The Four Swans (18 page)

Ross said to him `I believe we have to congratulate you, George.’.

George smiled thinly, in case the others had heard, but he did not reply.

`When do you take your seat?’

`Next week.’

`You’ll rent a house in London?’

`Possibly. In part of each year.’

`We shall not be neighbours on the coast this year, then?’ `Oh, for August and September, no doubt.’ `I presume you do not intend to sell’ Trenwith?’ `I do not.’

‘If ever you thought of selling it I might be interested.’

“It will not come on the market - ever - to you,’

`We have been thinking,’ Captain Poldark;’ Basset interposed, `that those of us who are of like mind in this matter might put our names to a subscription. I do not think the, time is yet ripe actually to subscribe money we have far too much to do; for instance - with a smile - to convince those who think the project should begin otherwise. But the names of fifty influential men, with a promise of assistance when the scheme is moving forward, would I believe be a help at this stage to convince many who at present waver and hesitate. Do you agree?’

`Certainly, I agree.’

`Sir Francis’ said George licking his lips `has put his name for a hundred guineas to start the subscription off, and I have done the same.’

A flicker of annoyance crossed Basset’s face. ‘I am specifically not asking for a figure, Poldark, not at this stage. It’s your name I want.’

`And can have,’ Ross said. `And a hundred guineas with it;

`That’s very good of you. I hope you don’t feel that you are being impressed into service at a difficult time.’

`The metaphor does, you an injustice, Sir Francis, I am not too drunk to refuse the King’s shilling. I’ll give you a draft on Pascoe’s Bank.’

Basset raised his eyebrows, not liking the abrasiveness that had come into the conversation. `That will not be necessary, as I have already said. But thank you, I’m grateful. I take it that you two gentlemen are not sufficiently convinced yet of the rightness of our cause?’

Devoran was hedging, but Sir William Molesworth remained unconvinced. Ross looked at George: it was the first time they had been together like this for years, when they could not quarrel openly and could not move away.

He said: `I hear nothing of Geoffrey Charles these days. I trust he’s doing well at school?’

`It is too early to say. I think he has some of his father’s idle habits.’

`At school, you may, remember, his father was cleverer than either of us.’

`It was a promise he did not fulfil.’

Silence fell between them while Molesworth spoke.

George said: ‘I pay, of course, the whole considerable costs of Geoffrey Charles’s schooling. When he should by rights , have a sufficient incomes of his own.’

`From what?’

`From the shares in your mine.’ `Elizabeth sold the shares in my mine.’

`Back to you, at a fraction of what they were worth. You were able to over-persuade her.’

Ross said: `I wouldn’t advise you to promulgate that twisted version of events. Even your wife would call you a liar for it.’

Lord Devoran said : ‘… and the whole question of finding suitable patients would be sifted through the dispensaries instead of depending upon the patronage of individuals. If

’

`And necessarily,’ said Sir William Molesworth, ‘if the central hospital were sited farther east…’

Ross said: `What of Aunt Agatha’s grave?’ `What of it?’

`I presume you have a stone on order.’

`Surely, although you resented her existence, you can hardly deny the old lady some record of her having existed.’

`It is for Elizabeth to decide.’

‘Perhaps I could call and see Elizabeth and we could discuss it.’ `That would not be desirable.’

`On whose part?’

`On hers. And on mine.’

`Can you answer for her on such a family matter?’ `Elizabeth is not a Poldark.’ `But she was, George, she was.’

`It is something she has long since had cause to regret.’

`Who knows what she will have cause to regret before our lives are ended

`Damn you and God damn your blood to all eternity!’

`Gentlemen,’ Basset said, having heard only the last part, `this does not become either of you-‘

‘It does not become us,’ Ross said, `but we do it. We bicker from - time to time like playmates who see too much of each other. Pray excuse it and take no notice.’

`I am happy to take no notice of what does not occur in my presence. But ill will is not properly vented when we are here to discuss a charity.’

`Unfortunately,’ Ross said, `they both begin at home.’

