The Old Forest and Other Stories by Peter Hillsman Taylor

Author:Peter Hillsman Taylor [Taylor, Peter Hillsman]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Stories, Literature
ISBN: 9780385279833
Amazon: 0385279833
Publisher: Dial Press; Random House, Inc
Published: 1985-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

The night of the ball, we had an early dinner without Daddy. He came in and went up to dress while we were still at the table. After dinner, he sent for us to come to his room, where he said that he wanted us to behave ourselves that night “as never before.” He was going out to dinner with the Caswells and Mrs. Richards and some other friends, but he would send the car and chauffeur to fetch us to the Colosseum. He didn’t tell us that Bessie wasn’t going to accompany us or that we would be sitting with him in one of the boxes downstairs.

And Bessie herself withheld this information till the very last. When it was finally divulged, we had already been so dazzled by another piece of news that the evening before us and these unexpected arrangements seemed of little consequence. When we were both dressed, we went into the sewing room, where Bessie always sat in the evening, to have her look us over.

“How do I look?” Corinna asked.

“You look fine,” said Bessie. Then she saw Corinna eyeing herself in the mirror stand, and she added, “But no better than you should.”

Corinna went up on her tiptoes and said, “I ought to have heels.”

“Behave yourself tonight, Corinna,” Bessie said. “And see that he does.” She didn’t look at me, even. Then leaning back in her chair she said, “I’ve got something to tell both of you.”

“What?” said Corinna.

“I want you to behave yourself next week, too.”

“Oh, I thought it was something,” said Corinna.

“It is something. They’ve sent for me down home. I’ll be gone on the train before you get home tonight.”

Corinna stared at Bessie in the mirror. “It’s Mama?” she asked, breathless. “Tell me, Bessie!”

Bessie nodded. “She’s dead. She’s been dead for two days. I’ve just been waiting around here to get tonight over.”

Corinna observed a moment of silence. She knew that Mama had been “no pleasure to herself or anybody else” for several years now. Further, she knew that she had never heard Bessie say one good word for her mama, and that no commiseration was expected. But still, the respectful silence would be appreciated and would assure her getting answers to the questions she was bound to ask presently. She sat down on a wooden stool by the mirror and placed her feet, in their patent leather slippers, close together. She sat there smoothing the black velvet skirt over her knees. “Lilly Belle?” she said. “Is she engaged to Mr. Barker yet?”

Bessie nodded again. “She already has Mr. Barker’s ring on her finger.”

Now it was safe for Corinna to look up. “Will it be a long engagement?” she asked, still restraining herself somewhat.

“I’m going to stay over for the wedding Sunday week.”

Corinna sprang to her feet. “Bessie!” she said. “Let me lend you my Brownie so you can bring us some pictures!”

Bessie shook her head. “Never mind about that. Lilly Belle’s not going to get herself married to Mr. Barker without some high-type photographer there.

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