by Henry Green
There's the telephone,' Raunce announced. Bert got up to answer it away in the pantry.
Miss Burch fixed a stern eye on Kate so much as to say a minute or so ago just now you were about to be actually coarse.
'Well I don't aim to be shot dead. On no account I don't.' the girl explained.
There's worse things than death my girl,' Miss Burch repeated. 'As anyone can tell you who remembers the last war.'
'I saw in the papers they behave themselves most correct towards the French people,' Edith said, still looking at Charley.
'What can you believe in these Irish rags?' Raunce asked.
'Well, there's one thing,' Miss Burch told him, 'they're neutral enough, they print what both sides say against one another.'
'Ah,' said Raunce, 'that's nothing but propaganda these days. It's human nature you've got to keep count of. Why it stands to reason with an invadin' army…' he was going on as Edith watched him open eyed when Albert came back.
'It was a wire for you,' he said to Raunce.
'Where is it then?' this man asked.
'Well there ain't no telegram,' was the answer he got. They read it out over the phone.'
'Ow many times have I told you never to take nothin' over that instrument without you write it down,' Raunce demanded in rising tones. 'Why I remember once at a place I was in, that very thing occasioned the death of a certain Mrs Harris. There you are. Killed her it did as if she had been blown in smithereens with a shotgun.'
'Go on,' the boy said respectful.
'Don't give me no go ons,' Raunce almost shouted at him. 'D'you know what you're about?'
'Yes Mr Raunce.'
'All right then.' The authority Raunce seemed to have acquired since Mr Eldon's death must have impressed them all. Even Kate gave him earnest attention. 'Now,' he went on, 'take your time. Don't rush it. What did the thing say?'
'Staying on for a few days Tennant, Mr Raunce.'
'Ho,' said Raunce, 'stayin' on a few days eh? That would be Mrs Tennant then. Mrs Jack she signs herself different. Staying over eh? Leavin' us to face the music that's about the long and short of it.'
'D'you consider there's something likely to occur then?' Edith asked.
'I feel responsible,' he replied.
'For two pins I'd give in my notice,' Kate told them.
'How would you do that?' Edith enquired, 'when they aren't here?'
'Why I'd send it by post or I'd put it on a post card if I was in the mood,' the girl answered and there was a pause. 'I'm game if you are Edie,' Kate added, giving Edith a look that seemed highly inquisitive. But long before she could get an answer Charley was speaking, had so to speak thrown himself into a breach to stop the rot.
'Here,' he cried, 'what's all this, tell me that, what is it? I know the name it could be given, runnin' away, that's two words for it make no mistake. We're British aren't we? Turn tail and flee?' he asked in a loud voice. He glanced in menacing fashion at the lamp-man.
'Is it running away to get back to your own country to lend a hand?' Miss Burch enquired almost with amusement.
'And block the roads getting there?' Raunce asked.
'Why certainly,' she said, 'and block the roads, why not? If it's in the path of the enemy,' she said.
'But suppose they wished to evacuate the Governor General? Or the gold in the Bank of Ireland?' Raunce objected.
Paddy murmured something.
'There 'e goes again,' Raunce said and looked at Kate. 'What is it this time?'
'He says the Governor General is an Irishman an' would never go to England.'
That's a bloody lie,' Raunce announced with finality. 'There's always been a Britisher in that job. Excuse me,' he added to Miss Burch, 'I seem to have forgot myself. Well what d'you know?' he went on. There's that telephone again.' Bert left the room. This time they kept uneasy silence till he returned.
'Well?' Charley asked the lad when he got back. He was handed a scrap of paper. He examined it. 'I can't read this,' he said.
'You should write down the messages neatly on a proper bit of paper,' Miss Burch told Albert. Raunce sat staring at what he held. There's times I despair of you my lad,' he moaned. Kate winked at Albert. 'Well come on, don't stand there dumb,' Charley went on, 'I can tell it's from Mrs Jack an' that's all.'
'Not returning for few days Violet Tennant,' the lad recited.
A silence fell over them once more. Then Kate saw fit to comment with what seemed like satisfaction, 'And that's the last we shall see or even 'ear of her if you ask me.'
'Why Kate,' Edith said, 'I never heard such a thing.'
