Highland Fling by Nancy Mitford

Author:Nancy Mitford [Mitford, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Historical, Humour
ISBN: 9780345806963
Google: qVbwxyfjTOEC
Amazon: B00C0ALY6W
Barnesnoble: B00C0ALY6W
Goodreads: 17671755
Publisher: Vintage
Published: 1931-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

PRACTICAL and PATRIOTIC.

No, but seriously, where do people keep their babies: one never does see them about, somehow.’

‘I,’ said Albert, ‘am extremely shocked. I thought that when a woman discovered herself to be – well, “in an interesting condition,” as they say in the papers, that she beckoned her husband into the conjugal bedroom and whispered shyly into his ear: “Baby’s coming.” I didn’t know people went on like this, even in these days. I find it most painful and disillusioning, and shall leave you to what should, in my opinion, be your confidences. In other words, you are a pair of clowns, and I must go and work. It’s my great chance, as those Murgatroyds are out for the day and I shall have the billiard table to myself. I suppose I ought to congratulate you, Sally?’

He kissed her and left the room.

Jane had expected that he would ask her to go with him, but as he did not even look in her direction she forbore from suggesting it, and went for a dreary little walk alone till luncheon time.

During the next three days Albert completely neglected Jane, who was thrown into a state almost of frenzy by his behaviour. Ever since their midnight walk she had been eagerly awaiting an opportunity to tell him that she had now changed her mind, or rather that she knew her mind and was very definitely in love with him; but the opportunity did not come and it was Albert himself who prevented it. He not only took no particular notice of her, but actually went out of his way to avoid her.

Jane’s natural reaction to this treatment was to appear more than indifferent and cold towards him, whereas really she was in a perfect fever wondering what could so have altered his feelings. She began to think she must have dreamt the whole affair.

On the third morning Albert announced that he was going to begin his portrait of Sally. Jane felt that this was almost more than she could stand. Ever since Sally’s announcement of her pregnancy, Albert had paid attention to no one else. He and Walter had sat with her for hours on end discussing what the baby would be like, whether it would grow up to be an artist or a writer: (‘In point of fact, of course,’ said Albert, ‘he will probably be a well-known cricket pro.’) how much Sally would suffer at the actual birth, and various other aspects of the situation; and Jane was beginning to feel if not exactly jealous, at any rate, very much left out in the cold.

The thought of them closeted together all day – Albert occupied with gazing at Sally’s lovely face – was almost too much to bear. The fact that the Monteaths were completely wrapped up in each other was no consolation: it was more Albert’s neglect of herself than his interest in Sally that was overwhelming her. She thought that she had never been so unhappy.

All day she avoided the billiard-room where Albert was painting.

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