Humorous stories; London (England) -- Fiction; Lucia (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Women -- England -- Fiction
Foljambe brought up this note with Georgie’s early morning tea and the
glass of very hot water which sometimes he drank instead of it if he
suspected an error of diet the night before, and the little glass
gallipot of Kruschen salts, which occasionally he added to the hot water
or the tea. Georgie was very sleepy, and, only half awake, turned round
in bed, so that Foljambe should not see the place where he wore the
toupée, and smothered a snore, for he would not like her to think that
he snored. But when she said “Telegram for you, sir,” Georgie sat up at
once in his pink silk pyjamas.
“No!” he said with emphasis.
He tore the envelope open, and a whole sheaf of sheets fell out. The
moment he set eyes on the first words, he knew so well from whom it came
that he did not even trouble to look at the last sheet where it would be
signed.
BELOVED GEORGIE (it ran),
I rang you up till I lost my temper and so send this. Most
expensive, but terribly important. I arrived in London yesterday
and shall come down for week-end to Riseholme. Shall dine with you
Saturday all alone to hear about everything. Come to lunch and
dinner Sunday, and ask everybody to one or other, particularly
Lucia. Am bringing cook, but order sufficient food for Sunday.
Wonderful American and Australian tour, and I’m taking house in
London for season. Shall motor down. Bless you.
OLGA.
Georgie sprang out of bed, merely glancing through Daisy’s pencilled
note and throwing it away. There was nothing to be said to it in any
case, since he had been told not to divulge the project with regard to
the house in Brompton Square, and he didn’t know the number. But in
Olga’s telegram there was enough to make anybody busy for the day, for
he had to ask all her friends to lunch or dinner on Sunday, order the
necessary food, and arrange a little meal for Olga and himself to-morrow
night. He scarcely knew what he was drinking, tea or hot water or
Kruschen salts, so excited was he. He foresaw too, that there would be
call for the most skilled diplomacy with regard to Lucia. She must
certainly be asked first, and some urging might be required to make her
consent to come at all, either to lunch or dinner, even if due regard
was paid to her deep mourning, and the festivity limited to one or two
guests of her own selection. Yet somehow Georgie felt that she would
stretch a point and be persuaded, for everybody else would be going some
time on Sunday to Olga’s, and it would be tiresome for her to explain
again and again in the days that followed that she had been asked and
had not felt up to it. And if she didn’t explain carefully every time,
Riseholme would be sure to think she hadn’t been asked. “A little
diplomacy,” thought George, as he trotted across to her house after
breakfast with no hat, but a fur tippet round his neck.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account