Part 45 (1/2)
She hesitated
”And what am I to do with three children in a London hotel?”
”Take nurse, naturally”
”Take nurse?” she cried
He i loudly, ”Take nurse?” Then he planted a soap-sud on her fresh cheek
She wiped it off carefully, and s left the door open
”He _wants_to his ht ”Didn't she know that at dinner-time?”
”Bless us!” His mother's voice
”And take the children--and nurse!” His wife continued, in a tone to convey the fact that she was just as much disturbed as her mother-in-law could possibly be by the eccentricities of the male
”He's his father all over, that lad is!” said his ely
And Edward Henry was impressed by these words, for not once in seven years did hismeal
”You'd better come too mother,” said Edward Henry, audaciously ”We'll shut the house up”
”I come to no London,” said she
”Well, then, you can use the o about gallivanting in no et this house straight against you coo in!” said Nellie, with a h domesticated, she was a woman
He went to bed early It seemed to him that his wife, hisup and down the house till the very ht He arose not late; but they were all three afoot before hi
IX
He found out, on thehis family from Bursley to London, that London held more problems for him than ever He was now notcoer with a play to produce, artistes to engage, and the public to attract He hadat the Majestic--(he was not at the Grand Babylon, because his wife had once stayed with him at the Majestic, and he did not want to add to his anxieties the business of accusto her to a new and costlier luxury)--one appointment at nine with Marrier, and the other at ten with Nellie, faet rid of Marrier before ten
A mail which Marrier had collected for hi letter:
”BUCKINGHAM PALACE HOTEL
”DEAR FRIEND,--We are all so proud of you I should like some time to finish our interrupted conversation Will you come and have lunch with me one day here at 130? You needn't write I kno busy you are
Just telephone you are co But don't telephone between 12 and 1, because at that time I _always_ take my constitutional in St Jaht, ”that's a bit thick, that is! She's stuck me up with a dramatist I don't believe in, and a play I don't believe in, and an actress I don't believe in--and now she--”
Nevertheless, to a certain extent he was bluffing himself For, as he pretended to put Elsie April back into her place, he had disturbing and delightful visions of her A clever creature! Uncannily clever!