There was silence. Sir Francis cleared his throat irritably. `Sir William, as I was about to say, the question of the hospital site is one that could be reviewed in committee…’

III

Ross was late reaching Nampara that night. It had been a head wind all the way, and he was drenched.

‘My dear, that’s not clever!’ Demelza said. `Have you supped? Let me have your boots. You should have stayed the night with Harris’

‘And knowing you imagining me drowned in a ditch or set on by footpads? How is Jeremy?’

Jeremy was recovering from his inoculation against smallpox. They had given him a book to read so that he should not see any of the preparations, but all the same he had let out a piercing scream when Dwight made the deep incision. Demelza had felt as if the knife were in her own guts.

`The fever has gone and he has eaten today. Thank God Clowance can be spared the ordeal for a while. I doubt even if I shall ever consent. I am - what is the word? - immune; so why should not she be?’

Ross stripped off his shirt and bent to peer out of the bedroom window, towards the sea. It had been so dark all day that the long evening was only just beginning to show the fall of night. The gusty wind was spinning webs of rain, weaving them in and out of each other across the wide and darkening stretches of sand. The sea had not been blown-up by the wind, it had been deadened by the rain, and it curled over at the edge in listless green caterpillars.

They talked the gossip of the day while he changed., Then she went down to tell Jane to bring on the roasted neck of mutton, though he protested he wasn’t hungry..

‘We have another invitation, Ross ! They fall thick now you are famous.’

He took the letter. It was headed Tregothnan, and ran:

`Dear Mrs Poldark,

`My brother and I would consider it a pleasure if you and your, husband could visit us on Tuesday the twenty-sixth of July, dine and sup with us and spend the night. My nephew, Hugh, will be leaving the following, day to rejoin his ship and would like to have the opportunity of seeing you both again before he leaves. I too should enjoy the, opportunity of making your acquaintance and of thanking Captain Poldark for bringing my nephew safely away from the dreadful camp where he was imprisoned.

`Believe me, most cordially yours,

Frances Gower.’

Demelza was examining. one of Garrick’s ears, which she suspected of harbouring some parasite. There had been a number of years when Garrick was forbidden this room altogether,, but as age lessened his tendency to sudden violent movement and thereby made the furniture and crockery a little safer, he had been allowed to insinuate himself, into the parlour. As Demelza had said when Ross made a halfhearted protest: `Every other gentleman has his dogs about him in his parlour.’ To which, Ross had replied: `Every other gentleman doesn’t have Garrick.’

Ross took a drink of beer and picked up the letter again.

`How did it come?’

`By the Sherborner.’

‘Our friend Lieutenant Armitage; didn’t ride over with it, then?’

`No, no.’

`All the same you’re looking a morsel wide-eyed about the whole thing.’

Demelza looked up. `What do that mean?’

`Well

stirred … emotional, is it?’

Dear-life, your -ideas .are some. funny, Ross. I have-you know’ I have some gentle feelings for Lieutenant Armitage; but you must , think me a holla-pot’ to get emotional all just-because: of an invitation..’

‘Yes … well, maybe I imagine things. Maybe it’s, worrying about Jeremy that gives you that look,…’

He went on with his food. Garrick, who enjoyed every attention paid him, had continued to lie on his back waiting for more, one front paw half bent, one eye showing white and wild among the straggling hair. Now he snuffled loudly to regain Demelza’ attention.

`What a day,’ Ross, said. `It has never stopped since dawn.’

‘Our hay looks like Jeremy’s hair before it has been combed in the morning….’

`I saw George Warleggan after dinner.’ ‘

‘Oh!…Oh?’

Ross explained the circumstances. `So in a’ sense it was, peaceable. But disagreeable none the less. There is some element in the composition of his character and mine that immediately sets off a physical reaction. When I saw him sitting there I disliked being asked to sit down beside him, but I had no intention whatever of saying anything to provoke him! Possibly he feels the same.’

`At least they’ll not be at Trenwith for so long this year.’

`And I’ shall put up a stone myself for Agatha without bothering them further.’

