The kiss was given. It was long, and soothing to them both; but, when it was over, he said:
‘Jean, it’s quite impossible, until things dry straight.’
‘Of course they’ll dry straight, but I want to help dry them. Let’s be married quickly, Hubert. Father can spare me a hundred a year; what can you manage?’
‘I’ve three hundred a year of my own, and half pay, which may be cut off.’
‘That’s four hundred a year certain; people have married on lots less, and that’s only for the moment. Of course we can be married. Where?’
Hubert stood breathless.
‘When the war was on,’ said Jean, ‘people married at once; they didn’t wait because the man was going to be killed. Kiss me again.’
And Hubert stood more breathless than ever, with her arms round his neck. It was so that Dinny found them.
Without moving her arms, Jean said:
‘We’re going to be married, Dinny. Where do you think best? A Registry Office? Banns take so much time.’
Dinny gasped.
‘I didn’t think you’d propose quite so soon, Jean.’
‘I had to. Hubert is full of stuffy chivalry. Dad won’t like a Registry Office; why not a special licence?’
Hubert’s hands on her shoulders held her away from him.
‘Be serious, Jean.’
‘I am. With a special licence, nobody need know till it’s over. So nobody will mind.’
‘Well,’ said Dinny, quietly, ‘I believe you’re right. When a thing has to be, it had better be quickly. I daresay Uncle Hilary would tie you up.’
Hubert dropped his hands. ‘You’re both cracked.’
‘Polite!’ said Jean. ‘Men are absurd. They want a thing, and when it’s offered they carry on like old women. Who is Uncle Hilary?’
‘Vicar of St. Augustine’s-in-the-Meads; he has no sense of propriety to speak of.’
‘Good! You go up tomorrow, Hubert, and get the licence. We’ll come after you. Where can we stay, Dinny?’
‘Diana would have us, I think.’
‘That settles it. We’ll have to go round by Lippinghall, for me to get some clothes, and see Dad. I can cut his hair while I’m talking to him; there won’t be any trouble. Alan can come too; we shall want a best man. Dinny, you talk to Hubert.’ Left alone with her brother, Dinny said:
‘She’s a wonderful girl, Hubert, and far from cracked, really. It’s breathless, but terribly good sense. She’s always been poor, so it won’t make any difference to her in that way.’
‘It isn’t that. It’s the feeling of something hanging over me, that’ll hang over her too.’
‘It’ll hang over her worse, if you don’t. I really should, dear boy. Father won’t mind. He likes her, and he’d rather you married a girl of breeding and spirit than any amount of money.’
‘It doesn’t seem decent – a special licence,’ muttered Hubert.
‘It’s romantic, and people won’t have a chance to discuss whether you ought to or not; when it’s done they’ll accept it, as they always do.’
‘What about Mother?’
‘I’ll tell Mother, if you like. I’m sure she won’t really mind – you’re not being fashionable, marrying a chorus girl or anything of that sort. She admires Jean. So do Aunt Em and Uncle Lawrence.’
Hubert’s face cleared.
‘I’ll do it. It’s too wonderful. After all, I’ve nothing to be ashamed of.’
He walked up to Dinny, kissed her almost violently, and hurried out. Dinny stayed in the billiard room practising the spot stroke. Behind her matter-of-fact attitude, she was extremely stirred. The embrace she had surprised had been so passionate; the girl was so strange a mixture of feeling and control, of lava and of steel, so masterful and yet so amusingly young. It might be a risk; but Hubert was already a different man because of it. All the same she was fully conscious of inconsistency; for to herself such a sensational departure would not be possible. The giving of her heart would be no rushing affair. As her old Scotch nurse used to say: ‘Miss Dinny aye knows on hoo many toes a pussy-cat goes.’ She was not proud of that ‘sense of humour not devoid of wit which informed and somewhat sterilized all else’. Indeed, she envied Jean her colourful decision, Alan his direct conviction, Hallorsen’s robust adventurousness. But she had her compensations, and, with a smile breaking her lips apart, went to find her mother.
Lady Cherrell was in her sanctum next to her bedroom making muslin bags for the leaves of the scented verbena which grew against the house.