Ostrich Country

She turned away from the window and smiled at him. He was still seated. She wanted to touch him. She felt a sneeze coming on, turned away politely, sneezed.

‘Bless you,’ he said.

When she turned round again he looked embarrassed. Why? He seemed tense too, but it wasn’t enough to go on. All this was in her imagination. She was in danger of making a fool of herself.

She sat down and took a deliberate puff at her cigarette, keeping herself calm.

‘Is the bed comfortable?’ she said.

‘Very, thank you.’

She crossed her legs, felt this to be a little theatrical, and uncrossed them.

‘I must say I wouldn’t like having those books and toys there,’ she said.

‘I would be happier if they were moved,’ said Pegasus, ‘but I don’t like to mention it.’

‘No. It’s difficult. Well I’m glad to see that apart from that you’re very comfortable.’

‘Yes. Very. And the view is very nice.’

A hiatus.

‘It must seem quiet after London?’

‘Yes, it does.’

‘Even with all the planes?’

‘We get those in London too.’

What a conversation! She must go, and it would be quite wrong anyway to use him as a pawn in her battle with Tony. She had never used anyone in that way. He might even be engaged.

‘How did you get on with Alphonse?’ she said.

‘Very well, I think.’

‘We’ve only had him three weeks. He’s very gallic.’

‘Yes.’

She decided it was stupid not to cross her legs, just because if done self-consciously it might seem theatrical. So she crossed her legs. Then she sneezed.

‘Bless you,’ he said, and then he looked embarrassed. Why?

‘If you ever have any problems, let me know,’ she said.

‘Yes, I will.’

She must go. She stood up abruptly and to her surprise found herself not at the door but at the window, looking out over the fields and woods of Lord Noseby’s estate. He joined her there and they stood side by side, looking out over Lord Noseby’s estate. She could feel his body, touching hers ever so slightly, either by accident or deliberately but made to seem like an accident.

‘At least you have a nice view,’ she said.

‘I’m sure I shall be very comfortable,’ he said.

There was a knock at the door. Both of them turned away from the window and returned to their chairs.

‘Come in,’ she said, forgetting it was not her room.

Brenda entered with three cups of coffee and three huge portions of iced chocolate cake.

‘I was thinking you might like some coffee,’ said Brenda.

‘Oh, thank you,’ said Pegasus.

‘Very thoughtful,’ said Jane.

The sun came out. Jane as employer sat in the easy chair. Brenda as landlady sat in the hard chair. Pegasus as Pegasus sat on his bed.

‘I hope he likes the room,’ said Brenda.

‘I’m sure he does,’ said Jane.

‘I do,’ said Pegasus.

‘It has a nice view,’ said Brenda.

‘Yes, it does,’ said Jane.

‘Little Johnny liked this room,’ said Brenda.

‘Did he?’ said Pegasus.

They took bites of their cake and washed the cake down with draughts of hot coffee.

‘We must move all these books and toys,’ said Brenda.

8

‘Look after yourself,’ said Bill.

‘Take care,’ said Brenda.

They continued waving until he was out of sight. Where do they think I’m going, he thought. Round the world? All I’m doing is going home for the week-end.

He hadn’t realized what a relief it would be to get away even for two days, away from the nightly cocoa sessions, the constant plans for a picnic, the ‘Wednesday Play’ being switched off the moment he came in, as if it was considered quite unsuitable for him.

He’d taken to reading Johnny’s books, in order to avoid conversation. Rather childish, on the whole, but there were no others. And Bill seemed to expect it. ‘You’ll find plenty of books up there,’ he said.