Books

1917

William Heinemann

The Scotsman, 12 March 2017 Manchester Guardian, 13 April 2017

Zella (Gisèle de Kervoyou) is seven in the Prologue, in which she quarrels with her cousins and steals chocolates from the dining room; confessing this to her mother, she is immediately forgiven, since she has told the truth. Zella has French ancestry, her father Louis is the son of an aristocratic Huguenot who married an Englishwoman, and her mother Esmee English. Louis's mother died when he was little and his stepmother, Gisèle de la Claudière de Marincourt, now the Baronne de Kervoyou, a poor member of the Catholic French nobility, brought him up after his father died when Louis was five. Louis has a half-sister, Stephanie, brought up Catholic; the Baronne undertook not to attempt to change Louis's Protestant faith. At the beginning of the novel proper, Zella is fourteen and her mother has died suddenly. Zella is distraught and her father composed, if very sad; he attempts to contain Zella's emotionalism by explaining that her mother is no longer housed in her body. Aunt Marianne, Esmee's mother, comes to stay; very conventional, she arranges Zella's mourning clothes and criticises the rather plain arrangements Louis has made for the funeral. She suggests that Zella should see her mother's body before the coffin is closed, but Louis will not allow this. A compromise is agreed that Zella should say goodbye to her mother's coffin before it leaves the house. Zella is taken to do this, and encouraged by Aunt Marianne to pray, but as she cannot pray for her mother to come back, she is unable to connect with the experience of saying goodbye; everything seems very unreal. Sent back to her room to rest, she escapes from the emotional strain by reading Treasure Island. Marianne and Lewis disagree over whether Zella is to come to the funeral; Louis is against it, suggesting it will involve "false sentiment", and Zella, unsure who to obey, agrees not to go. Marianne encourages Zella to go to her father to comfort him with the solace of prayer; Zella, unaccustomed to considerations of religion, does so, but is firmly rejected and consequently humiliated. After the funeral Zella is sent to stay with her aunt and cousins. Zella gets on better with her older cousin James, who has inclinations towards being a free thinker; she likes to think of her younger cousin Muriel as priggish and stupid, but is annoyed to find that Muriel, who has had a governess for longer, is better at her lessons than Zella. Aunt Marianne is sentimentally pious and vehemently anti-Catholic; Zella manages to offend her by failing to possess a prayer-book and making a show of searching for this non-existent item before Church one Sunday. Zella tries to propitiate her hosts by agreeing with whatever they say, but as they are somewhat at odds with each other, this is unsuccessful. Bored and unhappy, Zella writes to her father to ask if she can come home. Aunt Marianne, who has expected to be able to bring up Zella, is dismayed by Louis' sudden visit and departure with Zella, doubly so because they will be going to visit his stepmother who is wintering in Rome. In Rome, Zella is shown the sights by her Tante Stéphanie, who is devoted both to her faith and to classical art; her taste does not impose itself fully on Zella, who continues to find the Victor Emmanuele monument the most beautiful thing in the city. The Baronne encourages her to stick to her own opinions, and not be swayed by others' taste. The Baronne's motto is Ce ne se fait pas, that is not done; after an emotional Christmas midnight mass, Zella confronts her father with her unhappiness at never being able to speak of her mother. Louis invokes the Baronne's motto and explains that he has not discussed Esmée with her because he does not wish her to give way to violent emotions. Discussing Zella with his stepmother, he is advised to send Zella to school; this would be better for her than solitude at Villetswood or a further stay with her aunt Marianne. Zella is pleased with this idea, and the family departs for Paris. Aunt Marianne, on learning the news, becomes ever more fearful that Zella will be converted to Catholicism, and decides to go to Paris to try to persuade the Baronne not to "tamper with the faith of an innocent child" (90). Marianne confronts the Baronne and attempts to discover whether she has influenced her stepson's choice, but the Baronne avoids this question, and suggests that Marianne need only worry if Zella's own faith has a light hold upon her. The argument that Zella should go to a good school and be properly educated is also dismissed, as the Baronne suggests that, in Zella's world, such an education will not be required; she also makes it plain that Zella will make friends of the right sort just as well at a convent. A convent is found for Zella, and her father leaves her there with the promise that she can come home again if she is unhappy. At first the convent is noisy and uncomfortable for Zella and she feels out of place among the Catholic schoolgirls, but begins to learn how the society of the school operates and to blend in better. Emotionally affected by the beauty of church services, a public display of weeping wins her a private interview with the Reverend Mother, at which Zella presents herself as approaching a possible conversion to Catholicism. Zella is frustrated because she cannot make a close friend at the convent; intimacies are discouraged and she still finds aspects of convent life incomprehensible, as when the girls are encouraged to make acts to celebrate Reverend Mother's feast-day. Zella's attempt at self-mortification using marbles in her shoes is soundly mocked. Zella is inwardly critical of some of her fellow schoolgirl's religious behaviour, but never voices this. She is also behind at her lessons, and begins to lose her estimation of herself as clever. Her efforts to blend in, when she does not share the beliefs of the convent, make her more of a poseuse than ever, and she is annoyed to discover that the nuns perceive this. A nascent friendship with an older girl, Kathleen, is crushed when Zella offers her the money she receives from her father on her birthday, and is sharply rejected. In her penultimate year at the convent Zella joins in the school retreat, and afterwards writes to ask her father if he would mind her becoming a Catholic. He suggests that she rethink her decision outside the convent atmosphere, but Zella is determined to make her conversion at the school, and does so, to the great distress of her aunt Marianne, who now fears that she will become a nun. Louis quashes that supposition. For the convert, school becomes a more real place, and Zella finds her life there easier, but is still worried by her lack of friends among the girls, and specifically their failure to place her at the central figure in their small society. Zella does begin to think of becoming a nun, dramatising the sacrifices that she would be required to make, but Reverend Mother does not take her possible vocation very seriously. Zella leaves school with something of an anticlimax after a term of emotional farewells and guidance on living a catholic life in the outside world. Her father meets her in London with the presents of a maid of her own and some Paris dresses given by her aunt. Zella's cousin Muriel becomes engaged, and Zella is invited to be a bridesmaid. Arriving for the wedding, she is shocked to find the young couple engaged in hearty banter, and she mocks them with James, who points out that they are happy in the way and to the extent of which they are capable. After the wedding, though, Zella and James agree that they found the ceremony barbaric. At the reception, Louis meets an old friende, Cecily St Craye, and her daughter Alison, a young woman set against convention; both take a fancy to Zella and invite her to visit them. Aunt Marianne is annoyed by this and characterises Cecily as a butterfly and Alison as pretentious. Zella makes her visit, and is somewhat intimidated by Alison. James joins them for a theatre party and supper, and teases Alison about the depth of her professed commitment to Theosophy, which does not extend to vegetarianism or membership of the Theosophist Society; James effectively punctures Zella's admiration for Alison. The Baronne dies after a short illness; Zella is not seriously grieved. Her father does not take her to Paris for the funeral, and she remains with the St Crayes where she is visited and ineffectively comforted by Aunt Marianne, who quarrels with Alison over the nature of death. After lunch Zella receives a telegram from her father asking whether Tante Stéphanie should be invited to live at Villetswood. Zella is not enthusiastic, but, given the opportunity of making a generous sacrifice in front of Aunt Marianne, agrees to the invitation. Tante Stéphanie arrives at Villetswood and settles in well without usurping Zella's position as lady of the house. At home, with agreeable companionship from her father and aunt, Zella is bored. Her efforts at poetry are dismissed by Alison St Craye. She starts to write a novel, which Tante Stéphanie finds very sad, sets it aside and devotes herself to the piano, learning pieces by modern composers. James comes to visit, but is not drawn to admire Zella's playing, preferring tennis. Aunt Marianne, considering Zella's opportunities to find suitors, persuades Louis to host a house-party at Villetswood. James and Alison are invited and also Stephen Pontisbury, a suitable young man for Zella. Louis and Stéphanie agree that Zella is not ready for marriage yet. Zella attempts to prepare herself to attract Stephen, who tells her of the unhappieness of his childhood, and sympathises with him in vague terms; Stephen confesses that he has had an affair with an older, married woman. James finds him superficial, but Aunt Marianne encourages Zella's interest in him. She spoils her point, however, by suggesting Zella return to the Church of England after her putative marriage. Zella considers marriage with Stephen; she is attracted by the attention that the engagement and wedding will bring; less so by an intimate relationship with him, but is convinced that he loves her and intends to accept him and escape her aunt's view of her as young and inexperienced. The party climaxes in a fancy-dress evening for Zella's birthday; Zella puts off dancing with Stephen, afraid of precipitating a proposal. James (dressed as a cardinal) tells her that she and Stephen are unsuited and would make each other unhappy. Zella confesses that "nothing is real to me" (294) and that she is only playing at any of the acts or emotions she has ever tried. James suggests this is because she wants to be loved, but Zella is convinced that the real her is unlovable. James suggests that she can be sincere with him, and her father, and could be with others if she had more courage.

1918

William Heinemann

none

To J. A. S. A very small token of innumerable bonds of union.

‘Novel Notes: The War-Workers’. The Bookman, May 1918, p. 74; Gibson, Ashley, ‘Three Women Novelists’. The Bookman; Feb 1919; 55, 329; ‘Our Booking-Office’. Punch, no. 4038, 1 May 1918, p. 15.

In Questerham, the Midland Supply Depot is run by its Director, Charmian Vivian, who has an iron control over all activities relating to war-work in the area. Miss Vivian (Char to her intimates) is the only child of the local squire, Sir Piers Vivian, and his wife Joanna. At the hostel for Depot employees, Miss Vivian’s staff discuss her devotion to the task, the long hours she works and her high and exacting standards, mostly in admiring tones and stressing Miss Vivian’s “humanity”. The hostel residents are generally harmonious, and supportive of each other; this first evening, Miss Anthony (“Tony”) covers Miss Plumtree’s duty when she has a sick headache. Miss Delmege, secretaryt to the Director, is slightly resented by the others for asserting her special relationship and more intimate knowledge of Miss Vivian. The girls share the news that an additional secretary, Welsh Miss Jones, is about to join them. Charmian’s elderly father and her mother, twenty years his junior, are concerned that she is over-working and away from home too much. Char’s devotion to duty is championed by Miss Bruce, once her governess and now Lady Vivian’s companion. The Vivians are visited by Joanna’s old schoolfriend Lesbia Willoughby, married to Major Willoughby and sent to join him in the country by her London doctor, who fears she is overdoing her own war work – entertaining Colonial officers. Joanna’s young cousin, John Trevellyan, is also of the party; he is on leave from the Front after an injury. Miss Vivian works hard but refuses to delegate, and martyrs herself by refusing meals and working late, overseeing every detail of activity. She is surprised by the new secretary, Grace Jones, who is of the same class as herself and calmly self-possessed. The other workers take to Grace, however, since she proves herself kind and generous with a blunt frankness they define as “originality”. This frankness allows her to venture the occasional mild criticism of Miss Vivian’s methods. Lesbia Willoughby proposes, and eventually establishes, a canteen for troops stationed locally. Charmian resents this trespass onto her area of work, but still commands members of her staff to work there in the evenings. Lady Vivian and John Trevellyan visit the canteen, where they get to know, and to like, Grace Jones. Lady Vivian criticises Char for making her staff undertake additional work in the evenings, and Lesbia criticises Char’s tendency to martyr herself. All criticisms only serve to entrench Char’s position. Influenza begins to affect the Depot, and Char herself catches it, but continues to try to complete her work. At the same time, Sir Piers has a stroke, and is left gravely ill. Char, confined to her home at Plessing, frets to get back to her work; she complains that she is doing nothing useful at Plessing, since her father has a professional nurse and her mother spends most of her time with him. Lady Vivian sends for Grace, who travels out daily to help Char perform her duties at home. Grace spends some time each day with Lady Vivian, and their mutual liking increases. One evening at the canteen, the girls are warned of an imminent Zeppelin raid. No harm is done in Questerham, but in the excitement one soldier cuts his hand and Grace bandages it. She is found later, sick and faint, by John Trevellyan; she is not able to cope with the sight of blood. He is sorry for her, and takes her back to the hostel. Char and her mother quarrel over her return to Questerham. Eventually, Lady Vivian insists that, if she is to return to work, she must make arrangements to stay in town, as her late nights disturb Sir Piers; she asserts that Char’s duty is to remain at home, since this would best please her ill father. She appeals to Dr Prince for support; his view is that Char is more devoted to the limelight than to the ultimate cause. Char decides to move to the hostel and Miss Bullivant, the hostel superintendent, gives up her own rooms for her. Char is dismayed by the lack of comfort, poor food and limited heat and hot water, and starts to look for rooms in Questerham. Miss Bruce and Lesbia Willoughby attempt to persuade her to go back to Plessing, but she is adamant. Life at the hostel is doubly difficult as it brings her into closer contact with her staff, making it difficult to preserve directorial remoteness. Shortly before Christmas, Dr Prince is despatched to insist that Char returns home, and to extend an invitation to Grace. They leave with the Doctor late on Christmas Eve in bad weather, and the car slides off the road. John Trevellyan comes out to find them on his motorbike and side-car: Sir Piers has had a second stroke. The doctor and Char travel back on John’s transport, while he and Grace have a difficult walk in the dark and cold, and discuss their shared affection for Lady Vivian; their growing affection for each other is also evident. On Christmas Day, Mrs Bullivant receives a personal note from Charmian: she has been dismissed from her post. The hostel residents are upset, and get up a petition to their Director to revoke this. Dr Prince arrives to collect clean clothes for Grace, and brings the news that Sir Piers has died. He also tells the group that Char refused to stay at home during her father’s illness; her employees are very critical of this decision and consider it “inhuman”, and some declare that they will seek alternative war-work. Some weeks after Sir Piers’s death, Lady Vivian announces that she will make arrangements for Plessing to be used as a convalescent home. Grace, goaded by Charmian, resigns from her post at the Depot, but is immediately engaged by Lady Vivian to manage the home; she also offers work to Mrs Bullivant. Char returns to live in Questerham, with Miss Bruce as Grace’s replacement, but her power at the Depot is diminished and her autocracy somewhat modified. John is sent back to the Front, but not before he and Grace reach an “understanding” that they will become engaged.

1918

William Heinemann

none

To Mabel Lloyd, without whose enduring friendship my books would not have come to being

Mavrogordato, E. E. ‘New Novels: The Pelicans’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 872, 3 Oct. 1918, p. 468; ‘An Epic of Blatancy: The Pelicans’. Saturday Review, Nov. 1918, p. 1015.

Rosamund and Frances Grantham have been orphaned at the ages of 14 and 10 following the death of their mother, a half-Hungarian musician. Their Wye Valley neighbours, disabled Ludovic Argent and his mother Lady Argent, discuss their future. Bertha (Bertie) Tregakis, a cousin of Mrs Grantham, arrives from Cornwall to take charge of the two girls. Ludovic discovers Rosamund listening outside the drawing-room door while Bertie and Lady Argent discuss the girls' future; Rosamund is anxious to find out what is planned for them and fears they will be separated. Ludovic is concerned that the girls will be unhappy in Cornwall and suggests to his mother that they take care of them, but she feels unable to do this. The girls arrive in Cornwall at Porthlew and are collected by the taciturn Frederick Tregaskis. They meet Hazel Tregaskis, Bertie's daughter of fourteen. Frederick tries to explain to them that they have some money and that they may choose to go to school, or to live elsewhere, but is hushed by Bertie. They are introduced to Miss Blandflower, Bertie's loyal supporter and unofficial governess to Hazel, who lives with the family. The girls take to Hazel, but wish they could have stayed with Lady Argent, although doing so makes them feel disloyal to Cousin Bertie. Frederick and Bertie quarrel over her decision to bring the girls to Porthlew. Bertie explains what she has done to her friend, a minor composer called Nina Severing, who lives locally. Nina has a son, Morris, expected to go to Oxford but who wishes to become a professional musician. Morris returns and he and Nina argue about his future; half-inclined to run away, his continued presence at home is secured when his mother buys a car. Having spent three years at Oxford, Morris returns to Cornwall, and meets the two Grantham daughters again. Hazel and Rosamund are now out and attending parties and visiting country houses. Nina has made a favourite of Frances, and pronounces Rosamund to be unmusical. Nina and Morris visit Porthlew and hear Hazel Tregaskis sing; Morris plays the piano, and Rosamund is visibly moved by this. Morris takes Rosamund aside before he leaves and asks to come back and see her alone the following day; the two young people believe themselves to be in love. Nina and Bertie discuss the best ways to prevent this going further. Bertie discusses Rosamund with Morris and tells him he should not encourage Rosamund to think herself in love. Morris is persuaded to go away and leave Rosamund to get over her infatuation. He and Rosamund quarrel over Bertie's care of her and Frances, and Morris is disappointed in her, but pleased with his own renunciation of her company. Hazel, at a shooting party, falls in love with the much older and divorced Sir Guy Marleswood, and writes to Rosamund about it, acknowledging that her parents will not approve of her marrying a divorced man, but determined to do so. She returns home and is followed by her suitor, who asks formally for her hand. Frederick is not against the match but considers Hazel too young to marry yet, and advises her to wait, but Hazel refuses. Frederick eventually gives his consent, although Bertie disagrees with him and refuses to believe that Hazel will marry without consent if it is withheld. She is defeated, however, and Hazel's wedding goes ahead. A year after Hazel's marriage, Frances begins to think about becoming a Catholic. Bertie, Rosamund and Frances go to London for a long visit and meet again Lady Argent and Ludovic. Lady Argent has since converted to Catholicism. Ludovic is affected by the sense of emotional unrest emanating from Rosamund. Frances goes to spend some time with Lady Argent in the Wye Valley, and they discuss the Catholic faith. Nina Severing is staying locally and visits Lady Argent, who does not like her at all. Lady Argent takes Frances to meet Father Anselm of Twickenham. Frances, now determined to become a Catholic, discusses the difficulty of this with Ludovic, who is surprised by her resolve. After Frances has gone home, Bertie writes to Lady Argent saying that Frances is now determined to convert and to make a retreat at a convent known to Lady Argent. Nina Severing offers to accompany her on the retreat. At the convent, they meet Mere Pauline, the Superior, and Mrs Mulholland, a lady boarder who is voluble and imposing. Nina is unsure about following the convent regime and when Morris suddenly returns from overseas, is happy to leave early without Frances. Bertie is angry with her for leaving Frances alone, and goes down to the convent where she finds Frances making preparations for her reception into the Church.Mrs Mulholland intervenes with Bertie on Frances's behalf, and in discussions with Mere Pauline, Bertie realises she cannot mount further resistance, and consents to Frances's conversion. After the ceremony they go to visit Hazel who now has a small son. Hazel is happy and takes no notice of her mother's child-rearing advice; she is happy for Frances and asks her whether she thinks of becoming a nun. Frances speaks of this idea for the first time and suggests that she would be happy with convent life. Hazel advises her to follow her own convictions. Back in Porthlew, the sisters attend a concert. Rosamund has begun to make plans for a return to the Wye Valley cottage once she is of age, assuming Frances will come with her, but realises that Frances's new faith may create obstacles; suddenly, she realises that Frances will want to become a nun. She asks Frances to promise not to do this, but she cannot. Rosamund hints at her fears to Bertie, who suggests that Frances's excitement about her faith is a consequence of conversion and will subside. Rosamund begins to be reassured about Frances, but then letters come for her from Father Anselm and Mere Pauline which show that Frances has indeed been pursuing her religious vocation. Bertie is very angry, and determined to prevent this. Rosamund, reassured that Frances could leave during her novitiate, asks Frederick to give his consent. He refers her to Bertie, who will not allow Frances to set a date for her departure to the convent. Frances leaves the house in secret while Bertie is away. Life in the novitiate is tiring for Frances who is used to much more sleep and no manual work. She finds the large meals difficult to finish, and the monotony and intensity of the convent life strange, but is happy and after six months her superiors begin to suggest that she will make her preliminary vows. Rosamund attends this ceremony (with Lady Argent) and the sisters meet again; Rosamund appears understanding of the step Frances is taking, but in fact is still convinced that Frances will realise her mistake and come home again. Frances makes her first vows and says goodbye to Rosamund, very sad and lonely for her sister, but convinced she has taken the right step. At home in the Wye Valley, Lady Argent and Ludovic discuss the sisters, and have recognised that Rosamund is depending on Frances leaving the convent. Rosamund finds she can discuss her frustrations with Ludovic, who is sceptical about religion. Rosamund returns to Porthlew in a state of anxiety about her sister's happiness and future Morris Severing contacts his mother, who joins him in London, wishing to keep him away from the distraught Rosamund. They quarrel, and Nina reminds Morris of her diaries, which record his various misdeeds. Bertie writes to Nina to say that Frances is seriously ill at the convent. Rosamund arrives at the convent but is not allowed to see Frances; Frances is told she is there, and sends her love. Rosamund is taken to the chapel and, stricken with misery, prays for Frances to die so that her suffering will be over and she will not be recalled to endure convent life. Frances does die, and Rosamund collapses; she stays in the convent infirmary for some days. She is somewhat comforted by Mrs Mullholland's confident faith in heaven and reunion with those she has loved. Bertie writes that Frederick is very ill with pneumonia, and Rosamund goes to stay with Lady Argent. They discuss Rosamund's plans, and the right place for her to live; she feels that it would be pointless to return permanently to Porthlew, but fears it may be her duty. Frederick dies, and Rosamund goes back to Porthlew, where she learns that Bertie means to sell the house. Recognising Bertie's need to be needed, she asks her to return to the Wye Valley cottage with her. Nina visits them there, and Morris meets Rosamund again, and renews his suit, but Rosamund rejects him. Nina and Morris go abroad. Ludovic, now "in Parliament", grows closer to Rosamund, but she fears that after Frances's death she cannot care deeply for anyone. The novel closes as Rosamund, without acknowledging his affection in words, gives him her hand to hold.

