High Rising (VMC) by Angela Thirkell

Author:Angela Thirkell [Thirkell, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781405516709
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2012-11-22T08:00:00+00:00

8

Lunch and the Gentlest Art

For nearly three months, that is to say for most of the winter term, Laura was working hard in London. Adrian she saw once or twice, and gathered that he heard from Sibyl occasionally. He had hoped that she might be in town, but she said nothing about coming and ignored what he hoped were his delicate hints about running down to Low Rising for a day.

‘I can’t go on much longer like this,’ he said to Laura one day, over lunch. ‘Letters aren’t enough. Sibyl writes darling letters, but they are so short, and don’t tell me anything. I do so want to see what she is writing, too. I’m sure it’s delicious, and I’d love to publish it, and then perhaps she would be grateful.’

‘Gratitude isn’t what you need, my good man,’ said Laura. ‘What you need is the love of a pure girl.’

‘But wouldn’t gratitude be a step on the way?’

‘Man, man, it would be no step at all. And anyway why should she be grateful? Love or no love, you’re not going to publish her book unless you see money in it. You are a Jew and a shark, you know,’ said Laura dispassionately, ‘who battens on widows. Though I must say I never think of myself as a widow. I’m just myself. Have you noticed how real widows go all crumpled up after their husbands die? They seem to shrink and cave in. But I don’t crumple a bit. I suppose I haven’t the real widow spirit. Besides, it is so comfortable to live alone – except just now and then, when one feels a superfluous woman and would like to have someone to go to parties with. But you are too young to understand all that, Adrian, and anyway it’s Sibyl you want to talk about, not me.’

‘Darling, you are a heavenly fool, as I once had occasion to tell Knox.’

‘You told George Knox that? Oh, well, I dare say you’re right. Only you don’t mean I’m like Parsifal, with a nightgown on over my armour, and walking two steps forward and one step back while the scenery moves along, do you?’

Adrian reassured her.

‘Also,’ he said, ‘it would be one in the eye for Johns and Fairfield if I got hold of Sibyl’s work. I wonder if they know she is writing.’

‘If they don’t know, it won’t be for the want of telling, while her father is alive. You ought to get something in writing from her to say you are to have first claim, or something.’

‘Well, I have got a kind of promise, Laura. I’ll show you her letter if you like.’

‘I do love it when you say “her” like that, you amorous fool,’ said Laura politely. Adrian’s dark skin flushed, but he made no reply, and, taking out his pocket-book, he handed a letter to Laura.

‘Am I the confidante in this piece?’ she asked.

‘You are.’

The letter said: Dear Mr Coates,

‘Good heavens, haven’t you got any further than Mr and Miss?’ asked Laura.

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