‘It’s a Cathedral town, my dear.’
‘Well, I think the amount of modernity is awfully over-estimated.’
‘You don’t live in London, Dinny. All the same, you’re right in a way. Frankness about things is not change. The difference between the days of my youth and today is only the difference of expression. We had doubts, we had curiosity, we had desires; but we didn’t express them. Now they do. I see a lot of young ’Varsity men – they come and work in the Meads, you know. Well, from their cradles they’ve been brought up to say whatever comes into their heads, and just don’t they? We didn’t, you know; but the same things came into our heads. That’s all the difference. That and cars.’
‘Then I’m still old-fashioned. I’m not a bit good at expressing things.’
‘That’s your sense of humour, Dinny. It acts as a restraint, and keeps you self-conscious. Few young people nowadays seem to have much sense of humour; they often have wit – it isn’t the same thing. Our young writers, and painters and musicians, could they carry on as they do if they could see a joke against themselves? Because that’s the real test of humour.’
‘I’ll think that over.’
‘Yes, but don’t lose your sense of humour, Dinny. It’s the scent to the rose. Are you going back to Condaford now?’
‘I expect so, Hubert’s remand won’t be till after that mail boat comes in, and that’s not for ten days yet.’
‘Well, give my love to Condaford. I don’t suppose I’ll ever have days again quite so good as when we were children there.’
‘That’s what I was thinking, Uncle, when I was waiting to be the last little nigger boy.’
‘You’re a bit young for that conclusion, Dinny. Wait till you’re in love.’
‘I am.’
‘What, in love?’
‘No, in waiting.’
‘Fearsome process, being in love,’ said Hilary. ‘Still, I never regretted it.’
Dinny gazed at him sideways, and her teeth showed.
‘What if you took it again, Uncle?’
‘Ah! there,’ said Hilary, knocking his pipe out on a pillar box, ‘I’m definitely out of it. In my profession we can’t run to it. Besides, I’ve never really got over my first attack.’
‘No,’ said Dinny, with compunction, ‘Aunt May’s such a duck.’
‘You’ve said a mouthful. Here’s the station. Good-bye, and bless you! I sent my bag down this morning.’ He waved his hand and was gone.
On reaching the hotel Dinny sought Adrian. He was not in, and, rather disconsolate, she wandered out again into the Cathedral. She was just about to sit down and take its restful beauty in, when she saw her Uncle standing against a column with his eyes fixed on the rose window. Going up she slid her arm through his. He squeezed it, but said nothing.
‘Fond of glass, Uncle?’
‘Terribly fond of good glass, Dinny. Ever see York Minster?’
Dinny shook her head; then, conscious that nothing she could say would lead up to what she wanted to say, she asked directly: ‘What are you going to do now, Uncle dear?’
‘Have you been talking to Hilary?’
‘Yes.’
‘He wants me to keep away for a year.’
‘So do I.’
‘It’s a long time, Dinny; I’m getting on.’
‘Would you go on Professor Hallorsen’s expedition if he wanted you?’
‘He wouldn’t want me.’
‘Yes, he would.’
‘I could only go if I were certain that Diana wished it.’
‘She would never say so, but I’m quite sure she wants complete rest for a long time.’
‘When you worship the sun,’ said Adrian, very low, ‘it is hard to go where the sun never shines.’
Dinny squeezed his arm. ‘I know; but you’d have it to look forward to. And it’s a nice healthy expedition this time, only to New Mexico. You’d come back very young, with hair all down the outsides of your legs. They do in the films. You’d be irresistible, Uncle; and I do want you to be irresistible. All that’s wanted is to let the tumult and the shouting die.’
‘And my job?’
‘Oh! that can be wangled all right. If Diana doesn’t have to think of anything for a year, she’ll be a different creature, and you will seem like the promised land. I do feel I know what I’m talking about.’
‘You’re an endearing little serpent,’ said Adrian, with his shadowy smile.
‘Diana is pretty badly wounded.’
‘I sometimes think it’s a mortal wound, Dinny.’