1919

Hodder & Stoughton

none

Dedicated to M. P. P. [Margaret Posthuma] and, in spite of air raids, to the pleasant memory of our winter in London, 1917-18

Dawson-Scott, C. A., ‘Two Women Novelists’, The Bookman; Jul 1919; 56, 334

Consequences tells the story of Alexandra Clare, always known as Alex. Alex is the eldest child of Sir Francis and Lady Isabel Clare, a late-Victorian upper-class couple who live in Bayswater in London; Sir Francis is Catholic and the children are being raised, rather superficially, in that faith. At the start of the book, Alex initiates a game in which her sister Barbara falls and seriously injures her back; Alex is blamed for the accident and her parents send her to a convent in Belgium. At school she develops a passion for Queenie Torrance, who tolerates Alex’s affection for her. Intimate friendships are discouraged at the convent; Alex is chastised for this in front of the whole school. After school Alex is launched into London society; she is pretty and well-dressed, but not very attractive to men, and when in her second season she becomes engaged to Noel Cardew her family is relieved. However, Alex quickly realises that she is not in love with Noel, nor he with her, and breaks off the engagement. Disenchanted with her society life, Alex becomes acquainted with Mother Gertrude, the superior of a convent near her house. Mother Gertrude suggests that Alex might find that the life of a nun would suit her. Increasingly unhappy at home, and with a growing love for Mother Gertrude, Alex leaves her family after a serious argument over her future, and goes to live at the convent. The novel rejoins Alex eight years later, a professed nun still waiting for the emotional fulfilment that she has always longed for, and increasingly exhausted by the physically rigorous life. Mother Gertrude is now Assistant Superior, and Alex’s love for her is undimmed; when she hears that Mother Gertrude is to be transferred to a new convent in South America, she breaks down and determines to leave, eventually returning to London. Her parents are now dead, Barbara is an impoverished widow, and her brother Cedric is living in the family home with his wife Violet and their baby; he also provides a home to their younger adult siblings Archie and Pamela. Money difficulties come to the fore: Alex’s father divided her inheritance between her sisters. Alex cannot support herself on the tiny income left to her, Barbara is unwilling to share her home with her, and Alex realises that Violet’s kindness to her is due to her love for Cedric. Alex determines to find work and her own home, and arranges to rent a room in a cheap part of London. She stays on in Cedric’s house while the family is away; when the convent sends her a bill for her expenses, she cashes a cheque left with her by Cedric for the servants’ wages in order to pay this, before moving out. Cedric discovers the servants have not been paid, and returns to confront Alex, denouncing her behaviour as criminal. Alex becomes convinced that she must end her own life, and one evening she goes to Hampstead Heath, fills her pockets with stones, and walks into a deep pond.

1920

Hutchinson & Co

none

To supplement the offering of a very early and unfinished effort, of which the dedication ran: "To My Maternal Parent".

‘Novel Notes: Tension’. The Bookman, July 1920, p. 153; ‘Fyfe, Hamilton. ‘Books and Their Writers: The Portrait of a “Cat”’. Daily Mail, 23 July 1920, p. 3.

At the Commercial and Technical College for South-West England in Culmouth (probably Plymouth), a new Lady Superintendent has been appointed. Sir Julian Rossiter is a Director of the College; his wife Edna directs her charitable impulses to providing hospitality and entertainment to the staff, inviting them to spend Sundays at their house Culmhayes. The new Superintendent is the admirably qualified Pauline Marchrose, who, Edna strongly suspects, was the young woman who broke the heart of her cousin Clarence Isbister. Clarence had been engaged to a Miss Marchrose, and then injured while hunting. Since it looked likely that he would be paralysed, he offered to release his fiancée from their engagement. She accepted, and he suffered a breakdown, but subsequently recovered in mind and body, and made a successful marriage to another girl. The Rossiters have an intimate relationship with their agent, Mark Easter, who also has a senior role at the College. Mark's wife is interned in a home for inebriates, and he is bringing up his children Ruthie and Ambrose in a house on the Culmhayes estate. He gets occasional help from his sister Iris who, at the beginning of the novel, has just published a book: Why, Ben! A Story of the Sexes. Miss Marchrose is a success during her first weeks at the College, taking on a great deal of work and helping Mark with typing when the estate clerk leaves. She rebuffs Edna's overtures of friendship, but gets on well with Julian and the staff of the College. She confides in Julian about her life and upbringing, her efforts to manage as a working woman in London. Iris Easter comes to stay with Mark, bringing a young man with her, Douglas Garrett, who counts himself as modern and affects a Scottish accent and ancestry. At a tea party attended by Mark, Miss Marchrose, Iris, Douglas and the Rossiters, Miss Marchrose sings, and the warmth with which Mark regards her is evident. Iris too begins to think of her as a friend. When Iris becomes engaged to Douglas, she starts to foster Mark and Miss Marchrose's interest in each other. Edna continues to suspect her and Mark's evident attraction disturbs her. She eventually obtains evidence that Miss Marchrose is the same woman who was once engaged to Clarence. Having confirmed this, she visits the College, makes an unwelcome visit to a classroom in which Miss Marchrose is teaching, and tells her of the position regarding Mark's wife. A discussion about how a present from the College staff should be given to Iris recalls the story of her own marriage to Sir Julian. She was twenty-nine and despairing of ever marrying when they met on a sea-voyage; he offered her marriage as a way out of her situation and for mutual companionship rather than out of love. Discussing Miss Marchrose with Iris, she relates the story of Clarence. Iris takes this up with her. Miss Marchrose confides again in Sir Julian her own version of that story, explaining that she had known before the accident that she did not love Clarence, but had felt obliged to marry the only man to show an interest in her; she also longed for an escape from her working life. Knowing that there was no solid emotional basis for their continued relationship, and that she was not patient enough to nurse a man who she did not love, she agreed when he offered to release her. Sir Julian admires the strength with which she has handled this situation, and her self-knowledge, but concludes that she is an incurable romanticist who could not accept a marriage essentially of convenience. Iris's marriage approaches, but she too chooses Sir Julian as a confidant, confessing that she tried to promote a relationship along Free Love lines between Mark and Miss Marchrose. Sir Julian advises her not to speak of this to anyone. Lady Rossiter visits the College to speak to Mr Fuller, the Supervisor, of her concerns regarding Miss Marchrose's character. He dismisses her rudely, but she manages to suggest to the Chair of the Board of Directors, Alderman Bellew, that Miss Marchrose's behaviour is causing talk and difficulty at the College; he considers that she should be let go if this is the case. Edna also manages to plant suspicion in the mind of Miss Farmer, a teacher at the College, that something is amiss between Mark and the Lady Superintendent. Iris and Douglas marry, their wedding enlivened by Douglas's father who proves to be a stationer from Swindon and not remotely Scottish. After the wedding, the situation at the College deteriorates. Edna's hints have led to talk among the staff, and Miss Marchrose looks ever more miserable. At a Board meeting, Mr Fuller furiously resists attempts to get her to resign; Edna's suggestion that her hard work sets a bad example to the others, who may not wish to work such long hours, is not well received. The College is asked by a similar venture in Gloucester to send a member of staff for a few days to help with its establishment, and Mark goes, troubled by the College atmosphere. Miss Marchrose tenders her resignation to Fuller, who refuses it, and then to Sir Julian, Later he meets her half by chance on the beach, where they have talked before. She confides in him for the last time that she has loved Mark and would be willing to risk her respectability for him; that she had hoped the crisis over her resignation would provoke him to act, but that he has been too afraid to do so. Sir Julian leaves her, but on the way back encounters Fuller, who is also looking for Miss Marchrose. Returning to the College to discuss the situation with Fuller the next day, he discovers that he has proposed marriage to Miss Marchrose. A few weeks later, Sir Julian writes to Miss Marchrose to confirm that he believes her engagement to Fuller to be wise, and suggests that they may work together to set up a branch of the College in the colonies. He commends her self-knowledge and courage in a letter composed against the background of Edna's monologue about love, giving out, and how everything is part of a Divine Plan.

1921

Hutchinson & Co

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To Paul [Dashwood], husband and comrade. For the friendship of our days, For your very pleasant ways, For the many times we've laughed, For your kindness to my craft, Let me dedicate to you The book of mine I hold most true.

‘Fiction: Humbug’. Saturday Review, Dec. 1921, pp. 693–94; Murray, D. L. ‘A Realistic Novel: Humbug’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1040, 22 Dec. 1921, p. 857; Symon, J. D. ‘Books of the Day’. The Illustrated London News, 7 Jan. 1922, p. 20; ‘Novel Notes: Humbug’. The Bookman, Feb. 1922, p. 236.

Lily Stellenthorpe, aged seven when the novel opens, is the younger daughter of Philip and Eleanor Stellenthorpe, who raise their children in a manipulative, hypocritical way which never involves abuse or anger, but a constant sense of grievance that a child may have been naughty; they are incapable of approaching a subject directly. They impose anticipatory guilt on Lily for any potential wrongdoings. Lily's sister Vonnie has a developmental delay caused by a childhood illness; Lily, a pretty, lively child, is consequently much favoured and taken about for treats by her parents. She loves Vonnie passionately and is often very angry about this unfairness, which Vonnie does not, in fact, mind. Vonnie gets agonising earache and Lily is disturbed and unhappy about this; one day she wishes that Vonnie could die so that she would not have any more earache. Vonnie becomes ill with a brain tumour. The seriousness of her illness is kept from Lily who nevertheless understands that something bad is going on. Vonnie does die, and Lily experiences a mixture of guilt and relief, but she cannot talk to her parents about Vonnie - they have sentimentalised her memory, and Lily cannot recognise her sister in the way she is described. A year or so later, Eleanor has another baby, a son called Kenneth. She is rather ill afterwards. When Kenneth is a year old, he catches scarlet fever. Lily is sent to stay at a convent which perplexes her very much; she cannot do anything for herself, the standards of modesty required are unfamiliar, and the other girls tease her. The convent rules mean she does not get enough sleep, and (this is described very vaguely) lack of attention from the nuns to her bodily health mean she becomes constipated and unwell. Before Lily can come home for Christmas, her mother, who has been nursing her little boy herself, succumbs to scarlet fever and dies. Philip is unsure of how to manage Lily's education and takes advice from his wife's cousin, Charlie Hardinge, who suggests the school his three daughters attend. Lily finds this to be another perplexing place, insisting constantly upon a sense of honour, obsessed with games at which Lily is a failure, and delivering an education low in academic standards. Lily never really settles there and does not really make any friends, even among her cousins. Before leaving, she is given a long talk by the headmistress Miss Melody which diagnoses in Lily a fear of responsibility. Lily thinks this entirely wrong, but lacks the assertiveness to say so. At home after school, Lily is discontented. Her father is incapable of realising she is older, and treats her like a little child; he cheapens a teenage romance she has by forbidding her from writing to the boy, which she had no intention of doing. Edith Hardinge suggests sending Lily to visit a relative, and the only one available is Aunt Clotilde, Philip's sister, who lives in Italy. Lily is dispatched there. Aunt Clo is a bohemian spinster who lives rather eccentrically in a small town near Rome. While there, she meets Nicholas Aubray, a friend of her aunt's, a barrister in Italy for work. They visit the sights of Rome with him and a friend he is staying with, the Marchese della Torre. Nicholas is attracted to Lily and they develop a friendship, although she is very unsure about her feelings for him. Aunt Clo encourages her to consider him as a potential husband. Lily agrees that Nicholas should be allowed to write to her. Subsequently he comes to visit her at home with her father, who is also in favour of the match. Lily is unsure what to do, and whether she really loves him. She tries to get advice from her cousins, Miss Melody and her father, but none of them really help. She realises how little she knows her own mind. Eventually she agrees to marry him. They honeymoon in Paris and things go reasonably well, although Lily is unsure if she is really as happy as other people tell her she should be. She wonders about a more active religious life, but does not really pursue it. Her cousin Dorothy Hardinge becomes engaged to Jack, who works in India and will take her out there. A year later, Charlie Hardinge dies suddenly. Lily thinks very much about what has happened to his soul, and the inadequacies of most religions for describing the after-life. She flirts with the idea of becoming a Catholic, as the idea of purgatory is reassuring, but realises she cannot - and does not want to - suppress her sense of doubt in authority. Lily is increasingly unhappy with Nicholas, who irritates her; she believes that as she loves him, she should find him perfect, and the effort to do so exhausts her. She begins to fantasise about leaving him and beginning again, of being available for a real lover. Four years into their marriage, she has a miscarriage (not for the first time, it is implied) and becomes unwell. Nicholas suggests as a nurse a girl of his acquaintance, red-headed Doris Dickenson, who he thinks will be better company for Lily. Lily dislikes her very much, but is too weak to do anything about it, even when it is clear that Doris is paying too much attention to Nicholas. Aunt Clo arrives for a visit and Lily tells her that she cannot bear Doris; Aunt Clo dismisses her. The Aubrays' house is being renovated, and Lily goes to stay with her father. She tries to tell him how unhappy she is in her marriage, but he is shocked and says it is a mortal sin to leave her husband. Kenneth, now about 17, comes home and mentions that he has seen a red-headed woman letting herself in to Lily's house. Both Philip and Lily understand the implications of this, and Philip suggests the possibility of divorce. Lily summons Nicholas, who realises he has been caught out and is contrite. She suggests that divorce would set them both free to start again, although he points out the social damage that would be done to her. She agrees to consider her options and for the first time really thinks something out for herself. She decides that, since she is merely fond of Nicholas, there is nothing really to forgive in his adultery, and she will stay with him. Lily then finds she is pregnant and determines, with Nicholas, that she will bring up her child with greater honesty and frankness, and a sense that he belongs to himself and not to her. Her son is born at the end of the novel.

1921

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To YOÉ: my sister, and always my greatest friend. “Provinces twain o’er the land held sway, and the country was ruled by twain, I made the laws, as King, but you, as Premier, revoked them again. You were my faithful A.D.C., when I was the Captain bold. But Watson I, to your Sherlock Holmes, in the Baker Street days of old, We went through times that were strange and bad, and we shared and shared the same. And talked and dreamed and planned of the day when we’d come to freedom and fame. And the dreams came true, and the times were changed, and we did the things we’d planned — (Don’t you remember the two Fur Coats, and the trips to Weston sand?) — So now you work at a real Career, and I’m writing, in Singapore, And send my book to my Twin — a token of all that has gone before. A sign of the past — but a symbol, too, that is known to you and me. Of the days together still to come, and the best that is yet to be”

Fyfe, Hamilton. ‘Books and Their Writers: Self-Centered Women’. Daily Mail, 20 Apr. 1921, p. 10; Murray, D. L. ‘New Novels: The Heel of Achilles’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1004, 14 Apr. 1921, p. 243; ‘Novel Notes: The Heel of Achilles’. The Bookman, May 1921, p. 107; ‘The Heel of Achilles’. The Observer, 24 Apr. 1921, p. 4.

The novel’s protagonist, Lydia Raymond, is orphaned at the age of twelve and goes to live with her cynical grandfather, kindly Aunt Beryl and Beryl’s brother George, a middle-class family living in a seaside town. Lydia is clever, but also egotistical; she seeks the lion’s share of the limelight in any situation, but is clever enough to manipulate circumstances to always give a surface appearance of self-effacement. Her grandfather recognises these characteristics, and gives her various pieces of advice – in particular his golden rule, “always let the other people talk about themselves” – which, when put into practice, shroud her egotism. After a successful period at school, Lydia gets a job in London as accounts clerk at a dress shop, and has an abortive flirtation with a Greek resident at her boarding-house. When he is found to have a wife already, Lydia enjoys the status of being a wronged woman, and turns her experience into a novel, which has a minor success. She moves to a new job as secretary to financier Sir Rupert Honoret, where she first meets a young clergyman, Clement Damerel, who is involved with Sir Rupert’s charitable work. Lydia is inadvertently drawn into Sir Rupert’s covert investigation of his wife, who he suspects of infidelity. Clement finds Lydia distressed after an interrogation by Sir Rupert, and terrified that she will be called to give evidence in court; he undertakes to help her. Lydia and Clement marry shortly afterwards and move to his family home in Devon, where he will be a curate. The final third of the novel focuses on Lydia’s relationship with her daughter, Jennie. Lydia and Clement’s marriage is initially happy but then Clement becomes distanced from her, and they have only one child. When Clement dies of appendicitis, after twelve years of marriage, it is the beginning of conflict between mother and daughter, as Lydia resents Jennie’s claims to grief, particularly when they are upheld by others. Jennie grows up to be tomboyish, uninterested in her appearance and resentful of her mother’s self-sacrificing tendencies. At seventeen, she meets a Canadian, Roland Valentine, who arrives in their Devon village in his own plane during the summer of 1914; they are immediately attracted to one another and a few weeks later Roland returns to ask for permission to marry Jennie. Lydia objects to the match, ostensibly on the grounds of Jennie’s youth and immaturity, but when war is declared and Roland joins the forces, she is persuaded to allow the marriage to take place. Lydia loves her daughter as she has never really loved anyone, and the trauma of losing her causes her to seek advice from several friends and relatives. Consequently, she is obliged to hear a substantial number of home truths about her egotism and her determination to force Jennie’s continued dependent status. Gradually, she comes to realise that her egotism and her need for praise and status has led her to take from her child the opportunities that would have allowed her to mature. The novel closes as Jennie and Roland leave after their wedding, and a distressed Lydia is comforted by her friends and family.

1922

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Dedicated to C. A. Dawson-Scott in affectionate admiration of the novelist and the woman. (US edition: To C. A. Dawson-Scott in affectionate admiration of her work).

‘Fathers and Children’. The Observer, 8 Oct. 1922, p. 4; Gould, Gerald. ‘New Fiction: The Optimist’. Saturday Review, Oct. 1922, p. 554; McQuilland, Louis J. ‘The Optimist’. John O’London’s Weekly, 9 Dec. 1922; Murray, D. L. ‘The Optimist’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1081, 5 Oct. 1922, p. 628.