Demelza bent her head again over Garrick; and Ross looked at the acute curve of her figure: small firm buttocks and thighs, soles of slippers showing light like the palms of a negro’s hands, blue silk

blouse and holland skirt, dark hair falling over and touching the dog, a glimpse of neck with wisps of hair curling.

Presently he said: `What are we going to do about this?’ `About what? Oh … well, I cannot say this time, can I?’ ‘Why not?’

‘If I press to go this time you will think I am pressing for my own special reasons.’

`I certainly don’t wish to go.’

“Well; then, it’s better we should not.’

Ross got up from the table and stirred Garrick with his foot. Garrick coughed with delight and rolled over and hoisted himself on to his considerable legs.

‘There,’ Demelza said, you’ve spoiled it now. I think its the rabbits he’s catching. these crawlers from. She sat back on her heels and dodged Garrick’s attempt to lick her face.

Ross began to fill his pipe. `Devil knows what we can say to this woman without giving offence.’ He was so used to being pushed into accepting invitations that he felt the sudden lack. His distaste for company - high company - was completely genuine, but with, the perversity common to ,human nature, his reason began to list the difficulties of a refusal here. If he had sprung Hugh Armitage from his prison. however inadvertently - Hugh Armitage in turn had probably saved Dwight’s life by his superior knowledge of navigation (another night at sea might have killed him). To refuse this invitation, unless he could think of some cast-iron excuse, would be churlish and unmannerly. And although he knew Demelza was affected by this young man, it hardly seemed likely that the friendship would burgeon uncontrollably at a final meeting.

He said: `I quail at the thought of a day and a night in the company of George Falmouth. Harris tells me he behaved disgracefully at the election.’

`There must be hard feelings between them now, Ross. If we went, should it be thought that we were - you were running with the hare and and ‘

`Hunting, with the hounds? Oh, you mean I see no reason why. What Basset and Falmouth think of each other is their concern. I take no sides - still less so as Basset chooses in such a cavalier fashion to ignore my quarrel with George Warleggan.’

‘D’you know what I’m always afraid of when you meet George, Ross? That you’ll quarrel - as you usually do - and then the next thing is you’ll be set to fight a duel.’

Ross laughed. `There I think you, can set your mind at rest. George is a man of business, with a very level head and a very good brain. I know we have come to blows twice or thrice in our lives, but that is in the heat of the moment - and the last time was several years ago, and we are growing older and a little wiser every day. He would gladly fight a commercial duel with me on any ground on which I care or dare to challenge him. But pistols - they are in his view the melodrama belonging to aristocrats and squireens and military men who know no better.’

`What a small matter concerns me,’ she said, `is when you meet him in the company of these great men you are now mixing with.

Isn’t there the danger that he might find himself drove into a corner where, he would be forced to challenge you because they expected it of him?

Ross was thoughtful. `I know no woman whose conversation is so much to the point.’

‘Thank you, Ross.’

`But it is really. George you should be warning, since I am the soldier, and he the trader. He would be much more greatly at risk from such a challenge, so I suspect his good sense will keep him safe.’

`And I trust you’ll not have to meet too often in such high company.’

A few minutes later Ross went out to look at two newly-born calves, and Betsy Ann Martin came in to clear the table. When this was done Demelza pushed Garrick out of doors and was alone. She went upstairs to peer at the children. Jeremy was breathing noisily; the fever had left him with a blocked nose. Clowance slept like an angel, clenched fist against lip, thumb not quite in mouth.

Demelza went into their own bedroom and dug into the inside pocket of her skirt. She took out a second letter which had also been delivered.

It came from the same address as the other but had a separate seal and was written in a different hand.

It said simply at the top : ‘D.P. from H.A.’ and it went on

To D.

She walks as peerless Dian rides

In moonlight and in rain,

As sea-bird gently windward flies

O’er wave, and watery main.

Thus heavenly light and earthly tides

Combine in her as twain.

She smiles as sunrise on the wave

In summer and at dawn,

As daylight enters darkling cave

To bring the breath of morn.

Thus day and night in joy behave

With ardour newly born.