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

On their usual day, and the accustomed time and place, Arthur Middleton and Miss Paynton forgathered at the bar. It was cold and wet outside, but he seemed hot, almost bothered.

“I say, Ann,” he said. “A frightful thing has cropped up. There’s been a call from the Ministry and I’ve got to go today to lunch with the Permanent Secretary.”

“Then where am I supposed to eat?” she cried.

“You know how things are,” he apologized. He looked sharply round the room, could see no sign of Charles Addinsell. “Who can tell, we may run into someone,” he added.

“Palm me off?” she wailed.

“Now you must forgive this. Of course I mean nothing of the kind, Ann. It’s simply that I can’t ignore this summons I’ve had, although I’m aware beforehand it will be a complete waste of time. Look, I could see the headwaiter and have him send your bill along.”

“Oh Arthur,” the girl broke out “I feel so awful, I really do! I can’t imagine why I started to grumble. Somehow I felt as if I would never see you anymore!”

“Now, Ann, what is this? Aren’t you well?”

“I’m quite all right, thank you,” she said, rather severely. “Then when d’you have to go? At once?”

“How is the time?” he asked, glaring at the electric clock. After which he searched through that bar once more, from his stool. “Good Lord,” he announced, so it seemed in great surprise “see who’s here, old Charles! D’you know Charles Addinsell?” he asked the girl.

“The same one?”

“Yes.”

“Of course I don’t. Except what you’ve told me, Arthur.”

“Then let’s give him a drink.”

After cordial introduction, plus some fervent small talk, Mr. Middleton excused himself, without further explanation, and made off.

“Have another?” Charles Addinsell suggested.

“Oh, but I ought to go.”

“Well then, one for the road.”

“You are so kind. Might I really?”

“Good. Waiter, two more medium sherries. Waiter! Waiter!! Good God, am I to have to shout? That’s better. Yes, two medium sherries.” He turned back to the girl. “Terrible job to get attention these days.”

“Are you telling me,” she agreed.

“Though, looking at you, I can see you don’t suffer,” he said.

“Oh, can’t I!” she bridled, seemingly delighted. “Yet suppose I went up with you to a glove counter staffed by the usual girls, I’d let you do the asking.”

He laughed. “You might be right at that,” he said.

She frowned, stayed silent.

“Often come here?” he tried again.

“I always lunch out,” she said, very grandly.

“Well, good luck,” he proposed, raising the full glass.

“Thank you,” she answered over hers.

“Known old Arthur long?”

“Ages!” she said. “I was practically brought up with the son Peter, who’s much younger than me, of course.”

“At St. Olaf’s, isn’t it, where I was with Arthur?”

“Then you have known him a long time!”

“Doesn’t seem like that.”

“Really?” she asked in a cool, grand tone.

“So you’ve known Diana, too, for quite a bit?”

“Darling Di,” Miss Paynton assented.

“Wonderful woman,” Charles mused aloud, in a reflective sort of voice.

“Then you’ve been friends with her for a whole long while, as well?”

“The usual thing,” the man told Ann.

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