Owen Quentillian has returned to visit the Morchard family at St Gwenllian, where he lived for a time as a boy while his parents were in India. He has been serving in the army during and apparently following the First World War; having inherited Stear, a nearby house, he makes a long visit to St Gwenllian while building work is being completed. St Gwenllian is the home of Canon Fenwick Morchard, a prolix conversationalist and extremely traditional father, and his children: Lucilla, the eldest, who has been housekeeper since the early death of her mother; Valeria, who has been involved in a fitful romance with a Captain Cuscaden, who plans to emigrate to Canada; fey and musical Flora, devoted to her father; and the annoying Adrian, whose war service was only of six months' duration, and is now looking vaguely for a career, having rejected the Church as an option. David Morchard, the eldest son, has known Owen in the army and is now in India. After a flashback to Owen's earlier visit to the Morchards, he becomes reacquainted with the family. The Canon remains committed to the principles of Christianity, which Owen has rejected; his views are more modern and progressive and he discounts entirely the Canon's creed of optimism after his war experiences. Owen has published some essays which Lucilla has read, admired, and kept firmly away from the Canon. The Canon's kindliness makes it difficult for his children to question his authority or go against his wishes, meaning that his daughters lead very restricted lives; Lucilla's evenings are spent looking up references for a work the Canon is writing on Leonidas of Alexandria. The Canon is very anxious about Adrian's career; Adrian is besotted with Olga Duffle who is the sociable daughter of wealthy, but lower-class, parents. Olga comes to tea, and plays tennis, and proves irritating to Owen, but he begins to enjoy Val's company; she and Flora speculate as to whether he is falling in love with Val. Val managed to undertake six months' war work in France, where she proved efficient and skilful in canteen work, and enjoyed herself. She wonders about marriage to Owen as a release from the boredom of home. Discussing her situation and need for work with Lucilla, she is advised to take a job or marry, which would be better, and discount her father's objections. Val convinces herself that her duty is to her father, but Lucilla says that she once had to make a similar choice between duty and a wish to live her own life, but that now that wish no longer exists. The family visit Stear, with a picnic. Owen and Val discuss vocations, and the need for self-expression; Owen refutes self-abnegation as a way of life. Adrian asks, indirectly whether the living at Stear might be given to him, if he were to become a clergyman. The family become aware of Val and Owen's friendship, and start leaving them alone, diplomatically; Owen goes away for a while, but discusses Val with Lucilla, who says that she wishes Val could take another job, or make another change in her life. Owen proposes to Val by letter, who responds that she can see good reasons for marrying but that she does not really love Owen, and asks if they can discuss this in person. He agrees to this but asks her to let him know if her opinion changes, and very soon they are engaged. Their wedding is to happen in January, after a minor disagreement as to whether they can marry in Advent - Owen sees this as irrelevant but Val would prefer not to hurt her father's feelings. They become aware that religious issues are a barrier between them. Olga comes for a musical evening at which Val's former suitor, Cuscaden, is also present. The emotion of the music stirs Val's feelings and she comes to realise that Owen cannot give her the love she desires. Stepping outside into the rain with Cuscaden, they embrace and declare their love. Val says that she will go to Canada with him. Caught, soaking wet, by her father, she explains that she is in love with George Cascaden and she will break off her engagement to Owen. The Canon is very shocked and disappointed. Owen accepts this in his modern and rational way, but is interviewed by the Canon who expects him to share the tragic view of the circumstances. Owen asks the Canon if he is not taking this too seriously, after which the Canon urges him to break down and give vent to his feelings. Owen urges the Canon to consent to her marriage with Cuscaden; discussing the issue with Lucilla, he finds her agreed that Val and Cuscaden should marry and go to Canada, and agrees to do what he can to help. Eventually the marriage is arranged with her father's blessing, and the couple can leave. The Morchards attend a party given by their neighbours, the Admastons, as part of which there will be a musical show. Adrian and Olga are among the performers. The Canon finds it vulgar and is not amused. The family is introduced to Mr Duffle, who talks about his wealth and his ambitions for Olga's marriage. The Canon is concerned about Adrian's infatuation with Olga, and when Mr Duffle comes to visit to complain that Adrian is taking up too much of Olga's time and must not follow her back to London, the Canon takes this very seriously indeed. Adrian does go back to London, but is recalled immediately by his father for a long interview. Adrian decides to go to London and look for work. The family discuss his plans together, and Adrian suggests that he will try journalism. His father agrees to increase his allowance so he can support himself in London until established. From Canada, it is heard that Val has had a son. The Canon's great work on Leonidas of Alexandria is finished, and he seeks a publisher, but is unsuccessful. Adrian begins to run up debts in London and earns himself a chastising letter from the Canon. Owen sees Adrian in London, and finds he has taken a job with a paper that has anti-religious leanings. The Canon is deeply hurt by this defection. Val is pregnant again and Lucilla wishes to travel out to Canada to help with the event, since she has no family there. The Canon is against the plan, but Lucilla decides it is best to go, even if her father is not in favour. Flora takes on the housekeeping while Lucilla is away, and is glad of the opportunity, but shocked that Lucilla can disregard her father's authority. Owen hears that David Morchard has died suddenly, and writes his condolences to Flora; he then visits St Gwenllian. Flora is concerned by the lack of letters of condolences from David's colleagues in India, and worries that he may have committed suicide. Owen agrees to help her find out the truth. A letter comes, written by David before his death, that explains that he was about to be cited as co-respondent in a divorce case - he asks Flora to do anything she can for Mrs Carey, the wife in the case, who is returning to England. Flora keeps the facts of the case from the Canon, and arranges to meet Mrs Carey secretly with Owen. Mrs Carey tells the story of their relationship - she has had many flirtations and David was the last straw for her husband. Flora becomes convinced that David really cared for Mrs Carey and would not have failed her deliberately through suicide. Owen is concerned that the meeting, and the facts, have been kept from the Canon, but Flora is determined to maintain the subterfuge. Lucilla returns from Canada and Owen visits the family. After dinner the Canon reads one of Owen's essays, and is disappointed by his modern way of thinking. Flora becomes unwell with some kind of depressive illness. Lucilla is worried, and consults Owen, who agrees that Flora is unbalanced. Flora rejects medical help but cries more and more and eventually blurts out that she feels useless. Flora begins to think of joining an Anglican convent; Lucilla remains convinced that she is ill and should not be taking such a step. Owen joins the family for Flora's last night at home, and she sings Lead, Kindly Light; Owen marvels at the Canon's ability to accept, with love, Flora's depature. He and Lucilla discuss the Canon's faith, and Lucilla points out that there is no need to despise the religious for believing in what Owen sees as illusions. The Canon becomes gravely ill. Adrian returns home to see him, and promises to leave his secularist newspaper. Lucilla confides in Owen that she had once wanted to go to college, but her father's unwillingness had caused her to rethink her position and sacrifice her ambitions; she now believes she was wrong to have done this, although she has not been unhappy in the path she took. The Canon dies. A year later, Owen visits Lucilla at Torquay where she is living as companion to a relative. He asks her to marry him and, after a discussion of the rational reasons for doing so - Owen is lonely, and Lucilla needs a home. After confessing that she has been in love with him for some time, Lucilla accepts him.

1923

Hutchinson & Co

none in US edition

none in US edition

Gould, Gerald. ‘New Fiction: A Reversion to Type’. Saturday Review, Aug. 1923, p. 196; ‘Miss Delafield’s New Novel’. The Observer, 19 Aug. 1923, p. 4; Rickword, Edgell. ‘A Reversion to Type’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1125, 9 Aug. 1923, p. 532; Symon, J. D. ‘Books of the Day’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 163, no. 4400, 18 Aug. 1923, p. 320.

The Aviolets have lived at their country house, Squires, for many years. Dr Lucian, the local GP, is called to Squire to see Sir Thomas and Lady Aviolet's new grandson, Cecil, who is unwell. Cecil and his mother Rose have come to live at Squires following Jim Aviolet's death in Ceylon. Rose is a tall young woman from a working-class London background; she grew up with her mother in her uncle's house. Lady Aviolet considers Cecil to be spoilt and that his early childhood in Ceylon is a major disadvantage; she does not articulate her plainly felt views about Rose. Dr Lucian pronounces Cecil healthy; Lady Aviolet thanks him for his help, and his previous help getting the troublesome and alcoholic Jim out of awkward situations; she confides in him that Cecil seems unable to tell the truth; he makes up very unlikely stories, but refuses to admit that they are stories. The elder Aviolet son, Ford, is Cecil's co-guardian; he is considered by his family to be clever, and therefore better able to deal with Rose, who is also seen as clever because she is fond of reading. Ford expresses his distaste for Rose, and his own concern about Cecil's lack of truthfulness. Rose finds the impersonal atmosphere of Squires stifling, and the Aviolets find her tendency to discuss personal matters painful. Ford suggests to Rose that Cecil may eventually be sent away to school; she dislikes the idea as much as she dislikes Ford. Rose reflects on her upbringing, her close relationship with her late mother, and the love-affair with her uncle's assistant, Artie Millar, in the pawnbroking business which led to her despatch to Ceylon; she met Jim Aviolet on the boat, and married him very quickly. At Squires, she becomes friendly with Dr Lucien and his sister Henrietta, and shares her frustrations about life in the country. On a visit to the doctor's house, Cecil takes a fancy to a musical snuff-box; after they leave, it is seen to be missing. Arriving at Squires, Lady Aviolet tells the doctor that Cecil has confessed to taking the box, but when asked to repeat this to the doctor directly and to apologise, he refuses. Lady Aviolet is shocked at his behaviour. Rose arrives to apologies to Dr Lucien, and they discuss Cecil's behaviour; Rose cannot account for it, but suggests that Cecil does not really know whether he is speaking the truth or not. She tells the Lucians that she would rather earn her own living, but doubts she could support her son, and anyway the Aviolets are likely to object. Rose is worried that school would be bad for Cecil, since his lack of truthfulness might lead to social ostracism; she is determined that he will not be sent there. Visitors arrive at Squires for a shooting-party: Diana Grierson-Amberley, a cousin of Lady Aviolet of Rose's age, and Lord Charlesbury, a widower with a son of Cecil's age. Diana is a typical countrywoman and Rose finds her dull, but she gets on better with Lord Charlesbury, who is kind to her about Cecil and suggests that his son's prep school, Hurst, would be a good choice for him. Cecil now has a governess, Miss Wade, who despises Rose for not being a lady. Rose confides in Lord Charlesbury that she does not want Cecil sent to school; she also passes on her feelings about Ford and Diana, and he advises her not to confide these feelings to others, as she is likely to make enemies. Lady Aviolet suggests that Ford will discuss the possibility of Cecil attending Hurst, and Rose is angry about being excluded. Dr Lucian is invited to dinner; Rose starts an argument about Cecil's school, trying to persuade the Aviolets that it will be the ruin of the boy if he goes. They are unable to accept or understand her argument, and unmoved by her emotional appeal. Ford and Dr Lucian discuss the issue, and Ford is convinced that school will cure Cecil of his habit of invention. Cecil himself begins to want to go to school; Diana tries to persuade Rose that this would be best for him, but Miss Wade suggests that Cecil should not go to school if he cannot speak the truth, and proposes corporal punishment if the fault persists; this ends with a whipping administered by Sir Thomas. Rose takes Cecil to visit her uncle Alfred in London, against the wishes of Lady Aviolet, who considers Rose a selfish mother. In London, Rose feels at home, but Cecil misses Squires. Rose discusses the possibilities of staying on in London with her uncle, who suggests that she would be depriving Cecil of the opportunities of wealth if she does, and that she could not earn enough money to support herself and her child. Cecil has an attack of croup; Felix Menebees, the junior assistant at the pawnbrokers, fetches the doctor; Felix has begun to dote on Rose. Fetching medicine from the chemist, Rose meets Lord Charlesbury, and he takes her to tea. They discuss Cecil, and Rose confesses that she has realised how happy and well he was at Squires; she decides to return, despite her misgivings. Lord Charlesbury suggests Rose visit Hurst to see the place for herself, and also tells her that Ford is engaged to Diana. Back at Squires, Rose is excited by the details of the engagement, and finds it easier to be friendly to Diana, who hints that she is unsure about her forthcoming marriage, but brushes off Rose's concern. Cecil has a dramatic tantrum when Miss Wade teases him about a drawing, and the governess resigns. Rose goes to Hurst with Henrietta Lucian, and is impressed with the building and Mr Lambert, the headmaster. Mrs Lambert, his wife, is also kind and sympathetic, and understanding when told about Cecil's inability to speak the truth; in Mrs Lambert's view, it is something he will grow out of, and she has seen other boys do so. Rose agrees that Cecil should go to Hurst; she intends to return to London and her uncle while he is away at school. Paying a last visit to the Lucians before she leaves, she discusses a report from Mrs Lambert that Cecil has been caught cheating at a game. Dr Lucian proposes marriage to her, but Rose is determined not to marry again, since her short marriage to Jim was so unhappy. Back in London, Rose meets Lord Charlesbury again, and realises that there is an attraction between them; he calls to see her at her uncle's, and they appear out of sympathy. After he leaves, Uncle Alfred suggests that a marriage to Lord Charlesbury would take Rose away from her remaining family; at a second meeting with Charlesbury, Rose makes it plain that her place is with Uncle Alfred, and that she feels at home there. Dr Lucian helps Rose find a job at a children's hospital. Five years pass, and Cecil is now at public school; he seems, to the Lucians, much changed and somehow frightened; Dr Lucian realises that he is still telling stories, although covering himself somewhat better. Rose is still concerned about Cecil and believes him to be unhappy at school, although putting a brave face on it. Cecil has confided in a young schoolmaster, Perriman, who is also ordained. Perriman has tried to help Cecil, who is shortly to be confirmed, to repent of his errors and to stop brooding over his fault; Cecil comes to him with repeated confessions until the time when he confesses to a piece of dishonesty - copying questions in advance of an exam - that Perriman knows he could not have committed. He believes Cecil to be mocking him and his kindness, and Cecil loses his respect; this convinces Cecil that he is morally degraded in some way, and he is unable to stop behaving dishonestly. Leaving public school, Cecil boasts to a neighbour that he has won a scholarship to Cambridge; Rose is congratulated, and realises that Cecil is no better, although he is much more socially able and superficially likeable. Once at Cambridge, Cecil begins to appeal to Rose and to Uncle Alfred for money. Dr Lucian agrees to go to Cambridge to investigate but the Great War is declared, and his visit is postponed. Lady Aviolet writes to Rose, to tell her that Cecil has asked Sir Thomas for money; Rose wonders why Cecil has not tried to enlist in the army immediately. The doctor goes directly to Cambridge, and finds Sir Thomas there; Cecil has been arrested for stealing silver trophies from other students. He has had them inscribed as if they had been awarded to him. Cecil has admitted this on arrest, but attempts to deny it to Rose, much to her despair; eventually she persuades him to admit what he has done. Cecil is tried, pleads guilty, and Dr Lucian testifies that he is mentally unstable; the judge does not give a prison sentence, but requires Cecil to enlist at once. At the barracks, Cecil writes to thank Lucian for his help, and expresses the hope that he will die quickly at the Front. Uncle Alfred succumbs to influenza, and dies; Felix and Rose are both distressed. Alfred's will leaves the shop to Artie Millar, a life-interest in his savings to Rose, and a thousand pounds to Felix. Felix, rejected as unfit for the army when he tried to enlist, immediately take driving lessons so he can become an ambulance driver. Cecil spends his last leave at Squires; Ford teases him that he should return with a commission, but not too many decorations, implying he would steal them; Rose loses control, and hits Ford in the face. Cecil says goodbye to the family, and tells Rose he wishes she would marry Dr Lucian; he would then feel that her happiness didn't depend on him. Rose returns to the Lucians instead of Squires after seeing off Cecil, and tells them what has happened. She gets a letter from Diana, who has packed up Rose's things, expresses her sympathy, and regrets that they had not been closer friends. Rose tells Dr Lucian that she fears her genes, mixed with the Aviolet strain, have caused Cecil's problems. He replies that it is probably the Aviolet inbreeding that has caused the problem; Ford's dislike of Cecil is because he saw himself in the boy. Rose's love and her genetic material have saved Cecil from being like Ford. Rose agrees, finally, to marry the doctor.

1924

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Dedicated to M. P. P. [Margaret Posthuma] My dear Margaret, We have so often agreed that causes are more interesting than the most dramatic results, that I feel you are the right person to receive the dedication of my story about Elsie Palmer, in which I have tried to reconstruct the psychological developments that let, by inexorable degrees, to the catastrophe of murder. these things are never "bolts from the blue", in reality, but merely sensational accessories to the real issue, which lies on that more subtle plane of thought where only personalities are deserving of dissection. For what it is worth, I offer you an impression of Elsie Palmer's personality. E. M. D., August 1923

Cook, Marjorie Grant, and M. Grant. ‘Messalina of the Suburbs’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1162, 24 Apr. 1924, p. 252; ‘Novel Notes: A Messalina Of The Suburbs’. The Sketch, 7 May 1924, p. 98.

