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The Grim Smile of the Five Towns, stories by Arnold Bennett |
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PART XI - FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER - CHAPTER II |
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_ Now, at dinner-time that night, in the dining-room of the commodious and well-appointed mansion of the youngest and richest of the Etches, Uncle Dan stood waiting and waiting for his host and hostess to appear. He was wearing a Turkish tasselled smoking- cap to cover his baldness, and he had taken off his jacket and put on his light, loose overcoat instead of it, since that was a comfortable habit of his. He sent one of the two parlourmaids upstairs for his carpet 'Awfully sorry to keep you waiting, uncle,' said Harold, 'but Maud 'What's up wi' Maud?' 'Oh, goodness knows!' responded Harold gloomily. 'She's not well-- 'H'm!' said Dan. 'Well, let's peck a bit.' So they sat down and began to peck a bit, aided by the two maids. One felt that if one had penetrated to the farthest corner of the When the dinner was over, and the coffee and liqueurs and cigars 'There's things as has changed since my time, lad, but human 'What do you mean, uncle?' Harold asked awkwardly, self- 'I mean as thou'rt a dashed foo'!' 'Why?' 'But thou'lt get better o' that,' said Dan. Harold smiled sheepishly. 'I don't know what you're driving at, uncle,' said he. 'Yes, thou dost, lad. Thou'st been and quarrelled wi' Maud. And I 'As a matter of fact--' Harold stammered. 'And ye've never quarrelled afore. This is th' fust time. And so 'It isn't really a quarrel--it's about nothing--' 'I know--I know,' Dan broke in. 'They always are. As for it not 'She was cross about the petrol,' said Harold, glad to relieve his 'Listen here, young 'un,' Dan interrupted him. 'How old art?' 'Twenty-three.' 'Thou may'st live another fifty years. If thou'st a mind to spend 'What should you have done in my place?' Harold asked. 'I should ha' told Maud her was quite right.' 'But she wasn't.' 'Then I should ha' winked at mysen i' th' glass,' continued Dan, 'That's all very well--' 'Naturally,' said Dan, 'her wanted to show off that car i' front 'But I told her--I explained to her.' 'Her's a handsome little wench,' Dan proceeded. 'And a good heart. 'But I can't always be--' 'It's allus them as gives in as has their own way. I remember her 'With a besom, uncle?' exclaimed Harold, shocked at these family 'Wi' a besom,' said Dan. That come o' reasoning wi' a woman. It 'I don't think Maud will race me all over the town with a besom,' 'There's worse things nor that,' said Dan. 'Look thee here, get 'But what--' 'Hook it, lad!' said Dan curtly. And just as Harold was leaving the room, like a school-boy, he 'I havena' told thee, Harold, as I'm subject to attacks. I'm 'What are we to do?' 'Do nothing. I come round in a minute or two. Whatever ye do, 'Well, I hope you won't have an attack,' said Harold. 'It's a hundred to one I dunna',' said Dan. And Harold departed. Soon afterwards Uncle Dan wandered into a kitchen full of 'Show me th' missis's bedroom, one on ye,' he said to the crowd. And presently he was knocking at Maud's door. 'Maudie!' 'Who is it?' came a voice. 'It's thy owd uncle. Can'st spare a minute?' Maud appeared at the door, smiling, and arrayed in a peignoir. 'HE'S gone out,' said Dan, implying scorn of the person who had 'Where's he gone to?' Maud demanded. She didn't even pretend she was ill. 'Th' Club,' said Dan. And in about a hundred seconds or so he had her in the drawing- 'So he's been quarrelling with ye, Maud?' Dan began. 'No; not quarrelling, uncle.' 'Well, call it what ye'n a mind,' said Dan. 'Call it a prayer- 'It was like this, uncle,' she said. 'Poor Harry was very angry 'Oh, did he?' exclaimed Dan. 'Yes. I explained to him that of course I couldn't leave you all 'Maudie, Maudie,' protested the old man, 'thou'rt th' prettiest 'Do you think so, uncle?' 'Aye, but thou hasna' made use o' 'em tonight. Thou'rt a foolish 'But, really, uncle, it was so absurd of Harold, wasn't it?' 'Aye!' said Dan. 'But why didst-na' give in and kiss him, and 'There was nothing to give in about, uncle.' 'There never is,' said Dan. 'There never is. That's the point. 'I'm not, uncle,' she contradicted, the tears falling on to the 'And Harold's using bad language all up Trafalgar Road, I lay,' 'It was all Harold's fault,' said Maud. 'Why, in course it were Harold's fault. But nowt's worth a 'With a besom!' murmured Maud, pained and forgetting to cry. 'Wi' a besom,' Dan repeated, nodding. 'They never quarrelled 'I don't see Harold chasing me across Bursley with a besom,' said 'And have your own way after all.' 'And perhaps Harold was--' Harold's step could be heard in the hall. 'Oh, dear!' cried Maud. 'What shall I do?' 'I'm not feeling very well,' whispered Uncle Dan weakly. 'I have And his head fell over one side of the chair, and he looked 'Maud, what are you doing?' almost shouted Harold, when he came She was putting a liqueur-glass to Uncle Dan's lips. 'Oh, Harold,' she cried, 'uncle's had an attack of some sort. I'm 'But you mustn't give him brandy,' said Harold authoritatively to 'But I MUST give him brandy,' said Maud. 'He told me that brandy 'Nonsense, child!' Harold persisted. 'Uncle told ME all about 'Harold, you are absolutely mistaken. Don't you understand that And she again approached the glass to the pale lips of the old 'Maud, I forbid you!' And Harold put a hand on the glass. 'It's a 'It was you who misunderstood uncle,' said Maud. 'Of course, if They both paused and glanced at Daniel, and then at each other. 'Perhaps you are right, dearest,' said Harold, in a new tone. 'No, dearest,' said Maud, also in a new tone. 'I expect you are 'No, no, Maud. Give him the brandy by all means. I've no doubt 'But if you think I'd better not give it him--' 'But I would prefer you to give it him, dearest. It isn't likely 'I would prefer to be guided by you, dearest,' said Maud. So they went on for several minutes, each giving way to the other 'AND MEANTIME I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DYING, AM I?' roared Uncle Dan, 'But, uncle,' they both said later, amid the universal and yet 'And I was right,' answered Dan; 'I was right. Th' Divorce Court |