Bachelors Anonymous by PG Wodehouse

Author:PG Wodehouse [Wodehouse, PG]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Humour
ISBN: 9780880292795
Goodreads: 60512
Publisher: Marboro Books (Rockleigh, NJ)
Published: 1973-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

4

Daphne Dolby returned shortly after he had left. She was in excellent spirits, having plainly enjoyed the reunion with the comrades of her girlhood.

‘Where were you at school, Sally?’ she asked.

‘I was privately educated, as they say in the reference books.’

‘There were times in my early days,’ said Daphne, ‘when I wished I had been, but I don’t know. It wasn’t so bad, looking back, and certainly the hell-hounds I used to regard with loathing seem to have improved with age. I loved them all tonight. I’m giving lunch to some of them tomorrow. Care to come along?’

‘I can’t, I’m afraid. I’d have loved to, but I’ve got to go to Valley Fields and spend the day with an old nurse.

‘The Nanny of your childhood?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m sorry for you. I know those old Nannies. Mine lives in Edinburgh, thank God. She—’

Daphne broke off. She sniffed. A stern look came into her face.

‘Sally! You’ve been smoking!’

‘Not me,’ said Sally. ‘My betrothed.’

‘What! You aren’t engaged?’

‘I am.’

‘You’ve kept it very dark. Since when?’

‘It only happened tonight.’

‘Who is he?’

‘His name’s Warner. Jaklyn Warner.’

The announcement caused a brief pause in the conversation. It is always disconcerting for a girl who is engaged to a man to be told by a friend that she, the friend, is also engaged to him. Daphne was less taken aback than most would have been, for she remembered that she had informed Jaklyn of Sally’s legacy, and her knowledge of him told her that this was how, given that information, he might have been expected to act. Her illusions where he was concerned were few.

It was, accordingly, with perfect calm that she said:

‘Oh, Jaklyn Warner, eh?’

‘Do you know him?’

‘I’ve seen him around.’

There was another pause.

‘Of course he didn’t know about this money of yours?’ said Daphne.

‘No.’

‘Did you tell him?’

‘It came out as we were talking. He was saying how hard up we should be, and I thought it would comfort him to mention it.’

‘I’ll bet he was astounded.’

‘He did seem to be.’

‘And overjoyed?’

‘Not particularly. I don’t think he thinks much about money.’

‘No, pure spirit, that boy,’ said Daphne.

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