Sixteen years old, having just left school and desultuorily helping her mother in their boarding-house, bored Elsie Palmer is highly aware of her sexual attractiveness to men. In the first chapter, she sneaks out to the cinema with Norman Roberts, a lodger in the house. She asks her friend Irene Tidmarsh to cover for her. Elsie is thrilled when he kisses her; not because she is particularly attracted to him, but because of her own excitement. In bed, later, she thinks that this is the reason why she should exist. An married couple, Mr and Mrs Williams, come to stay briefly with Mrs Palmer; Mrs Williams is pregnant and they are waiting to move into a new house. Mr Williams is older than his wife, and a solicitor. Elsie has been going out with the local boys, and has encouraged Irene's love interest to pay more attention to her. Her mother, displeased with her behaviour and her unhelpfulness at home, insists that she must get work outside the home, after a council of war with her sisters and her older daughter Geraldine. Elsie, humiliated, is seen by Mrs Williams who suggests she should go and work as a mother's help for her friend in Hampstead, Mrs Woolley. Elsie takes the job. The children are easy to look after, and at school most of the day, and while she is supposed to do the dusting while they are out, she soon realises that Mrs Woolley will not notice if she does or not. Dr Woolley begins to flirt with Elsie and then to try to kiss and caress her whenever he gets the opportunity. Eventually, Elsie gives in to him and they have sex. Mrs Woolley begins to be suspicious of her husband and when one of the children tells her she has seen him kissing Elsie, she makes a scene and throws her out. Back at home, Mrs Palmer takes her to see Mr Williams to see about getting Elsie's possessions back and the money due to her. They see his clerk, Mr Cleaver, who tells them that Mrs Williams has died. He writes a letter to the Woolleys about Elsie's trunk and back pay. The trunk is sent back with a letter from Dr Woolley bringing their relationship to an end. Mr Williams writes to Elsie inviting her to come for an interview for a clerical post and she is offered a job. After three months Mr Williams moves her desk into his office. Mr Williams begins to pay her little attentions, touching her occasionally and holding her gaze. He suggests that they might have a - allegedly chaste - holiday together in Brighton, and that he could buy her some new clothes or silk underwear to wear there. Elsie thinks about this, and greatly desires the silk underwear. She allows herself to picked up by a stranger on the way home, and they kiss in the park before eating supper in a café. Locked out by her mother for coming home late, she spends the night at Irene's, and confides in her about Mr Williams's invitation, which she is minded to accept. Irene advises her not to go, warns her that she could get pregnant - Elsie is very hazy about this - and to hold out for a marriage proposal instead. Elsie likes the idea of being married young, and decides to decline the invitation. Over the next three months, Mr Williams's interest in her increases. He tries to talk to her about sexual matters, including her relationship with Dr Woolley, and tries to give her a present of a brooch, which she refuses at first, saying she cannot accept presents from a man who does not intend to marry her. Some weeks later, he does actually propose and is accepted. They are married a fortnight later, with Irene as witness; Mrs Palmer is told afterwards, but is delighted. Elsie soon discovers that Mr Williams is a bully and views his wife as a possession. A year after their marriage, war is declared [so Elsie was born around 1894-5] and Mr Williams's business does better than ever; Elsie has plenty of money but little freedom, and regrets her marriage, although she is proud of the luxuries in her suburban home. Mr Williams refuses to allow her to take up any war-work. She keeps up her friendship with Irene, who provides her with drugs to prevent, or get rid of, any baby that might be conceived; Elsie does not want to have a child. After the war, Irene comes to invite Elsie to visit a fortune-teller with her. Madame Clara sees passionate love in Elsie's future, advises her to beware of the written word, and then screams when she sees her covered in blood, her name known all over England. Elsie faints, and cannot initially remember this, but Irene, after taking her home in a taxi, leaves in a hurry. Elsie reflects on the dullness of her life and the impossibility of any passionate love coming her way, and daydreams of what it would be like if Mr Williams were to die. Visiting her family, she meets Leslie Morrison, a man younger than her who worked with Geraldine during the war. He is now a travelling salesman for a silk company. They are strongly attracted to each other, and Mrs Palmer attempts to warn Elsie off. Elsie encourages Leslie to visit her at home, and he does so; she finds herself having very sentimental feelings about him. She and Mr Williams are due to go on holiday to Torquay, and Geraldine is to come too; Elsie writes to Leslie and suggests he might join them there. He replies positively. Geraldine attempts to deter Elsie from her pursuit of Leslie on the train there, suggesting that he would never get involved with a married woman. On holiday, Elsie and Leslie's relationship develops and Elsie is consumed by passionate happiness. Mr Williams develops digestive trouble. Back in London, Irene is again used as an excuse to meet Leslie at a hotel in Essex; Mr Williams is becoming suspicious. Elsie and Leslie write to each other on the understanding that the letters must be burnt. Elsie tells Irene that she wishes Mr Williams would divorce her or die so she can be with Leslie. Irene points out that they would have no money and would be isolated after the scandal. Mr Williams and Leslie argue over Elsie, and Mr Williams refuses a divorce or separation, and threatens Leslie; Elsie makes him leave their house. She placates Mr Williams by suggesting she is not in love with Leslie, but still wants to separate. He refuses. Elsie is in despair. Leslie is away for work, and she sees him only very occasionally. She suggests to Mr Williams that they should have Leslie as a lodger. Furious with her, he accuses her of being in love with Leslie, and when she doesn't deny this, he throws her against a wall, bruising her arm. She rings up Leslie and tells him about this. They agree to meet later that day. Then her husband rings, saying he has theatre tickets and will take her to dinner first. She meets Leslie and suggests they should run away together, but Leslie points out that he cannot afford to keep her. She shows him her bruises and tells him, falsely, that Mr Williams has hit her before. They talk of a suicide pact, although Leslie is not keen, and talk again of why Mr Williams will not die. At the theatre, they run into Elsie's aunts, and Mr Williams takes them all for supper. After midnight, they take the tube home and walk home, at Elsie's suggestion, by a back road, the Grove. Suddenly Leslie Morrison appears, and demands that Williams give Elsie her freedom. He refuses, and Leslie produces a knife and stabs him before running away. Elsie calls for help; the police come and take her to the station. Her mother comes and tells her that she is at risk of being arrested for murder. Elsie gives a statement and names Leslie as the killer. Later, she is charged with murder. Mr Cleaver, asked to advise, tells Elsie that Leslie had kept all her letters and they are full of evidence that she wished for her husband's death; Irene has also given a statement to that effect. Elsie realises the inevitability of her conviction and execution, but cannot realise how she came to this state. The novella is published with a number of short stories: "The Bond of Union" (pp185-190, dedicated to A.P.D. [presumably Arthur Paul Dashwood]) Beautiful Lady Pamela March is holding the rapt attention of a group of men, telling about how she was kidnapped by Sinn Fein and held captive with another woman; during their brief captivity, and when walking to safety after being released, they tell each other everything about their lives. The narrator sees them shortly afterwards, passing each other in cars in Bond Street, and sees that they recognise each other but each cuts the other; they know too much about each other. "Lost in Transmission" (pp193-209) Maude, a music teacher, has made a late marriage to Edgar Lambe, a wealthy man made wealthier by successful house-building during the War. They live in a luxurious and well-appointed house and Maude is slightly shocked at first by the extravagant housekeeping bills, although her husband thinks her very prudent. They have two little girls, and Maude runs the house well. The only problem is Edgar's Aunt Tessie, who is elderly and eccentric, with a loud voice, coarse manners and a prodigious appetite. Edgar is fond of her because his own parents were cruel to him, and she was a safe haven during his childhood, so he wants to provide the same for her. She becomes paranoid, suggesting that the family want to poison her. Maude manages this for a while by giving her her own dedicated maid, Emma. Emma becomes the only person Aunt Tessie will trust, and she is embarrassing on social occasions and loathed by the children. Edgar refuses to hear of sending her to a nursing home, but a nurse is appointed to care for her at home. Aunt Tessie exhibits symptoms of extreme persecution mania. Maude realises she is pregnant and this is the stimulus for Edgar to arrange for Aunt Tessie to move to a nursing home. Emma, discussing Aunt Tessie with the nurse, suggests that Aunt Tessie's talk about poisoning and risk was a way of expressing that she understood the family did not want her there - and she trusted Emma because she had never wanted to send her away. "Time Works Wonders" (pp213-219) Adela, an unmarried writer of thirty, meets Hal Willoughby, a blond man with a moustache who has been in India at a party. He flirts with her in a garden scented with syringa blossoms, and talks to her about her writing. Adela is dispirited by his routine questions, irritated when he talks of her earnings as pocket-money (her last advance was £200) but the narrative points out that she has always lived with her mother, so her earnings have never had to pay for rent or food. Hal teases her that her stories must be love stories, and, offended, Adela tries to return to the party. Hal suggests that she should be nicer to him, as he is going away tomorrow, and they kiss. In the second section, it is about fifteen years later. Adela's mother has died, she has inherited money and also become very celebrated as an author. She enjoys the role of successful mature writer, and indulges in the mild eccentricity of retiring to a Yorkshire cottage to write, wearing trousers and smoking. Meeting a new young admirer, who insists that Adela must have known passion in order to write of it so well, Adela recounts the story of Hal Willoughby again, but now transformed into an account of great love. "The Gallant Little Lady" (pp223-231) Rita, the daughter of Lady Clyde and stepdaughter of Sir Charles Clyde, is in love with Richard Lambourne, a rubber planter in the Malay States. Sir Charles thinks they should not marry, because Richard has only his salary and Rita a small income inherited from her father. He makes it plain to Lady Clyde that he will no longer support Rita if the marriage goes ahead - his money will be for their other children. Rita and Richard marry; an elderly friend comments that she is a "gallant little lady" for marrying for love. Three years later, there is a slump in the rubber trade and Richard loses his job. They return to England planning to manage temporarily on Rita's income, but Richard cannot find any work. Rita steps up (gallantly) and gradually reduces her servants, doing the childcare and housework herself; her family and friends admire her bravery. Sir Charles attempts to find Richard a job, but without success. Rita maintains a bright, cheerful demeanour despite her circumstances, while Richard becomes more and more anxious and depressed. After a visit, Sir Charles tells Lady Clyde that he thinks Rita's gallant bravery is driving Richard mad. Shortly afterwards, Richard commits suicide. Later, Rita marries the elderly (and wealthy) friend who admired her gallantry at her first meeting. "The Hotel Child" (pp235-245) Dedicated to Y. de la P. - Yolande de la Pasture. A first-person narrative by Miss Arbell, an English governess. She first sees Laura di san Marzano in the Borghese gardens in Rome, where Miss Arbell takes her charges (children of the British Ambassador) to play each day. She is struck by the smart little girl, aged about 8, with unfashionable but elegant short hair and an aristocratic air of breeding. One day they have a conversation, and she discovers that Laura has an Italian father and French-English mother, but they have separated. She is to live with her father until she is ten, and they live entirely in hotels, moving on frequently. In the summer, her father takes her to the country where they are joined by a different lady each year; it is plain that she understands these women to be her father's lovers. Four years later, in Lucerne, Laura and Miss Arbell meet again. Laura is now with her mother, a glamorous woman in jewels and make-up and surrounded by men. Laura now has her hair in a long plait, but is wearing short dresses that make her look much younger than she is. Laura has been moving about between New York, London and continental Europe with her mother. Later, Miss Arbell witnesses Laura sending away the hotel hairdresser after he is late, with great sophistication and perfect French, although she says she will pacify her mother so that he can come back tomorrow. Much later, after eleven, Miss Arbell sees Laura sitting up with her mother and her friends, barely awake; her chair is too high, and her feet are swinging gently to and fro. Their final meeting is at Lumdeen School in England where Miss Arbell has taken a post. Laura arrives mid-term, on a whim of her mother's, with an unsuitable wardrobe and the other girls take an instant dislike to her. The school is sporty, conformist and focused on rote learning; Laura fails at all of these and finds the other girls uncivilised. Finally Laura is accused of cheating in a test; she defends herself, denying that she has done so, but then is totally ostracised. Her mother, on another whim, returns to take her away. She comes to say goodbye to Miss Arbell, who congratulates her on standing up for herself. Laura says that it would have been much easier for her if she hadn't actually cheated. In a postscript, we learn that Laura married a wealthy French Catholic nobleman and has two children, who are being brought up strictly as Catholics while she does some charitable work. [It is hard to date the action of this story. Motor-cars are in use and a Lanchester is specified; the Lanchester company operated from 1899-1931. Ragtime is playing in the Lucerne hotel, but this was also popular over the same period. Laura's mother's dress is not described in enough detail to date it; the narrator finds her make-up notable. The war is not mentioned and there is a general air of luxury that points at the Edwardian period.] "Impasse" (pp249-256) Dedicated to S. M. A. - unclear who this might be A convent of Catholic nuns run an orphanage in [probably] London. The orphans need to go to the dentist, and Irish Sister Clara and Sister Dominic are to take them there. Forty-year-old Sister Clara has been troubled by 'sensuality of thought' occasionally. Dressed for the short walk as for a long journey, in heavy additional veils, they arrive at the dentist. He is a young man with dark eyes, friendly and kind to the children. Sister Clara is slightly astonished to find that she can make conversation with him and shake hands on departure, although the pressure of his hand is resonant. Sister Clara makes several return visits, with the orphans and then with Mother Seraphina, whose false teeth need adjusting. Then she makes an appointment for herself, consumed with curiosity to feel his hands about her face. She needs a filling, and he gives her a mirror so she can see what he has been doing; she is appalled to see her red face and foolish smile, having not looked in a mirror for twelve years. The dentist tells her that there is no more work to do, and he mentions in passing that it seems a shame for her to be in a convent when there is work to do outside, like being his secretary. Clara is shocked how emotional their leave-taking makes her feel. Mother Seraphina decides that no one from the convent needs to see the dentist again. The weather is hot, and Sister Clara is troubled by insomnia and her desire for the dentist. She decides that she will leave the convent, and goes out early in the morning, appalled by the slam of the door behind her. It has turned cold. She arrives at the dentist and finds only the cleaner there. When the dentist arrives, he assumes she has come because of an abcess; he looks different, somehow, too. "The Appeal" (pp259-266) Narrated in the first-person by Bobbie, the now-adult son of Mary and Robert Jarvis, and self-styled "modern", this is an account of how his mother - prone to emotionalism and making scenes, and unhappy in her marriage to the rationalist Robert - ran away from home and got as far as Assisi. Her grandmother, Mrs St Luth, who is similarly emotional and lives with the family, goes in pursuit of her and tries to persuade them to come back. Bobbie reconstructs their discussion of this from the variable accounts that each party has brought back from this trip; Mrs St Luth's trump card is that Robert will not give up his son to Mary to raise in the event of a divorce or separation. She adds, emotionally, that Bobbie has been asking "Where's Mummie?" in plaintive tones. The adult Bobbie, doubts that he was seriously upset as a stolid and unreactive four-year-old. Mary returns, has a genuine nervous breakdown and eventually resumes family life. But the couple is never happy, there are frequent scenes and eventually his father embarks on an affair. Mrs St Luth often repeats that her existence is justified because she reunited mother and son. Bobbie, though, considers that he is the victim of his parents' unhappy marriage, and wonders if bringing his mother home was really the best thing. "The First Stone" (pp269-288) One-act play, listed separately.

1924

Hutchinson & Co

none

To Phyllida

Gould, Gerald. ‘New Fiction: Mrs. Harter’. Saturday Review, Dec. 1924, p. 636; K, C. F. ‘A Pleasant Story’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 28 Nov. 1924, p. 7; ‘Mrs. Harter’. The Scotsman, 14 Feb. 1925, p. 12; Murray, D. L. ‘Mrs Harter’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1194, 4 Dec. 1924, p. 820.

Narrated by the disabled Sir Miles Flower, married to Claire and resident in Cross Loman Manor House. The village is small and there are few neighbours: Mary Ambrey, Claire's cousin and her grown-up children Sallie and Martyn, often in residence; the Kendals and their four grown-up daughters, all living at home; the Rector and his wife, Lady Annabel Bending, widow of a senior diplomat; and Nancy Fazackerly, who escapted a violent marriage when her husband died, and returned home and care for her irascible elderly father. Claire, Miles, the young Ambreys (enthusiastic amateur psychologists: Sallie is a medical student, Martyn "at Oxford") Mary and two of the Kendals meet one afternoon and play a game in which all the participants write down adjectives describing a person on a piece of paper; this is read out to the others who must guess who is meant. Sallie uses the opportunity to snipe at Claire, who has a tendency to self-dramatise and over-emote. To alleviate the situation, they all agree to describe Mrs Diamond Harter; the daughter of a local plumber, she married a solicitor and went to live in Egypt, but has now returned to Cross Loman while her husband remains abroad. All have a strong impression of her, although nobody knows her well and several agree that she is common. Nancy Fazackerly takes a paying guest, Captain Bill Patch. Bill is a writer. Claire's brother Christopher returns from China to stay with his sister, who is passionately and controllingly fond of him. Lady Annabel arranges a concert in the village Drill Hall, at which Mrs Harter sings. She is a good singer and physically striking; her performance and appearance excite much comment. Nancy Fazackerly decides to host a musical evening, at which Mrs Harter appears again; Bill Patch sees her home afterwards. Sir Miles imagines the intimate conversation that must have taken place between them. Christopher, Sallie, Nancy and Bill Patch decide to get up a musical play after which there can be dancing at the Manor House. They base the play on the song Abdul the Bul-bul Ameer; Mrs Harter will sing the song at the start and end of the play, with other villagers taking the acting parts. Lady Annabel passes on gossip gleaned from colonial contacts about Mrs Harter's ill behaviour when abroad. Sir Miles reconstructs the second meeting of Bill and Mrs Harter from information given by Nancy and Mary; he believes that Bill had declared his love for her at this point. The play is rehearsed. Captain Patch is popular and lots of observers attend the rehearsals. Claire, Miles and Mary begin to realise that Christopher is attracted by Nancy; Claire is displeased by this. There begins to be gossip about Bill and Mrs Harter, and people speculate about the views of Mr Harter, and whether there will be a divorce. A local large house is let for the summer to Mr and Mrs Leeds, who host a picnic. It turns out they have known Mrs Harter in Cairo, and they gossip about her. Claire realises that Christopher intends to marry Nancy, and is very angry. The day before the play is to be performed, Mr Harter arrives. Bill goes to see him and Mrs Harter and declares his love for her; Mr Harter refuses to give her a divorce. The play is performed, and is well-received; Mr Harter attends the party. At the end of the evening, the car that had been hired to take Nancy and her father home is unavailable because the driver is drunk. Christopher drives Nancy home, and Mr Harter takes the hired car with Mrs Harter, Bill, and Nancy's father. He crashes the car on the bridge, and Nancy's father is killed; Bill Patch dies when the spare wheel, thrown off the car by the impact, hits him on the head. Mrs Harter is only badly bruised, and Mr Harter unhurt. The inquest finds that Mr Harter's driving caused the accident, and he is committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter. He is found guilty and imprisoned for five years. Nancy sells her cottage and comes to stay with the Flowers in a state of nervous breakdown; the opposition to her marriage to Christopher evaporates. They marry shortly afterwards. Mary Ambrey was the last person in Cross Loman to see Mrs Harter; while she was in hospital, Mary went to her lodgings to start Mrs Harter's packing. Mrs Harter told her something of her relationship with Bill which made Mary believe that they would have separated even if Bill had lived. Mrs Harter went to London, but nobody knows where she settled after that, and the tragedy lives on in the memories of Cross Loman.

1925

Hutchinson & Co

C. E. B. ‘Books of the Day’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 167, no. 4511, 3 Oct. 1925, p. 624; Cook, Marjorie Grant, and M. Grant. ‘The Chip and the Block’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1237, 1 Oct. 1925, p. 636; ‘The Chip and The Block’. The Sketch, 21 Oct. 1925, p. 88.

The Ellery family are living in Kensington in the 1890s. The three Ellery children, Paul (9), Jeannie (8) and Victor (7) have had the flu. When their writer father, Chas Ellery, comes down with the illness, the three children are sent to convalesce at a hotel in Boscombe so their mother Mary and their servant Stella can deal with Chas. Chas is not as ill as the children have been, but is so demanding as a patient that Mary cannot cope with all of them. Mary visits the children at Boscombe and tells them their father is nearly better. The children, especially Paul, love their mother dearly but are less enthusiastic about their father. Chas, recovering, comes to Boscombe; Nurse Mordaunt suggests that Mary may not be well, but Chas brushes this off. Victor catches his father out pretending to be more ill than he really is, leaning on a stick he does not need. The family history is described. Victor has been a fragile and fretful child; Chas sees his own sensitivity reflected in Victor; Chas is slightly bohemian, writes unsellable novels, and the family is not well off. Chas's affinity for Victor is challenged when Victor contradicts him over the correct wording of a Browning poem; he begins to suggest that Victor is not all there. However, when Victor is ill Chas dramatises his own suffering to Mary, who is torn between the demands of her son and her husband. Chas and Mary married young, while Chas was still at Oxford, and have managed on a low income ever since. Chas's family are comfortably-off bankers from Bristol. Not only do Chas's books fail to sell, but the family is in debt that they cannot envisage paying off. Nurse Mordaunt leaves the family, and suggests to Mary that she is in need of a proper rest, but Mary dismisses this. Victor tries to write a poem, but is frustrated by his inability to get on paper the words in his head. His father tries to help him improve it, but this only irritates Victor. Chas begins to have some success with his journalism. Mary becomes ill, and the children are not allowed to see her; Paul is deeply worried, more so when he finds they are to be sent to stay with their grandmother. Paul goes to see his mother secretly, during the night; she tells him that she will be having an operation, and says that she will be happier knowing the children are with their grandparents in the country. The children say goodbye to Mary and their father takes them to his childhood home, Risewater. At Risewater, old Mr and Mrs Ellery live with their three unmarried children: Aggie, Lena and Joseph. Mrs Ellery disapproves of Mary and considers that she spoils Chas and encourages him in his "scribbling". Victor starts to cry at tea because he dislikes the room, and at bedtime throws a tantrum, inspired by dislike of Risewater and his aunt's faces and dress, that only his grandmother can quell. The children are cared for by Lena and Aggie, who have old-fashioned notions of correct behaviour; Jeannie is set to making the beds while Paul and Victor play, and the children's enthusiasm for reading is discouraged. Word comes from London that Mary Ellery has died. Victor claims to have seen his mother at Risewater on the day of her death, and then faints. Paul and Jeannie overhear the news; Stella is sent for to help with them, which helps them although the Risewater household does not take to her. The children are kept from the funeral, and Chas arrives at Risewater. Mrs Ellery offers to keep Victor and find schools for Paul and Jeannie; she ends up funding their education when Chas makes plain that he cannot afford to pay. Victor walks in on his father toying with a revolver; Chas claims it was touch and go, but Victor's arrival prevented his suicide. Paul, unable to realise that his mother is really dead, is sent to school near Weston. Jeannie is at a neighbouring girl's school and they see each other regularly. Paul gets on well at school; he suffers from sleepwalking but this makes him rather celebrated among the boys. Chas's new novel has been successful, and Paul is told he will go to a new school. Victor guesses that Chas hopes to marry again and the children are introduced to Caroline Considine, a serious, pretty woman in her late thirties. The children like her, and her deaf, elderly mother. Chas and Caroline become engaged; visiting Risewater, the musical Caroline discovers that Victor has perfect pitch, to the annoyance of his aunts who have tried to teach him music. The Ellerys give Caroline lots of advice abut handling the children, particularly Victor. Caroline asks Stella to continue to care for the children after she and Chas are married. Caroline discusses the future with Chas and it is made plain that she is marrying mainly to have a home and family, and is not in love with Chas. Paul goes to Clifton College, while Jeannie continues at her school in Weston; Victor is sent to a co-educational school in Kent called Mount Delectable, which allows for spontaneous self-expression in its pupils. Caroline and Chas settle at Kester's End, a country house in Kent. Victor is independent and anti-materialistic, giving away his possessions. Paul makes a good friend at school - David Evans - who shares his interest in psychology, but does not rate Chas's novels. Chas's work is becoming more successful and he becomes more social as a result. Jeannie, grown up and pretty, goes to be 'finished' in France, and is openly materialistic about clothes and dancing lessons; Caroline is generously sympathetic to the children's wants. Chas and Victor continue to be in conflict, and Chas wishes to send him to a public school. Victor refuses and becomes too ill for school, and Chas immediately develops tonsilitis. Caroline is called to the nursing home where his tonsils are removed. Paul goes to Cambridge to study engineering; Jeannie comes out, and Victor goes to Germany to study music. David Evans falls in love with Jeannie, she reciprocates but does not believe it will last. She tells Paul that she has been in love several times before, and allowed young men to kiss her, which rather shocks him. David and Jeannie do not get engaged. Victor comes home from Germany in unusual clothes and vaguer than ever. Paul meets, and is attracted by, Gladys St Lawrence. Sir Reginald Millways, a well-known dramatist, comes to stay at Kesters End. Victor, in private, criticises his work as lacking realism. His visit coincides with one from old Mrs Ellery and Aggie. Victor catches out Chas by pretending to play a Chopin nocturne Chas claims to love - in fact, Victor is just improvising in the Chopin manner. Millways is pleasant to all the family, but shows a strong preference for Jeannie. He takes an interest in Victor, and helps him find a job as well as looking at his writing. Victor and Paul visit Gladys at her home in Hampstead; her tea party has many bohemian members who are interested in astrology and theosophy. Paul remains attracted to her, however, and continues to visit. Jeannie becomes engaged to Sir Reginald, confiding to Paul that she does not care for him as she does for David, but marriage to David would be impossible. Paul starts work on an engineering project on the east coast, living in lodgings there. He visits Gladys again, and she tells him about her life and hopes; she is a disappointed concert violinist who only has enough talent to work as a teacher. Paul finds Glady's mother snobbish and common; he realises he is not comfortable with the idea of inviting Gladys to Kesters End. Jeannie marries Sir Reginald and Paul keeps up his friendship with Gladys. Old Mr Ellery dies, and leaves some money to Paul. Jeannie has a baby boy; David Evans visits her frequently. Paul takes Gladys out on the river; she dislikes the proximity of other boaters and their flirtatious behaviour Their conversation remains academic and unromantic. Gladys speaks of her frustration at the family's poverty and of a previous love-affair that has left her bruised. They realise David has pulled up in the next boat; he is entertaining a chorus-girl. As they leave the river, they notice David and his girl kissing in the bushes. Paul is disappointed with Gladys and with the atmosphere of their outing. Paul starts to get to know his landlady better. Mrs Foss is in her mid thirties, pleasant and a good cook. She is a doctor's widow and tells Paul her late husband drank himself to death. Paul begins to to find her physically attractive. Visiting Gladys again after a long interval, he meets Mrs St Lawrence instead, and is interrograted about his intentions. He realises he does not want to be engaged to Gladys. Victor's novel is published. Paul begins a lighthearted affair with Mrs Foss. Mrs St Lawrence manages to meet Chas, and quizzes him about Paul's plans; he tells Paul off for encouraging Gladys but advises him to enjoy his youth while he still has it. Gladys asks Paul to meet her, but it is to ask his advice on whether she should marry an older Jewish man. Paul is in favour. Victor's novel is well-received. Paul hopes that his next job may take him abroad, and he obtains a post in East Africa. Old Mrs Considine dies after a long illness, and Caroline breaks down and is sent to rest in a nursing home. On her return, Chas immediately gets appendicitis. The family is gathered, and Chas discusses his will with Paul and Victor. He wants to leave Victor the interest on his investments, but Victor rejects this; he can earn enough to support himself and would give away any extra money. Paul points out to Chas that Victor's principles have been developed by Chas himself, and that he should not seek to control or undermine them. Chas is trapped in agreement, but pronounces that he can only co-operate because he sees so much of himself in Victor. Paul leaves for Africa; at Aden, he receives a letter from Victor. Chas's appendectomy has been a success, and he is recovering well.

