Part 6 (1/2)
Why won't Lady Underhill agree with Mr. Gossip?”
Freddie hesitated.
”Speak up!”
”Well, it's like this. Remember, I've known the old devil....”
”Freddie Rooke! Where do you pick up such expressions? Not from me!”
”Well, that's how I always think of her! I say I've known her ever since I used to go and stop at their place when I was at school, and I know exactly the sort of things that put her back up. She's a what-d'you-call-it. I mean to say, one of the old school, don't you know. And you're so dashed impulsive, old girl. You know you are! You are always saying things that come into your head.”
”You can't say a thing unless it comes into your head.”
”You know what I mean,” Freddie went on earnestly, not to be diverted from his theme. ”You say rummy things and you do rummy things. What I mean to say is, you're impulsive.”
”What have I ever done that the sternest critic could call rummy?”
”Well, I've seen you with my own eyes stop in the middle of Bond Street and help a lot of fellows shove along a cart that had got stuck. Mind you, I'm not blaming you for it....”
”I should hope not. The poor old horse was trying all he knew to get going, and he couldn't quite make it. Naturally, I helped.”
”Oh, I know. Very decent and all that, but I doubt if Lady Underhill would have thought a lot of it. And you're so dashed chummy with the lower orders.”
”Don't be a sn.o.b, Freddie.”
”I'm not a sn.o.b,” protested Freddie, wounded. ”When I'm alone with Barker--for instance--I'm as chatty as dammit. But I don't ask waiters in public restaurants how their lumbago is.”
”Have you ever had lumbago?”
”No.”
”Well, it's a very painful thing, and waiters get it just as badly as dukes. Worse, I should think, because they're always bending and stooping and carrying things. Naturally one feels sorry for them.”
”But how do you ever find out that a waiter has _got_ lumbago?”
”I ask him, of course.”
”Well, for goodness' sake,” said Freddie, ”if you feel the impulse to do that sort of thing to-night, try and restrain it. I mean to say, if you're curious to know anything about Barker's chilblains, for instance, don't enquire after them while he's handing Lady Underhill the potatoes! She wouldn't like it.”
Jill uttered an exclamation.
”I knew there was something! Being so cold and wanting to rush in and crouch over a fire put it clean out of my head. He must be thinking me a perfect beast!” She ran to the door. ”Barker! Barker!”
Barker appeared from nowhere.
”Yes, miss?”
”I'm so sorry I forgot to ask before. How are your chilblains?”
”A good deal better miss, thank you.”
”Did you try the stuff I recommended?”