Some Do Not . . ._ A Novel - Ford Madox Ford [63]
'I see. You take us both under your protection. You'll bluff it out.'
Mrs Wannop said rather coolly:
'I don't know about you both. It's you I'm taking under my protection (it's your phrase!). As for Valentine: she's made her bed; she must lie on it. I've told you all that already. I can't go over it again.'
She paused, then made another effort:
'It's disagreeable,' she said, 'to be cut off the Mountby visiting list. They give amusing parties. But I'm too old to care and they'll miss my conversation more than I do theirs. Of course, I back my daughter against the cats and monkeys. Of course, I back Valentine through thick and thin. I'd back her if she lived with a married man or had illegitimate children. But I don't approve, I don't approve of the suffragettes: I despise their aims: I detest their methods. I don't think young girls ought to talk to strange men. Valentine spoke to you, and look at the worry it has caused you. I disapprove. I'm a woman: but I've made my own way: other women could do it if they liked or had the energy. I disapprove! But don't believe that I will ever go back on any suffragette, individual, in gangs; my Valentine or any other. Don't believe that I will ever say a word against them that's to be repeated--you won't repeat them. Or that I will ever write a word against them. No, I'm a woman and I stand by my sex!'
She got up energetically:
'I must go and write my novel,' she said. 'I've Monday's instalment to send off by train to-night. You'll go into my study: Valentine will give you paper; ink; twelve different kinds of nibs. You'll find Professor Wannop's books all round the room. You'll have to put up with Valentine typing in the alcove. I've got two serials running, one typed, the other in manuscript.'
Tietjens said:
'But you!'
'I,' she exclaimed, 'I shall write in my bedroom on my knee. I'm a woman and can. You're a man and have to have a padded chair and sanctuary...You feel fit to work? Then: you've got till five, Valentine will get tea then. At half-past five you'll set off to Rye. You'll be back with your luggage and your friend and your friend's luggage at seven.'
She silenced him imperiously with:
'Don't be foolish. Your friend will certainly prefer this house and Valentine's cooking to the pub and the pub's cooking. And he'll save on it...It's no extra trouble. I suppose your friend won't inform against that wretched little suffragette girl upstairs.' She paused and said: 'You're sure you can do your work in the time and drive Valentine and her to that place...Why it's necessary is that the girl daren't travel by train and we've relations there who've never been connected with the suffragettes. The girl can live hidden there for a bit...But sooner than you shouldn't finish your work I'd drive them myself...'
She silenced Tietjens again: this time sharply:
'I tell you it's no extra trouble. Valentine and I always make our own beds. We don't like servants among our intimate things. We can get three times as much help in the neighbourhood as we want. We're liked here. The extra work you give will be met by extra help. We could have servants if we wanted. But Valentine and I like to be alone in the house together at night. We're very fond of each other.'
She walked to the door and then drifted back to say:
'You know, I can't get out of my head that unfortunate woman and her husband. We must all do what we can for them.' Then she started and exclaimed: 'But, good heavens, I'm keeping you from your work...The study's in there, through that door.'
She hurried through the other doorway and no doubt along a passage, calling out:
'Valentine! Valentine! Go to Christopher in the study. At once...at...' Her voice died away.
VII
Jumping down from the high step of the dog-cart the girl completely disappeared into the silver: she had on an otter-skin toque, dark, that should have been visible. But she was gone more completely than if she had dropped into deep water, into snow--or through tissue paper. More suddenly, at least! In darkness or in deep water a moving paleness would have been visible for a second: snow or a paper hoop would have left an opening. Here there had been nothing.