1926

Hutchinson & Co

Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘Jill’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1281, 19 Aug. 1926, p. 548; Dawson-Scott, C. A. ‘Facile Princeps’. The Bookman, Oct. 1926, pp. 42–43; Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: Jill’. Saturday Review, Aug. 1926, p. 208.

Oliver and Cathie Galbraith live very comfortably in Chelsea Park Gardens; Oliver is a stockbroker. Cathie is thirty, childless, and satisfied with her civilised life, although she is concerned that their marriage is merely affectionate rather than passionate. They go to dinner with friends, the Brayfields, whose daughter Maura is making her social debut. The Brayfields plan to separate once Maura is married. Lord Brayfield asks Cathie whether she and Oliver know Jack Brayfield, a second cousin of Oliver's, who is out of work. Cathie persuades Oliver to see Jack. Doreen and Jack Galbraith are living in a hotel where they get their room, if not their meals and drinks, free because they lend tone; they are living mostly on credit, having no definite income at all, and living as high as possible. Doreen accepts free meals from admirers; Jack is in search of a job, but has little hope; he and his contemporaries have returned from the Great War to find that there is no work for them. Jack has a contact, Howard Henry Maxted (Max), who is developing a business extracting oil from Cornish shale near a village called Salt St Mary. The four Galbraiths dine together; Doreen is bored by Cathie, and Cathie by her. Jack tries to interest Oliver in the Salt St Mary oil scheme, but Oliver is not tempted. Jack finds that Doreen has accepted loans of money, and presents, from Fonseca, a South American admirer. Cathie speaks of her dislike of Doreen, and is offended when Oliver suggests it is hard to be interested in people of the non-dramatic type. Oliver reflects that he is bored by Cathie's claims on him and his innermost thoughts. Jack and Max visit Oliver at his office, and try to interest him in the oil shale scheme. He demurs, but when Jack confesses that he and Doreen are living hand to mouth, Oliver agrees to visit Salt St Mary to see things for himself. At the hotel in Salt St Mary, Oliver is met by Jacqueline Morrell, a girl who looks fifteen but is eighteen. Jacqueline is the daughter of Pansy Morrell, currently living in a Salt St Mary bungalow owned by Max. Jacqueline tells Oliver of her peripatetic upbringing. Oliver meets Pansy with Max and Jack at the bungalow; she is glamorous but Oliver finds her hard-looking and risqué, the antithesis of Cathie, and her house is dirty and stuffy. Jacqueline, he finds, is also known by the nickname Jill. Doreen hears from her mother who is returning to England, having lost money gambling; Doreen wishes her mother would make over her inheritance to her now, rather than paying an allowance. She and Jack discuss going abroad to find work, but Doreen is convinced that they should stay in London. Jack thinks that Max will ask them to look after Jacqueline in London; Doreen is keen to pursue this if they will be paid. Jack is worried that Max may have some sinister plans for making use of Jacqueline. Maura Conway test-drives a car with Jack, who may earn commission from the garage if she buys it. They drive to Esher, Maura driving and boasting of her prowess at acting and dancing. Jack tries to explain to her why he needs - and cannot get - proper work, but Maura is incomprehending of poverty and of the effects of the war, which happened when she was in the nursery. They have tea, for which Jack is unable to pay, but Maura steps in. Maura's father buys her the car, and Jack receives his commission. Doreen and Max have agreed that Jacqueline should come to London, stay at the hotel with the Galbraiths, and Doreen will take her about and help her to choose her clothes. Jacqueline meets them at a dance; Doreen finds her pretty, and Jack thinks her a good dancer, but she is naive and innocent and will, both can see, never be smart. Jacqueline is less naive in conversation when she appears, however, and is rather proud of her mother's demi-mondaine career. She misses her dog, Chips, who has been left behind at Salt St Mary. The couple agree to call her Jill, because of Jack Galbraith's forename. Jacqueline/Jill turns out to be a curious mixture of innocent childishness and shrewd maturity. Doreen and Jack discuss the possibility of separating, Doreen asserting that she could do a lot better for herself now if she were free, and that in five years her looks will have gone and it will be too late. Jack refuses to consider a divorce, on the grounds that it costs money. Cathie Galbraith rings Doreen, and ends up speaking to Jacqueline; she has tickets for Hedda Gabler. Doreen is not keen to go and Jacqueline agrees to go, and lunch with Cathie first. Jacqueline amuses herself by walking in Kensington Gardens and trying to magnetise strange men into following her; she has never been kissed, but is frequently amused by things other people might think wrong. She remembers the difficulties of life with Pansy, the frequent loss of servants during which Jacqueline took over the housekeeping; she prefers the luxury of the hotel, where she has made friends with the chambermaids. Max gives her ten pounds to buy a new outfit for the theatre; she spends three, and plans to save the rest, until Doreen realises she has cash; Jacqueline agrees to lend three pounds, knowing it will not be returned. Meeting Cathie, Jacqueline realises that there is a classic perfection of style that she has never encountered before. Cathie is amused by Jacqueline, although rather shocked by her frank reminiscences of her mother's way of life, and considers her uncivilised, if showing signs of native intelligence. Jacqueline is very engaged by the play, and forms her own definite interpretations of it. Cathie gives her tea, and suggest that Jacqueline invite herself again. They discuss Jack, and Jacqueline tells Cathie that she finds him two-dimensional. Doreen has seen her mother, who gave her an old-fashioned fur coat but no money; Jacqueline does not get her loan back. Doreen and Jacqueline quarrel when one of Doreen's admirers takes too great an interest in Jacqueline, and again when Jacqueline covers for Doreen when she spends time with Fonseca. When Doreen insults Pansy, Jacqueline determines to leave the hotel and go to Cathie Galbraith. Cathie invites her to stay for a day or two, and Jacqueline is amazed by the luxury of Cathie's spare room. Jacqueline joins their dinner guests, Lord Bradfield and Maura; Jacqueline is quietly surprised by Maura's lack of poise, and sticks up for Jack Galbraith when he is criticised. Cathie buys Jacqueline some clothes, and tries to correct her use of language; Cathie is profoundly shocked and distressed to discover that Jacqueline has not been washing her clothes properly; this upsets her more than she feels is necessary, and has dinner upstairs. At dinner, Oliver and Jacqueline discuss Max and Jacqueline points out that Oliver and Cathie have no experience of financial insecurity. Oliver offers to take Jacqueline to the cinema, but she suggests going to the fair on Hampstead Heath. They go by bus to Hampstead and ride on the flying swings; Oliver enjoys himself very much. Cathie criticises Jacqueline for taking Oliver to the fair, but Oliver asserts again that he enjoyed himself and also enjoyed Jacqueline's company. Cathie and Oliver discuss their planned summer holiday in Scotland and what to do with Jacqueline; Cathie is keen to have her trained for some sort of work. Oliver encourages the still tired and emotional Cathie to see her doctor, where she discovers, as she had suspected, that she is pregnant. Oliver is pleased, and offers to despatch Jacqueline, but Cathie asks for her to stay on. Cathie finds herself at the mercy of her emotions during her pregnancy and is disappointed that her women friends cannot share her spiritual excitement at the idea of having a child. Jacqueline is more understanding, and turns out to have assisted at the birth of a child while staying at a pension in Neuilly. Jacqueline asserts that she is interested in everything, even the stupid and the vulgar, and contradicts Cathie when she says these aspects of life do not have the same value. Cathie decides not to go to Scotland, but urges Oliver to go anyway, although he would be happy to stay at home; Cathie is hoping that he will insist on staying with her, but he does not. Jacqueline stays on with her in London. After Oliver returns, Jacqueline suggests that she should think of making arrangements to move soon. He and Cathie discuss it; Cathie hopes that he will say he wants to be alone with her during the last stage of her pregnancy, but he does not. Cathie goes suddenly into labour and her child is stillborn. Doreen sees the news of the stillbirth in The Times and tells Jack. She and Jack are again very short of money and quarrelling. Doreen is spending more time with Fonseca, and their bills are mounting. Jack agrees to call on Cathie, and sees Jacqueline again; he realises for the first time how pretty she is. They discuss Max, and the oil shale scheme; Jacqueline tells Jack she is sure Oliver will not invest in it, but that Oliver is keen to find Jack a job. Oliver considers his marriage, and realises that he cannot get near enough to his wife to comfort her, and he is averse to the greater emotional intimacy which Cathie now requires; he contrasts himself with Jacqueline's vitality and finds himself inadequate. Cathie gets up for the first time, and they discuss Jacqueline; both like her, but Cathie finds she could be improved in several ways. Jacqueline tells Oliver that her mother will come up to London shortly, and will be expecting Jacqueline to join her. Oliver suggests that they spend Jacqueline's last night at Chelsea Park Gardens going out; Jacqueline shares with him some of Pansy's theories about men. Oliver tells Cathie that Jacqueline will be leaving and that he has promised to take her out; Cathie reminds him that the following night, she will be coming downstairs for dinner. Oliver is distraught that he had forgotten this and also very disappointed not to be able to spend the evening with Jacqueline. Cathie asks him to swear that he hadn't forgotten she was coming downstairs; Oliver swears, but Cathie does not believe him and cries, saying that she wants him to care for her. Oliver is distressed, but reminds Cathie that she has been very ill, and suggests, realising that Cathie is jealous, that Jacqueline has been with them for too long. Jacqueline goes to Pansy's hotel, and meets Max; she asks after her dog again, and Max suggests she go to fetch him before the Salt St Mary house is sold. Max and Pansy have quarrelled. Pansy arrives, and they go back to Pansy's usual routine of dining out and nightclubs. Jacqueline sees Maura Conway at a nightclub; Maura tells her that Doreen has left Jack for Fonseca. Jacqueline writes Jack a note and walks to Kensington to deliver it the next day; she considers the effect of the war on Jack and Doreen's generation and how Jack has lost his spiritual values as well as his material assets. Jack, she finds, has left the hotel and there is no address for him, although Doreen has moved to Claridge's. Jacqueline decides to go down to Salt St Mary and pack the last of Pansy's belongings and fetch Chips. Salt St Mary is dark and foggy when she arrives, and the village is deserted. The bungalow seems deserted and Jacqueline finds that Chips is locked in the coal shed. She finds a hurricane lamp, still warm, and realises that someone is in the house. Rescuing the dog from the coal shed, she sees a faint light in an upstairs room. It is Max, who asks her to swear that she has not seen him there that evening. Max is leaving, secretly, by boat, and waiting for the tide. Jacqueline cooks them a makeshift supper and Max tells her about the end of Jack and Doreen's marriage. Max asks to borrow money from Jacqueline, and she gives him what she has; Max leaves the house at eleven. Going to bed, Jacqueline hears a noise from upstairs and realises someone else is in the house. Opening a door, she finds a gas-filled room and Jack Galbraith crawling towards an open window; the gas is turned off. Jack tells her he had left the tap on; Jacqueline realises that Max has turned the gas off and opened the window, but cannot tell Jack this. Jack tells her about his marriage, explains how he came to have so little money, and his frustrated attempts to find work. As Jack talks, Jacqueline realises that he is coming to life, sounding three-dimensional. They sit up all night and Jack talks of his childhood and the war. Jack and Jacqueline go back to London on the train, with the dog. On returning to Pansy's hotel, they find that she has gone away without notice. Jack realises that Jacqueline is in love with him. He takes her to Chelsea Park Gardens, and Cathie is puzzled, but asks Jacqueline to stay. Jack takes charge of Chips. Jacqueline is distressed about Jack, thinking that he will disappear from her life again; Cathie tells her that Oliver thinks he has found him a job in the near East. Oliver confirms this when he returns to the house. Cathie makes arrangements for Jacqueline to stay at a hostel for girls and to train for a job. Jacqueline is not happy with the idea and wonders what will happen to Chips. Jack comes to dinner, and tells her that he will go to Constantinople after spending six months in the company's London office. Oliver suggests that Jacqueline could get a job in the city, and she is pleased that she might have the option of working for men rather than women. When Jack leaves, Jacqueline and Oliver walk him to his bus stop. Oliver disappears, discreetly, and Jack praises Jacqueline but hopes that she will find happiness with someone else; he suggests it would be better for them not to meet again, but kisses her goodbye. Jacqueline moves to the hostel with her dog; Cathie, realising her love for Jack Galbraith, is enthusiastic about her new room and opportunities. Oliver and Cathie discuss her love for Jack, which Cathie disapproves of. Cathie rings the hostel, and hears that Jacqueline is settling in and has started attending secretarial training. A few months later, Cathie gets a letter from Jacqueline saying that she is leaving the hostel and going away with Jack, who is now free to marry her. Oliver comes home and reports that he has seen the couple, now married, off on the ferry from Tilbury. Cathie cries, feeling that Jacqueline has thrown herself away. Oliver tries to explain to Cathie that Jacqueline's life experience, her ability to value both sides of life, and to be positive, will make her life a success, and that Jacqueline's faith and vitality have recreated Jack as a three-dimensional, vital person.

1927

Hutchinson & Co

"I left the room with silent dignity, but caught my foot in the mat." Grossmith, Diary of a Nobody.

None. Author's note: A good many of the characters in this novel have been drawn, as usual, from persons now living; but the author hopes very much that they will only recognise one another.

Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: The Way Things Are’. Saturday Review, Sept. 1927, pp. 370–71.Murray, D. L. ‘The Way Things Are’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1337, 15 Sept. 1927, p. 622.

