The Death of the Heart - Elizabeth Bowen [68]
But something that should have been going on had not gone on: something had not happened. They had sat round a painted, not a burning, fire, at which you tried in vain to warm your hands.... She tried to make a picture of Thomas and Anna leaning over the rail of the ship, both looking the same way. The picture was just real enough, for the moment, to make her want to expunge from their faces a certain betraying look. For they looked like refugees, not people travelling for pleasure. Thomas—who had said he always wore a cap on a ship—wore the cap pulled down, while Anna held her fur collar plaintively to her chin. Their nearness—for they stood with their elbows touching—was part of their driven look: they were one in flight. But already their faces were far less substantial than the faces of Daphne and Dickie Heccomb.... Then Portia remembered they would not be aboard yet: in fact, they would hardly have left London. And the moment they were aboard, Anna would lie down: she was a bad sailor; she never looked at the sea.
III
2, WINDSOR TERRACE,
N.W. 1.
Dear Miss Portia,
You will be sorry to hear that Phyllis has interfered with your puzzle, which I had put newspaper over like you said. She had orders not to, but overlooked that. Owing to me being busy packing Mrs. Thomas, Phyllis was sent to see to your room, she did not know what was under the newspaper so gave the table a nudge. She upset some sky and part of the officers, but I have put the pieces in a box by your bed. She was upset when I told her you set store by it. I think it well to tell you, lest you should be disappointed when you get back. Phyllis will not be let go in your room again, where she has no business really.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were got off in good time for their train to Italy, and today I am getting the curtains to the cleaners. I was glad to know from Mrs. Heccomb's telegram that you reached Seale. I have no doubt Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were glad also. I hope you are taking care of that wind along the front, which is very treacherous at this time of year. Mrs. Heccomb spoke of the cold there last time she was up, she seemed pleased to get Mrs. Thomas's former nutria coat. You did ought to wear a cardigan between your coat and your jumper, I packed you two but likely you will forget.
I hear Major Brutt called this afternoon and was disappointed to find the family gone. It seems he mistook the day, owing to what he thought Mrs. Thomas had said. He asked for you and was told you were at the sea. You would not know the house with the curtains gone, not what you have been used to. Also Mr. Thomas's books are out to be electric cleaned, preparatory to washing the shelves down. Your friend Mr. Eddie came to the door after a muffler he says he left, and particularly remarked on the smell of soap. He also took from the drawingroom some French book he says he loaned to Mrs. Thomas. I had to unsheet the drawingroom for him to find this, the room having been covered ready for the sweep.
I trust that you will do well at the seaside. I once visited Seale along with my married sister who lives at Dover. It is said to be a nice residential place. No doubt the time will fly till you come back.
I must now close.
Yours respectfully,
R. Matchett.
PS. Should you wish anything sent, no doubt you would write. A picture postcard would be sufficient.
Q. AND M..S',
FRIDAY.
Darling Portia,
Thanks for your letter written before starting. It is awful to realise you are away, in fact I hoped I might not, but I do. I rashly went round to Windsor Terrace to get back that red scarf, and it was as if you had all died of the plague and Matchett was disinfecting it after you. The house reeked of awful soap. Matchett had got all Thomas's books in a heap, and seemed to be dancing on them. She gave me a singularly dirty look. I felt your corpses must be laid out in the drawingroom, which was all sheets. That old crocodile took me up under protest and stood snapping her jaws while I dug out Les Plaisirs et les Jouis, which I'm anxious to get back before Anna loses it. It felt odd, while I was in the drawingroom, to know I wouldn't hear you scuttering on the stairs. Everything really had a charnel echo and I said to myself "She died young."