'It was uncalled for,' Miss Burch pronounced, 'and what's more I don't wish another word spoken,' she added very grim. Silence fell yet again. At last Raunce broke the spell.
'Left all on our own,' he said with genuine emotion, seeming to ignore the others. 'How do you like that?'
Edith appealed to the lampman,
'But the Irish would act the same as anyone surely?' she put it to him, 'they'd be busy looking after their own if Jerry came? They'd never bother to protect us. They wouldn't have the leisure?'
He made no reply. It was Charley gave her an answer.
'And what about the panzer grenadiers?' he asked. 'When they come through this tight little island like a dose of Epsom salts will they bother with those hovels, with two pennorth of cotton? Not on your life. They'll make tracks straight for great mansions like we're in my girl.'
'Mr Raunce,' Miss Burch reproved him.
I'll ask you to excuse me Miss Burch,' he said. 'I got carried away for a moment. It's you ladies I can't get off my mind.'
'I know what I'd say if one of those dirty Germans offered me an impoliteness,' Edith said.
'And what good would that do if he didn't speak English?' Kate wanted to be told.
This much,' Edith answered. 'He wouldn't be left in two minds even if he was only familiar with his own language.'
'Now look girl,' Raunce broke in gently, 'it's not only a question of one but of a whole company. Not just one individual but of above a score. Get me?'
'Oo a hundred,' Edith moaned. 'I ought to get away from here.'
Paddy spoke again indistinct as ever.
'Well what is it now?' Charley asked Kate.
'E says not to worry, they won't never come over.'
'I will not allow myself to get upset,' Raunce announced with what appeared to be excessive good humour, 'I've promised my lad here. But can anyone tell me what's to stop 'em,' he went on.
Paddy replied readily in sibilants and gutturals. Kate did not wait to be asked. She translated at once.
'Because the country's too poor to tempt an army he reckons, all bog and stones he says.'
'I'm going to lie down for a spell before I sit by Miss Swift,' Agatha announced as she got up to leave by way of the scullery. For the nanny had taken to her bed. No one paid attention. They all stared at the lampman.
'But let 'im satisfy me in this respect,' Raunce cried, 'what the condition of Ireland has to do with it? For one thing if it wasn't rotten land fit only for spuds we'd've been 'ere to this day, our government I mean. No we gave Ireland back because we didn't want it, or this part anyway. Nor Jerry doesn't want it. Then what is 'e after? I'll tell you. What he requires is a stepping stone to invade the old country with. Like crossin' a stream to keep your feet dry.'
'D'you really think so Mr Raunce?' Edith asked.
'I'm dead certain,' he answered.
'Then what are we waitin' for?' Kate wanted to know. 'If Michael drove us down this afternoon we could cross over on the night boat.'
'Hold hard a minute,' Raunce advised her, 'you're drawin' your wages. Right? You're gettin' what you thought was fair I presume or you wouldn't have come nor taken the place?'
'I wanted to get away from 'ome,' she interrupted.
'You wanted to leave home so you went into service,' he echoed. 'All right. You've been here 'ow long? Sixteen months O. K. All that period you ate their grub, took your
wage, and didn't give more in return than would cover a tanner. I'm not blaming, mind, I've done the same. Now then when they're entitled to a month's notice you want to welsh no offence to cook. Don't call her cook she don't like it,' he added referring to Mrs Welch, and seemingly in high good humour.
'Forty quid a year and all found then to have a hundred Jerries after me no thank you,' she said.
'Kate Armstrong,' Edith cried out.
'Send in your notice then," Raunce went on, 'there's nothing and nobody to stop you. But give them the four weeks that's coming to 'em. And be called up in the Army when you land on the other side.'
'What d'you mean get called up?'
'Didn't you know? They've Army police waitin' where the travellers come off the boat. You'll be took straight off to the depot.'
'I wouldn't go.'
'Then if you resist it's the glass 'ouse for you my girl.'
'The glass 'ouse? What's that?'
'Army Detention Barracks ducks. It's rough in them places.'
'Well I don't know, you are cheerful aren't you,' Kate said.
'That's right you forget all about it,' he answered. He winked his bluest eye at Edith so Kate could not see him.
Looking round the corner into the great kitchen Miss Burch said, 'I was going to have a lie down for ten minutes but here I am.'