Laura Temple (34) and her husband Alfred have been married for seven years and have two sons, Johnnie, 5 and Edward, 6. They are both vaguely unhappy and live beyond their means in Alfred's family home. Laura struggles with managing the servants and knows her looks have faded. She and Alfred differ over the way to bring up their sons and on how the house should be run. She feels that she has no emotional life of her own in her rather sterile marriage, and wonders if she has ever really been in love; her choice of Alfred was motivated by a desire to be married at the end of the First World War rather than return home after war work, and by the perceived shortage of marriageable men. Laura has been writing short stories and selling them successfully since she was seventeen. A neighbour, Lady Kingsley-Browne, invites the Temples to meet A. B. Onslow, a writer, and his wife. The Kingsley-Brownes have an adult daughter, Bébée, not yet married, modern in style and very attractive to men. At tea, Laura discusses her writing with Onslow, and he is very encouraging about it. Laura reads to her children, and does not realise that they are perfectly aware she is judging Edward's taste in fiction (Beatrix Potter rather than the classics); indeed, she much prefers Johnnie to his brother. Her house-parlourmaid Nellie, reproved for coming home late, resigns and Laura must find a new servant. Laura takes the boys to a dancing-class and is subjected to competitive maternal conversation from Mrs Bakewell; at the library, Lady Kingsley-Browne tries to force her preferences on her and criticises Laura for taking home a murder mystery - Laura deflects this by saying the book is for Alfred. Laura's hunt for a new servant fails, and her cook also leaves; eventually she manages to recruit an expensive and not terribly satisfactory husband and wife to cook and manage the house. Laura's younger sister Christine (29) comes to visit. She is also a writer and lives independently. She asks if she can invite a friend, musician and composer Marmaduke (Duke) Ayland, to lunch. Laura loves and is proud of Christine, but she makes Laura feel middle-aged, criticising her conversation about the winter bulbs. Duke Ayland comes to lunch and is rather quiet and unassuming; Laura likes him. The Temples have a tennis-party, attended by the Bakewells, Christine, Duke, and Bébée and an admirer, the improbably-named Jeremy Vuillamy. Duke tells Laura that he has read and enjoyed her stories and Laura thinks he seems to be interested in her. Later that evening, he plays the piano, and they exchange glances that confirm this. The next day, Laura reflects on Alfred's total lack of romantic or personal conversation. She is required to deal with Johnnie, who has disobeyed his governess, but Duke arrives and she sends Johnnie to her room to wait for her. Duke and Laura discuss her writing; Duke tells her she has an inferiority complex. Forgetting Johnnie for the moment, when she is reminded to fetch him she finds him wearing all her jewellery and engrossed in a book by Marie Stopes. Laura and Christine go to visit new neighbours, the Crossthwaites. On the way, Christine tells Laura that Duke is keen on her, that she (C) is not interested in him romantically, and suggests that Laura should encourage his attentions. Mrs Crossthwaite, who receives them, is extremely bland. Christine tells Laura on the way home that the countryside is causing her to run to seed and lower her standards. The children's nurse resigns. Duke comes to tea, and Laura enjoys a personal conversation with him. She decides to go to London and stay with Christine to recruit a new children's nurse, and to see Duke while she is there. She guiltily asks Alfred if he would mind if she met Duke, and he says it would be a very good thing. Before she goes to London, she must endure her nurse having a day off and therefore caring for the children herself. Of course, Mrs Crossthwaite returns her call that day, bringing an irritating visitor, Mrs. La Trobe. A tedious afternoon is made embarrassing when they run completely out of milk. Alfred annoys her by being late to dinner and insisting on returning to his gardening afterwards, and telling her she looks tired. A letter from Duke cheers her considerably. On the way to London, she meets Lady Kingsley-Browne, who tells her that Bébée has become engaged to Jeremy Vulliamy, who turns out to be heir to an enormous fortune. In London, she stays with Christine and meets Duke for dinner. They have an intimate conversation and Laura feels herself on the brink of a love affair. She is brought back down to earth by prosaic letters from home and the need to do domestic shopping at the Army and Navy Stores. Christine has a party of her modern young friends; Duke attends and sits next to her. The conversation turns to sexual abnormality, which Laura (who has read Havelock Ellis) sees as an opportunity to prove her own modernity. While in London, Laura contacts the A. B. Onslows, who invite her to lunch in Highgate. They have a grand house with a famously beautiful garden. Bébée, elegantly dressed and made up, is also there. Laura finds herself talking about her children, and is dismayed to be called a wonderful mother. The conversation turns on how and where people write, and the pursuit of absolute silence; Laura contrasts this with the domestic circumstances in which she is compelled to write. Bébée is engaged in a flirtation with A. B. Onslow, who is clearly captivated. Christine meets Jeremy Vulliamy by chance and he invites her and Laura to come to the theatre. Laura meets Duke every day while in London, and is happy and at ease with him. She confides that she is rather lonely and disappointed in her marriage, and Duke suggests that she and Alfred don't have much in common. He also suggests that she is repressing her real feelings. This causes Laura, in a rush, to confide all her resentments and disappointments about her love life, and how limited her emotional life is. She realises she is in love with Duke, and he tells her he loves her; they kiss. The following day, they discuss their circumstances. Laura refuses to countenance leaving Alfred and the children; Duke does not want to give her up. Laura meets a middle-aged children's nurse, Charlotte Emery, and offers her the job. Laura wonders whether to tell Alfred about Duke, and realises that she must either deceive her husband or give up Duke. She then wonders whether they could have an ordinary friendship. At a party, Laura again meets A.B. Onslow, with Bébée; Lady Kingsley-Brown is there, and looks worried about her daughter's behaviour. She invites herself to visit Laura at Christine's flat. There, she bursts into tears, and confides that Bebee is having an affair with A. B. Onslow and has moved into the couple's house, and will not leave. Lady K-B asks Laura to intervene. Afterwards, Laura and Christine discuss provincial views on extra-marital affairs, obliquely discussing Laura's own situation. Christine suggests that it's better to go on with a marriage than to leave it for another man - and that one love affair is very like another. The sisters go to the theatre with Jeremy and Christine's friend Losh, a medical student. Jeremy and Christine go out dancing, and Losh takes Laura home. He advises her to read Jung (which she has) and to address her inhibitions. The next day, Laura goes to visit Bebee at the Onslows. Laura finds her packing; she has told A. B. that she will go with him on a trip to America, as his secretary. Laura tries to persuade her that she should not do this, and is expecting too much of A. B. (who has insisted on bringing his wife on the trip too) but Bébée will not be moved. Laura returns home and finds she is pleased to see Alfred and the boys, but appalled to find that Alfred has had words with one of the servants. She finds it is easier to talk to Alfred now that she has something to talk about. The story of Bébée and the Onslows is all over the neighbourhood; at the Bakewells, Mrs Bakewell is very judgemental about it, and Laura feels ashamed of her own behaviour. Duke writes to Laura but she finds his letters a little diappointing, because they are circumscribed, and finds it hard to reply to him. Domestic responsibilities press in and her married servants give notice. She visits Lady K-B, who confirms that Bébée has gone to America with the Onslows. Laura appoints a new cook, and then learns that Duke will be in Devon and wants to meet her. The new cook is delayed for a day, which makes leaving the house to meet Duke very difficult, but she determines to go anyway. On the day they are due to meet, Edward is diagnosed with whooping cough, and she cannot go. The children have to be kept at home for some time, although they are not seriously affected by their illness. The new cook stays only a day and Laura begins the search for servants again. Christine becomes engaged to Jeremy Vulliamy. Laura and Alfred are invited to visit his parents, who are immensely rich but whose money comes from trade. The Vulliamys have a vast house in Norfolk and are kind but a little boring; Mrs Vulliamy discusses Jeremy's previous attachment to Bébée with Laura, and suggests she must be a little mad. She irritates Laura by treating her like Christine's mother. Christine is happy, but unromantic, and Laura envies her powers of detachment. Her sons are to be pages at Christine's wedding, and Laura thinks of how they must, inevitably, move out of her orbit as they grow up. Laura breaks the news of the engagement to Lady K-B, who tells her that Bébée has left A. B. Onslow and taken up with an American, Ernest Blog. He has founded, and is promulgating, a new religion based on eating only raw sun-ripened food and free love. They are to return to England together. Laura goes up to London a week before Christine's wedding. Duke meets her train, and they kiss passionately in the taxi on the way to the hotel. Much of her time is taken up with Christine's wedding, but she meets Duke again and he presses her to come away with him for a week. Laura cannot agree to this but does arrange to see him again. At the hotel, she meets Losh again, and puts her circumstances to him in the guise of a story about a friend. Losh suggests that her 'friend's' feelings cannot be as serious as she suggests, otherwise she would leave her children and her marriage to be with the other man. He suggests that a brief affair would be the best thing, without telling her husband; lies and cheating are undesirable but inevitable in modern society. Christine, discussing her marriage plans, disagrees with Laura that children keep a marriage together, pointing out that it is unfair on the children, and tells Laura that she is conventional and tends to accept arbitrary standards. Laura, nettled, defends herself and then reflects on how much more of a success Christine has made of her life. Alfred and the boys arrive in London for the wedding; Alfred has travelled first class, while the boys and nurse travel third. Before a family dinner party for Christine, Laura is dissatisfied with her appearance. Alfred reminds her that nobody is likely to be looking at her. The next day, at the wedding, Laura is cheered by Johnnie's appearance as a page, and reflects on the fact that she will never know what it is like to marry someone you are in love with. At the reception, she speaks briefly to Duke, and they make tentative plans to meet the following day before she goes home. The next day she is tired and suffering from an emotional reaction to the wedding; she meets Duke, tells him she must give him up, and then kisses him all the way to the hotel in a taxi. The family return home and Edward shows signs of a relapse into whooping-cough. Alfred tells Laura they will need to economise after the London trip. Laura is dispirited by her domestic responsibilities and realises that her love for Duke will wane, and she could not even renounce him unambiguously. The novel ends with her contemplating her ordinariness and wondering if she can endure her limited situtation by accepting her own limitations.

1927

Hutchinson & Co

none

Dedicated as a surprise to Phyllida

‘About British Books and Authors’. Daily Mail Atlantic Edition, 11 Apr. 1927, p. 13; Carew, Dudley. ‘New Novels: The Entertainment’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1305, 3 Feb. 1927, p. 74; Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: Entertainment’. Saturday Review, Jan. 1927, p. 127.

The Entertainment (pp15-23) Two chorus-girls, both under twenty, are taken to lunch by two businessmen, who discuss work matters throughout the expensive lunch of steak and champagne, but Doris and Olive are satisfied with the entertainment nonetheless. The Philistine (pp27-40) Colin is the nephew of Lady Verulam, who has been caring for him in England since his mother died and he was sent back from India. Lady Verulam worries that he is less attractive and charming than her own children, and in fact rather ordinary, with limited enthusiasm or imagination. It is Colin's birthday, and a conjuror will come to his birthday party; he is hoping that his father will send him a telegram from India, and tries to think of a way to stop the other children from seeing it. He successfully intercepts the cable, but it tells him that his father is dangerously ill with cholera. Worrying that the party, which seems to him to be the most important event for the household, will be cancelled, he decides to keep the telegram secret for the time being. After the successful party, Colin's nurse finds the telegram, and takes it to Lady Verulam, who has just had a second cable to say that Colin's father is worse. Colin cannot really account for his actions, although he begins to cry when questioned, and it is Cynthia, Lady Verulam's eldest daughter, who explains why Colin has done this, and Lady Verulam begins to see his actions as heroic rather than selfish, but wonders why he went to bed after the party without telling her about the telegram. Colin's father recovers and comes home on leave, and it is to him that Colin explains that the party was such fun, and the conjuror so good, that he completely forgot about the telegram until the next morning. O Tempora! O Mores! (pp43-60) Amabel Forrester is twenty and lives with her family in Devon in 1894 and is beginning to worry about her marriageability. At a vicarage school-treat, she takes over tea-urn duty and sees a very handsome man; he turns out to be Robert Foster, the son of a local farmer, and whom the vicar has helped emigrate to Canada. She is very disappointed that he is not a gentleman, but still attracted by his good looks and kind nature, until she is rescued by the Vicar's wife, who apologises for leaving them together. Leaving the party, she forgets her parasol, and Robert returns it to her. Amabel's unmarried sisters Louisa and Winifred both go away, and on their return notice that Amabel is going out every evening; Louisa spots that she has been going outside the park of their house, and suggests to Lady Forrester that Amabel is meeting someone secretly. The Vicar's wife arrives, flustered, to pass on gossip that Amabel is meeting Robert Foster in the woods every night. That evening, Amabel is confronted by her parents and tells them that she has been meeting Robert, that they are in love, and that he has suggested that if they marry, the difference in class would not matter in Canada. Amabel's parents are furious, but Louisa suggests that they pay off Amabel's maid to smostly ay that she has been meeting Robert, and the affair is hushed up; Amabel is told how awful life in Canada would be, and Sir John Forrester gives Robert a note said to be from Amabel, but written by her mother, ending their connection. Louisa and Winifred both marry, and Amabel is left at home, until by the age of 40 she is unmarried and living in the family home with her eldest brother and his family after the death of her parents. In 1925, a now widowed and wealthy Louisa comes to visit, and she and Amabel quarrel over the modern ways of their niece Christina. Christina suggests that Amabel and Louisa hold the same, reactionary views; to prove herself different from Louisa, she blurts out the story of her near-elopement with Robert, and finds herself supported and celebrated by her nieces and nephews as a result. Incidental (pp63-76) Mrs Holloway runs a seaside boarding house and is desperate to let rooms for September. She discusses her difficulties with Miss Millingham (nearly 50), one of her guests; the economic downturn and the weather have meant a shortage of bookings. Mrs Holloway's spinster sister lives with her and does the cooking; she has been disappointed in love and keeps away from the lodgers. Miss Millingham claims the same for herself, but in fact has never really had any romantic life. Miss Millingham judges the class position of the various lodgers who have been there, particularly in respect of food: she has her meals downstairs with Mrs Holloway, Edie and the children, and stinginess with food on the part of the guests means that the kitchen-eaters get less variety. A couple, the Swallows, arrive and take rooms for two months, and we hear Mrs Holloway negotiate on the fees. The Swallows have two little boys and a baby girl. There is friction between Mrs Swallow and Mrs Holloway over the washing and drying of the baby's clothes and nappies; Mrs Swallow wants to dry them in front of the kitchen fire, and Mrs Holloway refuses. One day Miss Millingham finds Mr Swallow arranging baby-clothes in front of the kitchen fire. Mrs Holloway comes in, there is an argument and Mr Swallow swears at Mrs Holloway. But Mrs Holloway considers herself the victor in the argument and that the Swallows will stay for their two-month booking. The Luggage in the Hall (pp79-94) Bertie Helston is a bachelor, returned to England after twenty-five years in India, and very popular, as he is tall, good-looking, sociable and a good dancer. His old friends, George and Julia Despard, are returning from India with their three children. Bertie has been slightly in love with Julia but now she encourages him to find a wife. He has had several affairs, and is now involved with Ivy Abbott, Julia's cousin, a modern young woman who drives a car and is boyish and independent. But he also likes his comfortable bachelor existence. When the Despards, arrive, Bertie goes to see them at their hotel and, while waiting for them, he is appalled by the evidence of family life in their luggage: a baby's bath and some saucepans are visible. To compound this, the family's Ayah appears with some wet laundry, clearly nappies, to ask the hotel staff where she can dry them. At dinner, it becomes clear that George and Julia have aged - both are fat - and are happily involved with the lives of their children, which they discuss at length. Bertie returns home and ponders Ivy and the evening with his friends. At the end of the story a coda tells us that he is still unmarried and that Ivy is engaged to someone else. "And Never the Twain Shall Meet" (pp97-115) Elena della Torre is seventeen and of noble Italian birth. She has been out of her convent school for six months and her parents have taken her out into society, where she has attracted the attention of the older French Duc de la Charmelle. She knows that her parents are likely to select a husband for her and is vaguely keen on the idea of marriage and babies, although convent modesty means she has no idea about sex. After visiting a friend who is staying at the convent as a nun, she is walked home by the "Mees", an Irishwoman called Anna O'Brien. Elena is mystified by the freedoms allowed to Anna because she is not Italian - she can walk home on her own, for example. Anna is formally introduced to the Duc at a family party and it becomes clear that her parents support the match and expect her to consent. But then she becomes ill, and needs nursing. Anna returns to care for her and tells her of her own engagement to Dick; they will not have much money and she will have to do her own housework once they are married, but she is pleased to be marrying an Irish Catholic - her sister married an English Protestant. Elena is confused by Anna's marriage for love and its contrast with Italian arranged marriages, and asks to discuss this with her uncle, a Cardinal. He tells her that her proposed marriage will have ramifications beyond the personal - France may become a Catholic country again because of it - and that she is unlikely to be able to enjoy the sort of marriage Anna expects. Elena is convinced by his arguments, but still more so by a new, fashionable dress (it's the 1920s, Elena has shingled hair and a short sheath dress). Blairgowrie (pp119-137) Beautiful, intense and tempestuous Lady Marise Harley is marrying Sir Wilfred Gray, a career diplomat. His wife has been dead for eight years, and he has two children: Harry (11) and Priscilla (about 9-10?). They live in a suburban house (Blairgowrie) with their maternal grandmother, Mrs Craigie, who has been caring for them while Sir Wilfred is abroad. Marise and Wilfred visit them there, and Marise judges, snobbishly, the furnishing of the house and the clothes of her hostess and the children, the food they are served. But she charms the children. After the wedding, for a few months the children come to stay with the Grays before Sir Wilfred's next posting. The point of view shifts from Marise to Priscilla. She finds life with Marise, who spoils them generously, very exciting, but is worried by Marise's rudeness to the staff of the shops they go to. Marise manipulates Priscilla into getting her hair bobbed, and refers to the children as 'mine now'. Point of view switches again to Marise. Before the Grays leave, Marise suggests that the children should come out to them for their school holidays in future, rather than returning to Blairgowrie. Wilfred is unsure and feels it will be a blow to Mrs Craigie; Marise has hysterics and proposes to go to Blairgowrie and discuss the matter. Mrs Craigie, calmly, puts her opposing view, that the children need consistency and routine, and suggest this should be discussed with them. When it is, the children prefer Blairgowrie. The story closes with a letter from Priscilla to Mrs Craigie explaining how the time with Marise had been fun, but not real, and how they will be coming home for their holidays as expected. Dedicated "to A.B.C., who presented me with the theme". "This is One Way Round ..." (pp141-53) Lois is a clerk in an insurance company who is very fond of reading. Having her lunch one day in an A.B.C. café, she meets Ernest, who is also carrying a library book and they begin to talk about reading, Ernest making her a list of books she ought to read. They meet at lunchtimes and go for walks, discussing their favourite authors. She brings Ernest home to meet her parents in Highgate, and they all seem to get on, but their plans to go for a walk after supper are thwarted by the rain. Instead, they go to see a film which curiously echoes their own friendship. Ernie puts his arm round Lois in the darkness, and after the cinema they kiss and declare their love for each other. The Tortoise (pp157-166) Told from the point of view of Paul, a smallish boy (maybe 7ish), whose family are preparing for their summer holiday to Croyde Bay in Devon. They have been there before, and Paul is relieved because he wants to revisit all the things he loves about the place. Paul's father is a leftish political writer of some sort and his mother works very hard to make sure he is happy with all the arrangements on holiday. But for work reasons he cannot come with them for the first week, so they travel down alone. The journey is much calmer and more relaxing and Paul reflects on all the things that happen that would have irritated his father. When he does arrive, he and Paul go for a walk. They meet an old man who passes the time with them but seems slightly unfriendly, and then Erbie, a fisherman Paul has made friends with, who gives him a tortoise. Paul's father praises Paul's democratic instinct and talks pretentiously to Paul about his own championing of democracy. Erbie tells them that the old man is stone deaf, but knows the conversational topics of visitors so well that he just makes form replies to conversational attempts. This enrages his father who, on returning to the guest house, declares it is high time he came down to restore order. Reflex Action (pp169-188) Told from the point of view of Violet Western, newly appointed maid to Miss Clemson (aged 36), who has found herself removed from her quiet life in her provincial town to keep house and entertain for her brother. He has unexpectedly become a cabinet minister, having been a war profiteer. Violet judges Miss Clemson as not a real lady, and is frustrated that she constantly has to hint to her about the right thing to do. They go to stay at a New Year house party at Hayes Castle in Devon, near Violet's own home, where Violet's love interest Ted Hewer is an under-gardener. Violet learns from the other servants that another guest, Hon George Kenway, is believed to want to marry Miss Clemson. Miss Clemson is old-fashioned and still has long hair, and compares herself unfavourably with her peer, Lady Sybil Arden, who is fashionably shingled and wears short dresses; it seems, after their first evening at Hayes, that George Kenway is more interested in Sybil. Violet slips out to meet Ted, who surprises her by kissing her passionately and awakening a passionate response in her. The next day, there is a meet and George Kenway pays more attention to Miss Clemson. At the servants' ball on NYE, Ted and Violet dance together; the house-party joins them for the first dances, and George Kenway dances with Sybil, who dances very well. Miss Clemson's temper is bad the next day, and she refuses to allow Violet to go to a dance in the village. Violet goes to meet Ted, upset, but is astonished when Ted proposes, and she accepts. She gets in just in time to help Miss Clemson undress; she is calm. The next day Violet does the packing while the house-party goes shooting; talking to William, the chauffeur (and Violet's cousin) tells her that George Kenway is definitely interested in Miss Clemson, and Lady Sybil is now pursuing Mr Clemson. Lady Sybil's maid Hortense, however, reports that her employer is in a fit of temper. At the end of the story Violet sees Miss Clemson looking handsome and happy, and she gives Violet permission to go to the village dance. Holiday Group (pp191-206) The Reverend Herbert Cliff-Hay and his wife Julia have come into an inheritance. This has allowed them to pay their debts, save some money for their children and to go on holiday. Julia goes to Bewlaigh, a small resort, to find rooms, and eventually finds someone who will take children (she has three, Martin 5, Constance 4 and Theodore 2) although Mrs Parker's house is a longish uphill walk from the sea and she negotiates on her fees firmly. The family set off by Bewlaigh, waiting as long as possible before waking Theodore, who is fractious all the way there as as result of being woken. They arrive, and settle into a holiday pattern. bathing in the morning - which Julia finds she no longer enjoys as much as she did, now that she has to keep an eye on her children - having lunch, then going out again until tea-time. After tea Julia puts Theodore to bed and entertains the other children until they go to bed. Herbert - who is, Julia notes repeatedly, very good with the children - hopes that they might go for a walk after their cold supper, but Julia is too tired most evenings and doesn't want to leave the children. Herbert is disappointed that she is so sleepy most of the time. On the last day, Mrs Parker presents her bill, with a number of extras; the Cliff-Hays have to negotiate again. Herbert says that he hopes they will now be able to afford a holiday every year, and Julia reflects on how lucky she is to have such a kind husband and to have enjoyed her holiday. The Waiting Lady (pp209-221) The story opens in 1908, when the narrator, a girl of 19, meets Noelle Manders at a garden party. She is told by her friend Marjorie that Miss Manders is engaged to a man, Stephen Anson, now in prison for fraud. Dressed in black with a sad expression, beautiful Noelle Manders presents a romantic,appearance. Marjorie and the narrator are worried about being old maids, and Noelle's fate - still unmarried at over thirty - seems appalling. By 1913 both Marjorie and the narrator are married, and in 1919 the narrator visits Marjorie and her husband. Noelle's father has died, and she has moved with her mother to a hotel in London. She remains unmarried but, according to Marjorie, sizes up every man she meets as a potential husband. The narrator then sees her in a Soho restaurant, with her mother, an older man, and a younger man called Captain Brady. Noelle has aged, and looks predatory and anxious; she sets out obviously to gain Brady's attention, and invites him to a concert. He declines, rudely. In the ladies' room afterwards, Mrs Manders is complaining to her daughter that this young man is of no use, and the narrator sees that their relationship is entirely focused on the project of getting Noelle married. The third section takes place in a Sicilian pension in 1924; it is implied that the narrator has been widowed. She becomes friendly with another Englishwoman there, Mrs. Maitland, who turns out to be Stephen Anson's mother. They have changed their name; he is now free, and has married Noelle after writing to her and finding that she is still unmarried. They arrive at the pension, and Noelle, although aged, has recovered her beauty and lost her anxious, predatory look, and both she and Stephen believe sincerely that she has waited for him. Terminus (pp225-235) Katherine, a nursery governess, is leaving Bristol, having been suddenly let go by her last employer, and moving to a post in Cornwall. She is leaving behind Edmund, her young man, who is seeing her off to the train. Katherine has a friend, slim and pretty Sylvia, who she thinks of as 'very modern'; on the cold station, where Edmund is seeing to Katherine's luggage, Sylvia arrives to see her off. Separately, Katheriine encourages each of them to seek out the other, as neither has other friends in Bristol. The three of them have tea together, and Sylvia and Edmund encourage Katherine to have more confidence and think more of herself. Sylvia gives Edmund her telephone number and they agree to go for walks together. Katherine gets on her train, says goodbye to Sylvia and kisses Edmund for the first time. They say a sad and protracted goodbye, and the train leaves. As her journey begins, Katherine realises that she has forced her lover into the company of another, much more attractive woman, much to her distress. A Tale of the Times (pp239-255) Miss Southernhaye runs a domestic service bureau in a small cathedral town. The story follows her through a spring day in 1924, during which several potential employers come looking for servants, a young woman (Maggie Beale) and her mother come looking for a place for Maggie, and Miss Glass, an ageing ladies' maid, comes in to enquire after a new position. Miss Southernhaye disapproves of the social changes which have led to a reduction in available staff, and the changes in employers caused by the increased middle class. Mrs Maitland embodies this category, so desperate for a housemaid that she offers too much money and time off to Maggie, who takes a job elsewhere. Maggie and her mother are, in Miss Southernhaye;s view, vulgar and with poor manners. Miss Glass takes a housemaid's job with a local aristocratic family, preferring a family of that class to a ladies' maid post with a middle class family. Reparation (pp259-273) Emily, 18, lives with her aunt Howgego who runs a boarding house, and as well as helping with the work, tries to entertain the other boarders. One day she tells an exaggerated story about a former maid coming in, appearing to be drugged and having been the victim of an attempt at seduction or possibly kidnapping. Later, in bed, she regrets this and realises she will have to go to confession in the morning so she can make atonement - she was raised Catholic by her dead mother. At the church, the priest hears her confession and tells her she must atone by telling the boarders the story was untrue. Emily is appalled by this but forces herself to do it anyway. The other boarders are mostly either uninterested or accuse her of trying to draw attention to herself. Emily, upset, leaves the room - but Robert Irwin, a young man who lives there, follows her and tells her he thinks what she did was splendid. He asks her to go out for a walk with him on Sunday, and Emily's composure is restored. The Threshold of Eternity (pp277-287) A story told to an assembled group, including the first person narrator, by a professor. He tells that he was in a Welsh village on the night that the world was supposed, by some religious cults, to come to an end. Outside the church he meets a young woman, a member of the cult, who tells a sad story about how her controlling parents wanted her to marry an older man, and give up Arthur, the young man who she loved. Then a different young man comes, and tells of the dissolute life he has led in gambling and debauchery, saying he has once been to prison. The world does not end, and at his hotel he asks his landlady if she knows either of the young people. It turns out that both have exaggerated the drama of their lives considerably; the young woman has pursued Arthur, who did not love her, and the young man is a respectable bank clerk.

