Unconditional Surrender by Evelyn Waugh

Author:Evelyn Waugh [Waugh, Evelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: War, Classics
ISBN: 9780316216722
Publisher: Little, Brown
Published: 1961-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Seven

At the end of the first week of that December, History records, Mr. Winston Churchill introduced Mr. Roosevelt to the Sphinx. Fortified by the assurances of their military advisers that the Germans would surrender that winter, the two puissant old gentlemen circumambulated the colossus and silently watched the shadows of evening obliterate its famous features. Some hours later that same sun set in London not in the harsh colours of the desert but fading into the rain where no lamps shone on the wet paving. At that hour, with something of the bland, vain speculation which had been expressed on the faces of the leaders of the Free World, Uncle Peregrine stood at his front-door and regarded the woman who had rung his bell.

“I’ve come to see Guy Crouchback,” she said.

There was no light on the landing. The light in the hall was a mere glimmer. Uncle Peregrine found the blackout congenial and observed the regulations with exaggerated rigour.

“Does he expect you?”

“No. I’ve only just heard he was here. You don’t remember me, do you? Virginia.”

“Virginia?”

“Virginia Crouchback, when you knew me.”

“Oh,” he said. “You are, are you?” Uncle Peregrine was never really disconcerted but sometimes, when a new and strange fact was brought to his notice, he took a little time to assimilate it. “It is a terrible evening. I hope you did not get wet coming here.”

“I took a cab.”

“Good. You must forgive my failure to recognize you. It’s rather dark and I never knew you very well, did I? Are you sure Guy will want to see you?”

“Pretty sure.”

Uncle Peregrine shut the front-door and said: “I was at your wedding. Did we meet after that?”

“Once or twice.”

“You went to Africa. Then someone said you had gone to America. And now you want to see Guy?”

“Yes, please.”

“Come in here. I’ll tell him.” He led Virginia into the drawing-room. “You’ll find plenty to interest you here,” he added as though presaging a long wait. “That is, if you’re interested in things.”

He shut the door behind him. He also shut Guy’s before he announced in a low tone: “There’s a young woman here who says she’s your wife.”

“Virginia?”

“So she claims.”

“Good. Send her in.”

“You wish to see her?”

“Very much.”

“If there’s any trouble, ring. Mrs. Corner is out, but I shall hear you.”

“What sort of trouble, Uncle Peregrine?”

“Any sort of trouble. You know what women are.”

“Do you, Uncle Peregrine?”

He considered this for a moment and then conceded: “Well, no. Perhaps I don’t.”

Then he went out, led Virginia back and left husband and wife together.

Virginia had taken trouble with her appearance. Kerstie was away, attending St. Nicholas’ Day festivitìes at her son’s prep school, and Virginia had borrowed some of the clothes she had lately sold her. She bore no visible signs of her pregnancy, or, in Guy’s eyes, of the many changes which had occurred in her since their last meeting. She came straight to his bed, kissed him, and said: “Darling. What a long time it’s been.”

“February 14th, 1940,” said Guy.

“As long

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