Mrs Welch was alone with her notebook. She did not look up. She called out, 'Jane a cup of tea for Miss Burch.'
Agatha sat down across the table from her. She did not speak again until the tea was brought. Then she came out almost tragically dramatic, in a very different tone to the one she had used in the servants' hall.
'They're not either of them coming back now,' she said. 'There's been a telegram. They're staying over.'
'Not ever?' Mrs Welch enquired sharp, drawing a tumbler of what appeared to be water towards her.
'Oh I don't go so far as that Mrs Welch,' Miss Burch replied, 'I wouldn't like to say they were never returning, but here we are now on our own and there's Raunce in there over his dinner upsetting my girls with his talk of the war and this I. R. A. worry.'
'I never let that man into my kitchen.'
'You're one of the lucky ones Mrs Welch. You've a place you can call your own.'
'Ah,' this woman answered, 'but run over by two-legged mice.'
'Can't keep nothing safe,' she went on after a silence, and took a gulp out of the glass. 'It's me kidneys,' she explained.
'I wonder you don't take that hot,' Miss Burch commented.
'Hot?' Mrs Welch cried. 'Not on your life not with…' and then she checked herself. 'It's not natural to sup what's been heated except when it's soup or broth,' she went on careful. Miss Burch eyed the tumbler. On which Mrs Welch put her head back and drank what was left at one go, as if in defiance. 'There you are,' she said to Agatha in a thicker voice.
'Very soon if he carries on in the way he's doing,' Miss Burch began again rather quickly, 'I'll remain to do the work alone. Even now with Miss Swift taken bad there's only Edith to look after the children.'
At this Mrs Welch without warning let out a shout of, 'Who took my waterglass tell me that,' and leaned right across the table.
'Bless me,' Miss Burch said, hurriedly drinking up her tea. 'But it's not as if it was any more trouble takin' your Albert out for the afternoons I'm sure. The girl's bringing a third along doesn't amount to nothing,' she said.
At this point, as Agatha was getting up to go, Mary the scullery maid came in the door. 'I spoke to the butcher'm,' she said.
There was a heavy silence. At last Mrs Welch replied unctuously, 'So you spoke in spite of what I said,' From her voice she might have been pleased.
'E said Captain Davenport had left for England sudden. Jane and me's wonderin' if per'aps they've learned something about this invasion.'
'Maybe there's something you don't know Mary,' Miss Burch said, 'and which has nothing to do with wars or rumours of wars.'
'I won't wear it,' Mrs Welch suddenly shouted out thumping the table. 'You'll get us all butchered in our beds that's what I tell you.'
'I was only out by the larder when he rang the bell'm an' I 'id behind the monument like you said but 'e must've catched sight of my dress for he came behind.'
'Did he?' Miss Burch announced with dignity. There's no end to it nowadays,' she said. She stopped by the door, turned back towards Mrs Welch. 'And the Captain's gone over you say? I shall go and lie down.'
'Well don't stand there lookin' Mary, get on with your work,' Mrs Welch remarked as if exhausted and once she was alone got out the key, unlocked the cupboard, and poured another measure of gin. 'For why?' she asked herself aloud, 'because it ain't no use.' When they broke up after dinner in the servants' hall Albert went to clear away in the nursery. Kate followed to help. Paddy returned to his lamproom. This gave Raunce a chance to say to Edith quite formal, 'Have you seen the pictures in my room?' She called him every day now with his early tea. So she said, 'What d'you mean?'
'Why the pictures I've hanged on the walls.' She had done this bedroom out these last five weeks and had carefully examined what he had put in place of Mr Eldon's Coronation likenesses of King Edward and his Danish Queen.
'What's that?' she asked.
'It's brought a big improvement you'll see,' he answered, leading the way. He said twice to himself, 'if I make it seem ordinary she'll follow,' and did not look round for he heard her come after. But his legs went shaky. Probably it was trying to counteract this that made him walk stiff.
'Mortal damp these passages are,' he remarked as their footfalls echoed.
'You want to take care with those swollen glands,' she replied.
'That's why I've got it well wrapped round,' he said. 'Trust little Charley.' It was not long before he was opening his door and entering in front of her.
'Well?' he asked, 'what d'you say to that? Brightens the old place up doesn't it?'