1928

Hutchinson & Co

Dedicated to all those Nice People who have so often asked me to "Write a Story about Nice People"

‘Fiction: The Suburban Young Man’. The English Review, Apr. 1928, p. 490; Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: The Suburban Young Man’. Saturday Review, Mar. 1928, pp. 328–29; Murray, D. L. ‘The Suburban Young Man’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1361, 1 Mar. 1928, p. 148; Powell, Dilys. ‘Four New Novels’. The Bookman, Apr. 1928, pp. 43–44.

Peter Jannett, a writer lives in Richford, a London suburb, with his wife Hope and their twin sons. Hope is seven years his senior, and Scottish; she is a skilled homemaker and devoted mother. Their villa is called The Korner. Peter is in love with a woman called Antoinette Rochester who lives in London. Hope has learned, from Peter's family, that Peter has been seen meeting Antoinette; Hope has made light of this but suggests they should invite Antoinette to Richford one evening to meet the family. She hopes this will stop the family gossiping. Peter and Hope married without love, and Hope tells Peter that she realises that Antoinette satisfies him in a way Hope is not able to; Hope is satisfied with her children. However, she suggests that eventually Peter will have to choose, and warns that she will divorce him rather than share him with another woman. Peter is moved and admiring of her bravery. Antoinette works for Peter's brother Sydney, who runs the family insurance company, as a typist. Antoinette is from an upper-class background, the niece of Lord Valerian, although her mother is widowed and impoverished. From their first meeting Peter found her sympathetic and intelligent in conversation. Peter meets Antoinette after work; they go to her club, and discuss her family's objections to her working, and her mother's wish that she should marry. Peter voices a concern about the class difference between them, but Antoinette considers that the war has changed society so much that there is little difference in standards between the upper and middle classes. Peter asks Antoinette to come to Richford; she is surprised, and he becomes angry that she has never taken notice of the sort of people who come from the suburbs. They agree to go to Hampton Court the following Sunday; Peter does not know how to broach this with Hope, but luckily a friend invites her to visit. At Hampton Court, Peter and Antoinette declare their love for one another. A Jannett family conference discusses Peter's behaviour and whether somebody ought to challenge him; Norah, Sydney's wife, says she will talk to Hope. The following Sunday Norah and Sydney visit Peter and Hope; Sydney is afraid of a divorce and the associated scandal. Hope heads off Norah by inviting her, and the rest of the family, to come for dinner and meet Antoinette. Hope is anxious about the arrangements for the party and irritates Peter. Antoinette meets her sister Sheila at their club; Sheila wants Antoinette to join her and their mother staying with Uncle George (Valerian) in Cavendish Square. Antoinette tells Sheila that she is going to dinner at the Jannetts and that Peter is married already. Sheila confesses that she is also involved with a married man, Gerald Benson. Antoinette and Sydney meet at Bond Street tube and travel to Richford together. They arrive at Peter's house and Antoinette meets Hope and his aunts; Hope shows her the twins, asleep, and Antoinette is comforted by the fact that they look "common" and will not be heirs to Peter's intelligence and sensitivity. Downstairs, Peter's publisher, the Irish Mr Cassidy has arrived, and eases the atmosphere. Norah and Sydney arrive, and Cassidy flirts with Norah. After dinner, Norah talks to Antoinette about her family background and relationship with Peter. Hope diverts the awkward conversation by suggesting bridge, and Antoinette finds that she likes and respects Hope's quiet and discreet manners, but realises that it would be impossible to assimilate Norah into her own family circle. Antoinette is escorted to the station by Cassidy, who is much more serious when alone, and discusses how Peter needs to mature in order to improve the quality of his work; he suggests that the atmosphere Peter lives in is a hindrance to his art, and that knowing Antoinette, a "woman of discrimination" (72), will help develop him as a writer. Antoinette moves to Cavendish Square. Her mother, Lady Rochester, is pleased to have her back and tries to persuade her to give up her job. Antoinette diverts interest in her own affairs by asking about Sheila; Lady Rochester is worried that Sheila is going to get herself talked about by her pursuit of Gerald Benson. She warns Antoinette not to get involved with a man outside her own class, and reminds her that she needs to think of marrying soon. Sheila brings Gerald Benson to dinner and Antoinette reflects on the typical upper-class conversation which is reserved and avoids controversy; the family discuss whether it is possible to know people out of one's class, which Sheila describes as an old-fashioned view. Antoinette wonders what is attracting Sheila to the rather dull and superficial Gerald, and suddenly wants to write Peter a love letter; by the last post, she finds that Peter has in fact written her a passionate letter. When they meet, she thanks him for it, but suggests that they cannot continue like this; they agree to discuss the matter, and Antoninette invites him to Cavendish Square that evening. She tells him that she liked Hope; Peter confides that he and Hope have never been in love, and that Hope married in order to have children. They agree that Norah is intolerable but that Cassidy is likeable. Lady Rochester and Sheila are amused that Peter will visit, but Sheila suggests that it is quite safe as Antoinette will never lose her head; when Peter arrives, however, the conversation flows easily and Peter is accepted by the family. Alone, the lovers embrace and Peter asks Antoinette to marry him if Hope consents to a divorce. Antoinette is not sure that they have the right to break up the family, even if Hope is willing, and also that the class differences would make a marriage with Peter less than harmonious. She asks for time to think over Peter's proposal; they agree to meet again in a week. Peter is irritable during this week, annoyed with the children and with Hope. They discuss the situation; Peter tells Hope that Antoinette knows of his love for her and that he wants to marry her, but that Antoinette feels she cannot take happiness at Hope's expense and has raised the class issue. Hope agrees that this may be a problem, but says that she liked Antoinette and approved of her. Cassidy arrives, and mentions that he has seen Antoinette out with Sheila and Gerald. Cassidy tells Peter that now is the time to try some serious writing. Norah arrives unexpectedly and Peter realises that she and Cassidy have arranged to meet at his house. After they leave, Hope asks Peter to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, and before Christmas at any rate, as she is suffering from the strain. Antoinette meets Lord Halberton, an old friend of her mother's who was once thought to be a likely second husband for Lady Rochester. They discuss Gerald and Sheila, and Antoinette's job, which Halberton suggests she should give up, but Antoinette suggests she needs to work given her lack of a permanent home. Halberton also reports that Lady Rochester is worried that neither of her daughters is married and settled. They bump into Cassidy, and Halberton is astonished that Antoinette has been meeting people in Richford, which he considers to be only good for football matches; he considers that association between the classes is a bad thing and that middle-class people may not share upper-class traditions, and therefore cannot be relied on. He agrees to meet Peter, however, but tells Antoinette a cautionary tale of a girl he nearly married after his divorce, but agreed not to, as it would be unfair on the girl concerned. Cassidy comes to have tea with Antoinette and they discuss books. Antoinette reflects on her problems, and wonders whether her love is strong enough to overcome the class barrier; she considers Halberton's problems to have been much less complex. Ursula Benson, Gerald's wife, comes into the club and cuts Antoinette and she realises that Hope will also feel like that. Antoinette and Sheila meet a group of friends who discuss a mutual friend who has married a poor (but upper class) man out of love, and they are living on the outskirts of a suburb called Paybridge and doing all their own chores. Sheila confides in Antoinette that she is in love with Gerald and jealous of Ursula, and Antoinette admits her own love for Peter; Sheila hints that she would consider running away with Gerald if it would not harm his career. Lady Rochester is worried that Antoinette's work is affecting her health and her looks, and realises that part of the problem is her love for Peter. She warns Antoinette not to be reckless. Antoinette develops flu, and goes into work, where Sydney is also ill; he mentions, crossly, that he would like Peter to work in the business to share the burden. Antoinette cancels her meeting with Peter, as she feels so ill, and goes back to Cavendish Square; the doctor is called, and she is told to stay in bed for a week. Peter is devastated by not seeing Antoinette; Hope asks if he was not getting over his infatuation through not seeing Antoinette, but he has not. He fantasises about a life, perhaps abroad, with Antoinette, and then brings himself back to earth by considering his home. Sydney sends to ask Peter to cover at the office, and he agrees. Hope admits that she wishes he would take a permanent part in the business, as it would be more "genteel" (147). Peter and Hope visit Sydney, who reminds Peter that he does not approve of his relationship with Antoinette. Peter goes to the office, and afterwards to Cavendish Square to ask after Antoinette's health. Sheila invites him in, and agrees to let Peter know how Antoinette is getting on. Norah has been meeting Cassidy in secret; they go for tea, and then to the cinema and for a late supper, where they see Sheila with Gerald Benson. Cassidy tells Norah about the affair, and asserts that Antoinette is made of finer stuff than her sister. Ursula Benson arrives, and Norah hopes for a scene, but in fact there is no drama and the three talk together, apparently amicable. Cassidy attributes this to Ursula's status as an upper-class Englishwoman. Norah gives Cassidy to understand that Peter is in earnest about Antoinette, and that it is possible he will divorce Hope. Lady Rochester telephones the Jannett office, and tells them Antoinette will not be returning to work there. Antoinette, partially recovered, is amused if indignant, and wonders how this will affect her relationship with Peter. Antoinette has decided to join her mother on a visit to Lord Halberton; they are staying there for Christmas. Sheila tells Antoinette about meeting Ursula in the restaurant, and Antoinette suggests that Sheila is wrong to persist in the relationship and to assume that Ursula has no rights. Sheila reassures her that her relationship with Gerald is not physical, but asserts that she doesn't care if people think that it is. Antoinette tells Sheila that she is seriously thinking of marrying Peter; although she is weighing up the risk of their "conflicting traditions", if Peter were free she would definitely marry him. Sheila is aghast, and thankful that Peter's married state will prevent this. Antoinette decides to invite Peter to visit her the following week. Lord Valerian comes to see her, and asks her not to cause her mother this sort of worry again; he tells her he would like to see her settled and married, and Antoinette realises that for him, marriage to Peter and a home in Richford would be unimaginable. Lord Halberton comes to dinner and they discuss her position; he feels that she will not provoke a divorce, and tells her that Ursula's family is very angry with Gerald and Sheila; he asks Antoinette to try to get Sheila to miss a house party at which she will see Gerald. Sheila is not offended, but takes no notice, and also confides that she does not like the idea of living in social purdah as the wife of a divorced man. Peter comes to see Antoinette and tells her that Hope is ready to allow a divorce; he is not willing to accept Antoinette's attempt to break off their relationship. Antoinette points out that they could not manage on Peter's income; for one thing, she has no idea how to cook or keep house. She insists that they say goodbye now and preserve the best of their love for one another without damaging the happiness of others. Peter persuades her to see him again after Christmas. Antoinette goes back to the Jannett office to collect some items; she apologises for her mother's actions to Sydney, and resolves some problems that have arisen. While she is there, Norah, Hope and Cassidy arrive; they are all going to the theatre. Antoinette's replacement has left for the day and she offers to help Sydney get some letters out. Norah and Hope watch her work. Afterwards Hope walks with her to the tube station, and asks her to come to visit in Richford to see Hope alone. Antoinette realises that she and Hope could have been friends, and that she cannot break up Hope's marriage; she is comforted to think that Peter will be with Hope if he cannot be with her. The next day, she visits Hope as requested, and Hope tells her that Peter has been very unhappy; that she does not resent Antoinette; and that she has offered to divorce Peter. Their marriage has been based on friendship rather than love and she recognises that Antoinette can offer him something she cannot. Hope also mentions the degree of adjustment to each other's standards that would be required if Antoinette and Peter marry. Antoinette, distraught, tells Hope that she cannot break up their marriage, and agrees that she should not see Peter again. She and Hope part on good terms, and Hope expresses a hope that Antoinette will find happiness. Antoinette and her mother go to Earl Willows, Lord Halberton's home in Kent, where they are to spend Christmas. She and Halberton go for a walk together, and she tells him she has given up Peter. They discuss Sheila's behaviour. Antoinette feels at home in the familiar atmosphere, and contrasts it with her experiences at work and in Richford. News comes that Lord Valerian is unwell, and the family decide to contact Sheila, staying at her house party, so she can find out if he needs more help. But Halberton finds out that Sheila has left with Gerald, having told her host that she was coming straight to Earl Willows, two days before. She has not returned to Cavendish Square and Halberton and Antoinette are very worried that she has run away with Gerald. Antoinette begins to realise that Halberton admires her. A letter from Sheila arrives; she and Gerald plan to spend Christmas in Paris as a last fling before he returns to Ursula. Antoinette then gets a letter from Cassidy, who mentions seeing Sheila at Croydon Airport, which has been fog-bound. Antoinette and her mother leave for Croydon, where they find Cassidy, who tells them that Sheila is at a local hotel. They go there, but Sheila has not yet arrived. Cassidy tells Antoinette that he realised what Sheila was planning, and wanted to avoid worry for the family; he will not take advantage of his knowledge. He also tells her that Peter is unhappy, but that he believes this will improve his work. Sheila and Gerald arrive, and are surprised by Lady Rochester, who proposes lunch. Sheila tells her family that she has been staying at her club, and it is clear that she is half-grateful to be rescued from her escapade. She tells Antoinette that Gerald has been terrified about the whole thing. The three women return to Earl Willows, where Antoinette writes to Cassidy to thank him. Halberton proposes to Antoinette; she tells him she is still in love with Peter, and wonders whether someone nearer Halberton's age (50) would be better, but does not give him a definite refusal. In Richford, Hope's sister Jessie is a pleasant visitor for Christmas. Cassidy visits, and tells Peter about Sheila and meeting Antoinette; Peter confirms that he will be saying goodbye to her after Christmas. Hope tells Peter again that she would rather he took a job at the office, for reasons of status and position, and he agrees to talk to Sydney about it. On 31 December, he visits Antoinette at Cavendish Square. They drive to Hampstead Heath, and Antoinette confirms that their relationship is at an end. She tells Peter how much she admires Hope, and he hopes to hear that she marries one day. They discuss Cassidy, who will always be a link between them. Back at Cavendish Square, they part, both distraught. Later that evening, Lady Rochester tells Antoinette about one of her own love-affairs and how she recovered from it, to comfort her. A year or so later, Peter is working in the office regularly, and Antoinette's engagement to Lord Halberton is announced. Norah and Sydney discuss it, and Norah goes to see Hope to tell her about it. Hope is pleased, and tells Norah that the affair did Peter a great deal of good; he is more settled, and writing better work. Peter has come to realise that he and Antoinette could only retain the value of their love by relinquishing it.

1928

Macmillan

"What is love? 'Tis not hereafter."

To Mary Kelly, who said she liked it.

‘Books and Authors’. The Observer, 4 Nov. 1928, p. 8; Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: What Is Love?’ Saturday Review, Nov. 1928, pp. 693–96; L, M. A. ‘Books of the Day: New Novels’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 23 Nov. 1928, p. 7; Mais, S. P. B. ‘Fiction in 1928: Work of Younger Novelists’. Daily Telegraph, no. 22973, 28 Dec. 1928, p. 13; ‘Modern Youth and Love: Mrs Delafield’s Novel.’ Daily Mail, 15 Nov. 1928, p. 21; Murray, D. L. ‘What Is Love?’ The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1398, 15 Nov. 1928, p. 854; ‘New Fiction: What Is Love?’ Daily Telegraph, no. 22933, 9 Nov. 1928, p. 16; ‘What Is Love ?’ The Scotsman, 10 Jan. 1929, p. 2.

