DINNER AT JAMES'
Dinner parties were not now given at James'in Park Lane--to every house the moment comes when Master or Mistress is no longer 'up to it';no more can nine courses be served to twenty mouths above twenty fine white expanses;nor does the household cat any longer wonder why she is suddenly shut up.
So with something like excitement Emily--who at seventy would still have liked a little feast and fashion now and then--ordered dinner for six instead of two,herself wrote a number of foreign words on cards,and arranged the flowers--mimosa from the Riviera,and white Roman hyacinths not from Rome.There would only be,of course,James and herself,Soames,Winifred,Val,and Imogen--but she liked to pretend a little and dally in imagination with the glory of the past.She so dressed herself that James remarked:
"What are you putting on that thing for?You'll catch cold."But Emily knew that the necks of women are protected by love of shining,unto fourscore years,and she only answered:
"Let me put you on one of those dickies I got you,James;then you'll only have to change your trousers,and put on your velvet coat,and there you'll be.Val likes you to look nice.""Dicky!"said James."You're always wasting your money on something."But he suffered the change to be made till his neck also shone,murmuring vaguely:
"He's an extravagant chap,I'm afraid."
A little brighter in the eye,with rather more colour than usual in his cheeks,he took his seat in the drawing-room to wait for the sound of the front-door bell.
"I've made it a proper dinner party,"Emily said comfortably;"Ithought it would be good practice for Imogen--she must get used to it now she's coming out."James uttered an indeterminate sound,thinking of Imogen as she used to climb about his knee or pull Christmas crackers with him.
"She'll be pretty,"he muttered,"I shouldn't wonder.""She is pretty,"said Emily;"she ought to make a good match.""There you go,"murmured James;"she'd much better stay at home and look after her mother."A second Dartie carrying off his pretty granddaughter would finish him!He had never quite forgiven Emily for having been as much taken in by Montague Dartie as he himself had been.
"Where's Warmson?"he said suddenly."I should like a glass of Madeira to-night.""There's champagne,James."
James shook his head."No body,"he said;"I can't get any good out of it."Emily reached forward on her side of the fire and rang the bell.
"Your master would like a bottle of Madeira opened,Warmson.""No,no!"said James,the tips of his ears quivering with vehemence,and his eyes fixed on an object seen by him alone.
"Look here,Warmson,you go to the inner cellar,and on the middle shelf of the end bin on the left you'll see seven bottles;take the one in the centre,and don't shake it.It's the last of the Madeira I had from Mr.Jolyon when we came in here--never been moved;it ought to be in prime condition still;but I don't know,Ican't tell."
"Very good,sir,"responded the withdrawing Warmson.
"I was keeping it for our golden wedding,"said James suddenly,"but I shan't live three years at my age.""Nonsense,James,"said Emily,"don't talk like that.""I ought to have got it up myself,"murmured James,"he'll shake it as likely as not."And he sank into silent recollection of long moments among the open gas-jets,the cobwebs and the good smell of wine-soaked corks,which had been appetiser to so many feasts.In the wine from that cellar was written the history of the forty odd years since he had come to the Park Lane house with his young bride,and of the many generations of friends and acquaintances who had passed into the unknown;its depleted bins preserved the record of family festivity--all the marriages,births,deaths of his kith and kin.And when he was gone there it would be,and he didn't know what would become of it.It'd be drunk or spoiled,he shouldn't wonder!
From that deep reverie the entrance of his son dragged him,followed very soon by that of Winifred and her two eldest.
They went down arm-in-arm--James with Imogen,the debutante,because his pretty grandchild cheered him;Soames with Winifred;Emily with Val,whose eyes lighting on the oysters brightened.
This was to be a proper full 'blowout'with 'fizz'and port!And he felt in need of it,after what he had done that day,as yet undivulged.After the first glass or two it became pleasant to have this bombshell up his sleeve,this piece of sensational patriotism,or example,rather,of personal daring,to display--for his pleasure in what he had done for his Queen and Country was so far entirely personal.He was now a 'blood,'indissolubly connected with guns and horses;he had a right to swagger--not,of course,that he was going to.He should just announce it quietly,when there was a pause.And,glancing down the menu,he determined on 'Bombe aux fraises'as the proper moment;there would be a certain solemnity while they were eating that.Once or twice before they reached that rosy summit of the dinner he was attacked by remembrance that his grandfather was never told anything!
Still,the old boy was drinking Madeira,and looking jolly fit!
Besides,he ought to be pleased at this set-off to the disgrace of the divorce.The sight of his uncle opposite,too,was a sharp incentive.He was so far from being a sportsman that it would be worth a lot to see his face.Besides,better to tell his mother in this way than privately,which might upset them both!He was sorry for her,but after all one couldn't be expected to feel much for others when one had to part from Holly.