Making herself dainty she looked once more at the two colourful lithographs of Windsor Castle, and the late King George's Coronation Coach, a plain house photograph of Etonians including Mr Jack in tails, and the polychrome print of scarlet-coated soldiers marching in bearskins. The frames were black and matched.
'The British Grenadiers girl,' he said hearty. 'Grenadier Guardsmen they are,' he said. 'Finest soldiers in the world,' he added.
She let this pass, merely enquiring if the pictures were not out of Mr Jack's old playroom and if he did not think they would mind his taking them.
'I don't pay attention,' he announced.
'So I notice,' she said.
'Well what's the object?' he wanted to know. They can't remember what they've got.' He was getting almost brisk with her.
'No,' she replied, 'but that's not saying they would never recognize a picture which is hung on the wall.'
'All right,' he said, 'what then? They couldn't make out I'd took it could they when it's in the house all the time.'
'Oh I'm not talkin' of that old picture,' she replied, not looking at him. There's other matters I've noticed.'
'Really!' he asked as though he had not made up his mind whether or no to be sarcastic.
'Yes Mr Raunce,' she said.
'Aw come on now,' he objected, 'you don't need to call me Mr Raunce, not when we're like this. I'm Charley to you as we are.'
'All right, yes… Charley,' she murmured.
'Listen dear you don't want to bother your head with what you see,' he began again.
'Me?' she answered. 'I'm not worrying.' S 'Well then what is it you take exception to?' i 'Oh nothing,' she said as if she did not care what he did.
'Should it be the lamp wicks now why they're just my perks since I come into the place,' he explained. 'I know old Aggie Burch reckons she tumbled something the other day and I don't doubt she's talked. But you needn't run away with the notion I put new wicks down in my book and then buy none. Why it's to get them a stock up. One day they might turn round to find there won't be r wicks being made n
o more for the duration. If I didn't tell Mrs T. i i they were required I couldn't get any for 'er could I?'! › 'It'll be all right till they find you out.' / 'No one ever found out Charley Raunce. Lucky Charley they call me.' i I 'It's the lucky ones have furthest to fall,' she said low. [, 'But what's it to you?' he asked as though challenging her. 'It's | nothing to you,' he said. j 'I do care,' she said and turned away abruptly.!
'What's this?' he enquired chuckling, a light in his eyes. Coming • up behind he laid hold of her shoulders. 'Here give us a little kiss,' he said. For answer she burst into noisy tears. 'Now girlie,' he cried; as if stricken, dropped his hands and sat heavily down on the bed. He seized her wrist and began rubbing the knuckles.
'Oh I don't know,' she broke out keeping her head turned so he should not see and blowing her nose, 'it's all this talk of invasion -an' the Jerries an' the Irish – then what I witnessed when I called: my young lady – an' you makin' out I never seen what I did – oh it's. disgustin' that's what this old place is, it's horrible,' she said. '
'Why whatever's up?' Raunce asked abashed, still rubbing the back of her hand.
'First you blow hot then you blow cold,' Edith said and snuffled.
'Blow hot then cold?'
'One minute you say the Jerries are comin' over,' she complained, 'and next you won't have a body try to get over home while there's time.'
He pulled gently on her arm. 'Come and sit by father,' he said.
'Me?' she said in a brighter voice. 'What d'you take me for?'
'That's better,' he said although she was still standing there. 'The trouble with you is you take everything so dead serious.'
'And how do you view things for the matter of that?' she enquired.
'Here,' he replied, 'we don't want you jumpin' on me into the bargain. No me,' he went on, 'I take things to 'eart.'
'Yes?' she said and sat down as though bemused.
'I take things right down inside me girl,' he said putting an arm lightly round her. 'When I feel whatever it is I feel it deep. I'm not like some,' he was going on when she turned her face so that he looked into her eyes which seemed now to have a curve of laughter in their brimming light.
'Oh baby,' he said, reached out with his face. He might have been about to kiss her. She twisted slightly, came out with a 'now then,' and he ceased. 'Look,' he went on and put his other arm round her waist so that he had her in a hoop of himself and was obliged to lean awkwardly to do this. 'Look,' he said again, 'it's what is to happen to you I can't get out of my system, that I think of all the time.'