‘My daughter-in-law,’ said Simeon.
Stephen said: ‘I feel rather embarrassed – butting in on a family party like this.’
‘You’re one of the family, my boy,’ said Simeon. ‘Think of yourself as that.’
‘You’re too kind, sir.’
Pilar re-entered the room. She sat down quietly by the fire and picked up the hand screen. She used it as a fan, slowly tilting her wrist to and fro. Her eyes were demure and downcast.
Part 3
December 24th
I
‘Do you really want me to stay on here, Father?’ asked Harry. He tilted his head back. ‘I’m stirring up rather a hornet’s nest[101], you know.’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Simeon sharply.
‘Brother Alfred,’ said Harry. ‘Good brother Alfred! He, if I may say so, resents my presence here.’
‘The devil he does!’ snapped Simeon. ‘I’m master in this house.’
‘All the same, sir, I expect you’re pretty dependent on Alfred. I don’t want to upset – ’
‘You’ll do as I tell you,’ snapped his father.
Harry yawned. ‘Don’t know that I shall be able to stick a stay-at-home life. Pretty stifling to a fellow who’s knocked about the world[102].’
His father said: ‘You’d better marry and settle down.’
Harry said: ‘Who shall I marry? Pity one can’t marry one’s niece. Young Pilar is devilish attractive.’
‘You’ve noticed that?’
‘Talking of settling down, fat George has done well for himself as far as looks go[103]. Who was she?’
Simeon shrugged his shoulders. ‘How should I know? George picked her up at a mannequin parade, I believe. She says her father was a retired naval officer.’
Harry said: ‘Probably a second mate of a coasting steamer. George will have a bit of trouble with her if he’s not careful.’
‘George,’ said Simeon Lee, ‘is a fool.’
Harry said: ‘What did she marry him for – his money?’
Simeon shrugged his shoulders.
Harry said: ‘Well, you think that you can square Alfred all right?’
‘We’ll soon settle that,’ said Simeon grimly. He touched a bell that stood on a table near him. Horbury appeared promptly. Simeon said:
‘Ask Mr Alfred to come here.’
Horbury went out and Harry drawled: ‘That fellow listens at doors!’
Simeon shrugged his shoulders. ‘Probably.’
Alfred hurried in. His face twitched when he saw his brother. Ignoring Harry, he said pointedly: ‘You wanted me, Father?’
‘Yes, sit down. I was just thinking we must reorganize things a bit now that we have two more people living in the house.’
‘Two?’
‘Pilar will make her home here, naturally. And Harry is home for good[104].’
Alfred said: ‘Harry is coming to live here?’
‘Why not, old boy?’ said Harry.
Alfred turned sharply to him. ‘I should think that you yourself would see that[105]!’
‘Well, sorry – but I don’t.’
‘After everything that has happened? The disgraceful way you behaved. The scandal – ’
Harry waved an easy hand. ‘All that’s in the past, old boy.’
‘You behaved abominably to Father, after all he’s done for you.’
‘Look here, Alfred, it strikes me that’s Father’s business, not yours. If he’s willing to forgive and forget – ’
‘I’m willing,’ said Simeon. ‘Harry’s my son, after all, you know, Alfred.’
‘Yes, but – I resent it – for Father’s sake.’
Simeon said: ‘Harry’s coming here! I wish it.’ He laid a hand gently on the latter’s shoulder. ‘I’m very fond of Harry.’
Alfred got up and left the room. His face was white. Harry rose too and went after him, laughing.
Simeon sat chuckling to himself. Then he started and looked round. ‘Who the devil’s that? Oh, it’s you, Horbury. Don’t creep about[106] that way.’
‘I beg your pardon, sir.’
‘Never mind. Listen, I’ve got some orders for you. I want everybody to come up here after lunch – everybody.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘There’s something else. When they come, you come with them. And when you get half-way along the passage raise your voice so that I can hear. Any pretext will do. Understand?’
‘Yes, sir.’
Horbury went downstairs. He said to Tressilian: ‘If you ask me, we are going to have a Merry Christmas.’
Tressilian said sharply: ‘What d’you mean?’
‘You wait and see, Mr Tressilian. It’s Christmas Eve today, and a nice Christmas spirit abroad – I don’t think!’
II
They came into the room and paused at the doorway. Simeon was speaking into the telephone. He waved a hand to them. ‘Sit down, all of you. I shan’t be a minute.[107]’ He went on speaking into the telephone.
‘Is that Charlton, Hodgkins & Bruce? Is that you, Charlton? Simeon Lee speaking. Yes, isn’t it?… Yes… No, I wanted you to make a new will for me… Yes, it’s some time since I made the other… Circumstances have altered… Oh no, no hurry. Don’t want you to spoil your Christmas. Say Boxing Day[108] or the day after. Come along, and I’ll tell you what I want done. No, that’s quite all right. I shan’t be dying just yet.’
He replaced the receiver, then looked round at the eight members of his family. He cackled and said: ‘You’re all looking very glum. What is the matter?’
Alfred said: ‘You sent for us…’
Simeon said quickly: ‘Oh, sorry – nothing portentous about it. Did you think it was a family council? No, I’m just rather tired today, that’s all. None of you need come up after dinner. I shall go to bed. I want to be fresh for Christmas Day.’
He grinned at them. George said earnestly: ‘Of course… of course…’
Simeon said: ‘Grand old institution, Christmas. Promotes solidarity of family feeling. What do you think, Magdalene, my dear?’
Magdalene Lee jumped. Her rather silly little mouth flew open and then shut itself. She said: ‘Oh – oh, yes!’
Simeon said: ‘Let me see, you lived with a retired naval officer’ – he paused – ‘your father. Don’t suppose you made much of Christmas. It needs a big family for that!’
‘Well – well – yes, perhaps it does.’
Simeon’s eyes slid past her.
‘Don’t