The story opens in about 1910. Ellie Carey is the child of a divorced couple; her mother, Fay, has left her husband for Lord Dallinger. As a child, Ellie is advised to keep her feelings about this private, but she still hears a lot about her mother's wickedness. Ellie is a clumsy, untidy, rather dreamy child and devoted to her older brother Lionel (Lal), now at Eton. Lionel explains that they will not be able to see their mother again, but can do so once they are grown up. Ellie constructs, from the little she knows about her mother's love affair, a highly romantic conception of love which is prepared to risk all. At their country house Milton Waters, Ellie is visited by her cousin Victoria, and a friend, Eglantine de la Riviere, who Victoria dislikes for her old-fashioned clothes, potential foreignness and clumsy ways. Ellie, however, feels sorry for Eglantine. At a party, Ellie meets handsome schoolboy Simon Lawless, and overhears gossip about her mother - and the genetic inheritance Ellie might have. The narrative moves on to 1927. Simon and Victoria meet at a dance. Lionel is now working at the Embassy in Madrid. Simon and Victoria are attracted to one another but neither has any money so they agree their romance is a non-starter. Victoria has met Robin Alistair, a plantation worker visiting England. Simon is working in London and has had a number of brief love affairs. At the next dance, Simon and Ellie, now 24, meet again. Ellie is very beautiful and Simon is immediately taken with her. Ellie is also attracted to him, in a dreamy, romantic way. He comes to stay at Milton Waters. Robin Alistair is also in the party, and is attracted to Victoria. Eglantine joins them for dinner; she is brow-beaten by her widowed mother, and socially awkward. Ellie feels more than ever that there is sympathy between her and Simon and is thrilled when he holds her hand during a game of hide and seek. Ellie's father tells her her mother has returned to England and wants to meet her. Her father is still angry about the divorce and clearly still in love with his ex-wife, and angry with Ellie when she says she wants to meet her mother. Ellie discusses this meeting with her Aunt Helena (her father's sister-in-law and mother of Victoria), who advises her not to expect too much of her mother. Ellie goes with Victoria and her father to join the others out shooting, in a great state of excitement at seeing Simon again. Robin Alistair attempts to propose marriage to Victoria, considering that she may accept him as she is not conventionally pretty and still unmarried at nearly 30, powerfully attracted to her but deterred by her modern ways. When he finally manages to stammer out an offer, she refuses him straight away on the grounds of their fundamental incompatibility and her unwillingness to change. He is shocked to discover that other men have kissed her and that she doesn't want children, and reflects that perhaps their marriage would be a mistake. The house party breaks up, and Ellie agrees that Simon can write to her and that they will meet in London. She and Lionel discuss their mother and whether it can ever be right to leave one's children for love; Ellie wonders whether real love means potentially giving up everything for one's lover. Ellie's father criticises her hostess skills, but Lionel sticks up for her. Helena goes to visit Fay Dallinger, Ellie's mother, still a beautiful woman and well-dressed, although a wearer of make-up. They discuss Ellie briefly; Fay is chiefly concerned whether her daughter is attractive or a good dancer, and then turns the conversation to herself. It is clear that she has had many affairs with other men since her second marriage. Helena tries not to listen to Fay's egotistical monologue and feels that her presence is somehow morally contagious. Leaving, she meets Lord Dallinger who has returned unexpectedly; Helena realises he has found out Fay's current affair and is trying to frustrate it. Ellie, Lionel and her father come up to their London house. Ellie has had two letters from Simon and is excited to see him again. She goes to see her mother at Claridge's; Fay's voice is familiar to Ellie, but not much else, and her mother is emotional about having to leave her children, but her mood changes quickly and Ellie cannot tell if she is being flippant or in earnest. Later, she goes with Simon, Victoria and Lionel to dinner and the theatre; Simon is attentive and Ellie is more aware than ever of the connection between them. At the theatre, they see Fay and talk to her briefly; she is introduced to Simon and Victoria, and enquires about Simon's background. It is Lionel's last night in London before returning to Madrid, but Fay leaves before he can make a proper farewell. The four go for coffee at Victoria's club, but Simon is restless, making Ellie uncomfortable. He drives her home and tells her how different she is from other girls her age. Lionel drives Victoria home, and Ellie realises that she has always known Lionel to be in love with Victoria. Robin is staying, unhappily, with his widowed mother and his unmarried sister, Maud in their dreary flat in Kensington. They take an excessive interest in his affairs; Maud, especially, prods away at his relationship with Victoria. He discovers that they have met Eglantine and her mother, who live in the flat downstairs. He realises that he has been wasting his time with Victoria - she would never have done as a planter's wife. He bumps into the de la Rivieres, and is invited to tea. Lionel Carey is mentioned and he realises Eglantine is keen on him. Victoria is discussed, critically, and Robin is suprised by Mrs de la Riviere's vehemence - he defends Victoria, mildly. He also realises that he and Eglantine have more in common than he thought. They meet again at church, and walk together in Hyde Park where he begins to see Eglantine's virtues - she seems prettier away from Ellie, and is intelligent and considerate. Later, he tells her about his rejection by Victoria, without naming her, and Eglantine is sympathetic. She tells him of her difficult relationship with her mother, and while he doesn't think her problems serious, he meets them kindly. He proposes to Eglantine and is accepted, although he has to return to his work alone; she will follow him and their wedding will take place there. Before his return, he receives a letter from Victoria congratulating him; when they meet by accident, she wishes him well and gives him a rather masculine send-off. Simon, who realises he is in love with Ellie, meets Victoria by chance and confides in her. He is concerned about marrying a woman much richer than him and living on her money, and also not sure if he is ready for marriage at all. Victoria points out the incompatibilities between him and Ellie, that he would be critical of her clumsiness and lack of style, and that she is too sensitive to be married to a man who would certainly have affairs. She also tells him not to make love to Ellie unless he intends to propose. He tells Victoria he could be in love with her, but they back away from this possibility. Simon discounts a lot of what she says, but realises it would be wrong to court Ellie with no thought of marriage. He meets Fay Dallinger, who questions him lightly about Ellie and tells him she hopes Ellie will marry a diplomat and be able to travel. He sees Ellie at a dance but does not dance with her although he notices she is not dancing, lying to her that he must dance with the women in his party. Ellie dances with another man, but Simon sees how sad she looks. Ellie returns alone to Milton Waters for Easter. She has attended a fancy-dress party at which Simon has paid much attention to Victoria (dressed as a pirate); he has not been in touch. Ellie is miserably in love and tries to comfort herself at the house, while waiting desperately for a letter. She even invites Eglantine and her mother to dinner as a welcome distraction. Eventually she goes out for a walk and gives herself over to her sadness, weeping openly. She has just recovered herself when Simon appears, takes her into his arms and proposes to her. Victoria and her mother have been in Paris, and return home to the news that Ellie and Simon are engaged. Neither thinks much of the match, Lady Helena pointing out Simon's middle-class origins and Victoria reassuring her that she herself is not in love with Simon, although she recognises that they are similar. George and Lionel Carey are equally disturbed about the engagement and George will not allow it to be announced yet. Victoria reflects on her own hyperrationality and inability to be swayed by her feelings, unlike Ellie. At the Careys' London house in Lower Belgrave Street, Victoria and her mother meet Simon, who is suffering from being scrutinised by the Careys and under George's disapproval. She has brought her Uncle George several copies of La Vie Parisienne, a mildly erotic magazine; Simon is mildly shocked. At lunch, they discuss Eglantine and Robin's engagement, and wonder whether Mrs de la Riviere will haunt their married life. After lunch, George and Aunt Helena discuss the engagement and later summon Victoria to tell George what she knows of Simon. George is minded to make them wait a year, and will ensure any settlement is tied up on Ellie and her future children. Simon is summoned, and Victoria takes the chance to talk to Ellie, who is radiantly happy. Ellie asks Victoria to go with her when she visits Lady Dallinger to break the news. Fay is no more enthusiastic about the match than George - who has forbidden them from announcing the engagement for six months - and tells Ellie that romantic love can never last, rather angrily. This only has the effect of making Ellie more obstinately determined. Fay outlines the more exciting life she thought Ellie would have, and Victoria points out that Ellie would not enjoy a lot of travel and fashionable clothes. Victoria dines with Simon, and gives him her views on the unsuitability of the match for what she decides is the final time. Lionel writes from Madrid that he has been promoted, and asks Victoria to marry him. Victoria is not in love with him, but is minded to accept on more rational grounds. That night, she has a nightmare in which Lionel and Ellie are swept out to sea, leaving her on the beach with Simon. Waking, she hears a noise, and goes to her mother's room to find her mother coming round from a faint; this has happened before, Victoria learns, although Lady Helena downplays it. The next morning, she tells Victoria that, on her mother's death, she will be reasonably well-off, because Lady Helena has saved for her: she will inherit their London house and £800 a year. Victoria tells her about Lionel's proposal and that this is probably her last chance. Her mother, Victoria knows, is in favour of the match (despite them being cousins) but does not seek to persuade her. Ellie is blissfully happy at first, but doubts begin to creep in. She allows Simon to take her to see his rooms, and is rather frightened by his passionate kissing there. He criticises her dancing, her clothes and even her flower-arranging, and she begins to feel that he is disappointed in her. He complains about his hectic social life but does not do anything to limit it, so their time together is restricted. Ellie is tormented by insecurity and the thought that Simon loves her less than she does him. When he strokes her hair perfunctorily, she tells him to stop; he leaves her alone for several days, claiming to be busy. She attempts to confide in Victoria, who suggests she should care a little less. Fay Dallinger invites Ellie and Simon to join her party for the Eton-Harrow cricket match. They meet Victoria there, and Ellie compares herself unfavourably with Victoria and Simon's relentless sociability. They bump into Eglantine, her mother and her future sister-in-law Maud, who Simon finds awful. He criticises Ellie for not being clear that she was there with her mother. Lady Dallinger tells her again that she should not marry Simon, who she recognises as a philanderer. Simon's evident interest in a pretty young woman he has just met merely bears this out. That evening, they dine and dance with the Dallingers, and Victoria witnesses Simon's anger with Ellie's poor dancing; she tells him off about it, and they agree to meet to talk it over. Ellie is more unhappy than ever. Lady Helena is taken ill, and moved to a nursing-home; she is not expected to recover. Lionel comes home on leave and Victoria tells him how concerned she is about Ellie, and how she should not marry Simon. After a tense dinner at Lower Belgrave Street, Simon arrives; Ellie speaks to him alone, shortly after he tells Victoria and Lionel that she has broken off their engagement. Alone with Simon, Victoria tells him what a cad he is and how he and Ellie's values are simply too different for a successful relationship. Simon plays on their old friendship and she responds to his evident attraction. Lionel surprises them kissing and is angry, but Victoria manages to calm him down with a rational explanation - and they are both relieved the engagement is over. George drives Victoria home and is furious with her, and also disappointed that she has let Ellie down and will not now marry Lionel. Simon comes to the nursing home, where Lady Helena is lingering, and takes Victoria out for a drive. Simon has made some successful investments at work and now has his own money behind him. He proposes marriage and she refuses him; they discuss his shortcomings in his relationship with Ellie and how he never really tried to understand her. He realises how he has let Ellie down; Victoria acknowledges that he could not really help doing so. Driving back, she realises she is changing her mind; they can be financially independent of each other, they understand each other and would like the same sort of lifestyle; outside the nursing home, she accepts his proposal. George tells Ellie about Simon kissing Victoria. Ellie goes to visit her mother, who is having a beauty treatment and has cotton-wool pads over her eyes. She is sympathetic with Ellie but brisk, and tells her not to dwell on her tragedy. When a male visitor comes, and Ellie will not go down and entertain him, she dismisses her. Lady Helena dies and the cousins meet again at her funeral. Ellie plans to return with Lionel to Spain. Ellie tells Victoria she knows about her and Simon kissing, and then realises that Simon and Victoria are to marry - and Victoria confirms it will be the day after tomorrow. Weeping, she tells Victoria that she loves her and she understands, but that she will not see her for a long time.

1929

Macmillan

Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘Women Are Like That’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1423, 9 May 1929, p. 380; Hartley, L. P. ‘New Fiction: Women Are Like That’. Saturday Review, May 1929, pp. 620–22; ‘New Novels’. The Times, no. 45184, 23 Apr. 1929, p. 21; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, 18 May 1929, p. 864; W.H.H. ‘Women Are Like That’. The English Review, July 1929, p. 122; ‘Women Are Like That’. The Bookman, July 1929, p. 208.

Interlude in the Life of a Lady Refined, suburban Louise Lloyd-Jump, at the dangerous age of 43, persuades her stolid family to take a holiday abroad for the first time. They go to Rome, and exhaust themselves seeing the sights. When her son Ronald is suspected of having typhoid fever, they are forced to extend their stay but move to a villa in Genazzano (also the home of Aunt Clo in The Heel of Achilles). There, Louise is affected by a yearning for romance that her husband is unwilling to provide; driven to tears while out for a walk, she is surprised and then embraced by a handsome Italian man. Louise returns home, successfully forgets her adventure and pursues her ladylike suburban life. At the end of her life, she repeats his last word to her: "Domani". The Sprat Juliet Duquesnois has worked all her life as a music teacher and been poor, but has now inherited money and an elegant home. Able for the first time to attend concerts as often as she wishes, she meets at one of them Arthur Lawrence, who tells her of an up and coming violinist, Raoul Radow (who will reappear in Challenge to Clarissa). Lawrence takes her to hear Radow play - he is indeed very talented - and then out to tea, extravagantly, at Rumpelmeyer's, telling Juliet that he is searching for a financial backer to start Radow on his career. Juliet knows she is being played, and despite confiding in her friend Kate Beamish about the risks, consents to go out to lunch with Lawrence and a couple of other interested investors. The expense of the lunch to Mr Lawrence, at a costly French restaurant, eventually persuades her to invest in Radow's career. Squirrel in a Cage Sacha Michelson, married to Charlie and living in the country, comes to London to meet her lover, Ian Berringer, in the studio flat that has housed their affair. She suspects he wishes to end the relationship, and is correct; he considers her "too exacting" and that he cannot "live on the heights always". The narrative is interspersed with Sacha's own internal narrative, rewriting her story in third person, casting herself as the heroine of a romance. The Obstacle Irma Stevenson is pretty and smart, but at thirty-five has almost given up hoping for the "grande passion" that she believes must overtake her before she can consider marriage. She is beginning to feel too mature for the current fashions and losing her attractiveness to men. Travelling down to Oxford to visit friends, she shares her third-class compartment with a very attractive man. They begin to talk and find they have many things in common. The train is delayed by a landslip and he manages to find them some hot tea and bread and butter. She finds he knows her Oxford hosts a little, and imagines he is a poet or an academic, like them. Arriving at Oxford, she discovers that he is in fact the family dentist - and has taken her to be the new governess. Oil Painting - circa 1890 The unnamed narrator and her slightly elder sister, Frederica, are middle-aged and unmarried, living together at Scorpe, the family home, with an old companion, Miss Batten. The narrator remembers their constrained childhood, dominated by the grandmother who brought them up and stifled any independence of thought or action. When their grandmother has a stroke during the first war, the opportunity is there for one of them to leave and undertake war-work, but the narrator, unable to bear the idea of leaving herself, persuades Frederica that she should not leave either. Frederica, mildly, suggests that her sister is being as dominating as their grandmother. In middle age, Frederica becomes vaguely unwell, and a young doctor suggests that she should go away by herself for a complete change and rest. The narrator, angry at the suggestion, makes Frederica tell the doctor that she does not want to go away on her own, and their lives continue in the same way. Frederica and her sister are versions of Frederica and Cecily in Thank Heaven Fasting, in which Frederica thwarts Cecily's attempt at marriage to a doctor called to treat some neurasthenic disease. Strong overtones of lesbianism here - the sisters sleep in the same bed - and the narrator herself describes their relationship as morbid, their interdependence as unnatural. The Lady from the Provinces Desmond Adaire, a serial lover but not a husband, meets pretty, elegant and charming Pamela Carew, staying with a mutual friend while her dull husband has medical treatment in London. They begin a flirtation and he soon falls in love with her. As her time in London comes to an end, he begins to wonder if he could suggest that they begin a clandestine affair - their flirtation has progressed to embraces but it is not clear whether the relationship is sexual - and hints at this to Pamela. Pamela interprets this as a request for her to leave her husband and go away with Desmond, and is delighted that he has asked even though she must refuse. Desmond, more charmed than ever by her naive assumption, allows her to return to Cornwall and domestic life with this romantic memory intact. Compensation Mrs Awdry, a suburban housewife, gains solace from the domestic despotism of her husband and the trials of managing him and the desires of her children, by the occaisional Quiet Day at a local Anglican convent, and the friendship of the Sister Superior there. Her daughter May is 21 and, although pretty and pleasant, has not yet attracted any admirers. A stressful scene at the breakfast-table on Good Friday, in which Mrs Awdry and her children attempt to negotiate with cantakerous Mr Awdry about the use of the family car, shows the strain imposed on Mrs Awdry by the need to manager her husband. However, when May becomes engaged, Mrs Awdry encourages her to marry a man she likes, but does not love, for the sake of social status and avoiding the need to work, exemplified by some spinster aunts, while acknowledging that all men are likely to be as difficult as Mr Awdry. The Mistake Julius Palliser is married to Cecil and they have three children, having lost one to pneumonia; Cecil is asthmatic and the children tend to ill-health. Julius is a writer and, before they married, Cecil too did some writing. Since their marriage Julius believes his writing has suffered from having to undertake "hack-work" to support the family. Julius complains of all this to Thelma Fontaine, another writer but one who is always willing to stop working if someone is in need of her. Julius, who has had previous affairs, begins to spend more and more time with Thelma, until Cecil asks for a divorce; she is in love with the family doctor who is happy to give her and the children a home out of London where they will be healthier. Thelma, gradually, persuades Julius to agree to this; when Cecil and the children eventually go, he is euphoric. Visiting Thelma, he finds her unwell with a 'tiresome winter throat' but still sweeps her into his arms, visualising her as the mother of his future children. History Again Repeats Itself Theodosia, a modern young woman, discovers that her friend Alec is conducting a flirtation with Marjorie Kane. Despite her modern intellectualism and repudation of sexual jealousy, she is more upset than she cares to show, but consoles herself with a kindly parson also staying with her parents over Christmas. Extremes of 1920s and 1900s attitudes to sex and romance are contrasted by Theodosia and her mother. The Breaking-Point Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Montague have a tempestuous friendship, unsurprisingly because they first become acquainted when Sara Montague is undertaking a flirtation with Mr Hamilton in the far East.. She feels sorry for Ruby Hamilton, however, and Mrs Hamilton makes an extended, paying-guest vist to Mrs Montague the next time she is in England. The story is punctuated by their rows and fallings-out, until the final breach is achieved by Sara, who has taken Mrs Hamilton's daughter with her to France, including in her bill for Marjorie's expenses the cost of providing her with soap - eightpence. We're All Alike at Heart Mrs Rydall, a suburban housewife, discovers her nephew in a flirtation with her nursery governess. The nephew gets rapped knuckles, the governess is threatened with the sack, although her value as a servant means that she does not get it. Mrs Rydall then goes to the wedding of an upper-class friend, agreeing with fellow guests that all the world loves a lover. These Things Pass Lady Olivia, old and with a certain reputation, has young Mary Merrion as a house guest. Mary, a Catholic, must marry within her faith but her mother also wishes her to marry money; she is in love with Geoffrey Poole, suitable on the first count, but impoverished. Lady Olivia assures Mary's mother that she will try to do better for her; but she makes sure Geoffrey is invited to the hunt ball. After the ball, Mary confides in Lady Olivia that she and Geoffrey are in love, but she feels it wrong to become engaged without her parents' consent. Lady Olivia begins to intervene; on the way back from a visit to Geoffrey's parents, she confides in an old friend about her own first love, which occured after her marriage and ended with his marriage, breaking her heart. The Whole Duty of Woman Elinor Ambrey has been in a nursing home following a nervous breakdown, apparently caused by the sudden, early death of her sister Anna, but now she is putting on weight again and getting better. The doctor interviews her and stresses that the whole duty of woman is the bearing of children, and hints that she should continue to perform her sexual 'duty' to her husband - which, as the mother of five children, she has already clearly been doing. When her husband arrives to fetch her, Mrs Ambrey relapses into hysteria. . The Gesture Eve, an impoverished writer living with her mother, has come to a literary conference in Brussels, but must leave early because of lack of funds. She is being courted by two other writers, the rich and successful Miles Marbury, and the poor but talented Denis O'Reilly. Both try to persuade her, unsuccessfully, to stay on. She undertakes the long journey and has an awful ferry crossing, confined to the Ladies' Saloon. At Dover, Denis O'Reilly appears, manages her luggage through customs, and sees her into her train with a hot cup of tea; he is going back to Brussels for the rest of the conference, but wanted to make sure she was all right after the journey. This generous gesture wins Eve's love. The Indiscretion Sydney and Arthur, a married couple, have been sailing when their yacht capsizes. Convinced that they will die, Sydney confesses that she has had an affair earlier in their marriage. Coming back to consciousness after their rescue, there is a moment of awe before both remember what she has said. Terms of Reference Isobel France has married an older, widowed man and become stepmother to his four children. In middle age, she learns that the youngest, Baba, has been linked with a married man. Isobel remembers the early years of her marriage. She married Arthur France on the rebound from a quarrel with her first love, Anthony Chisholm, but soon realised her mistake; Arthur does not love her and the older children, encouraged by the servants, dislike her intensely despite her best efforts. She meets Anthony again and they rediscover their love; he asks her to leave Arthur and come away with him, but she will not renounce her duty to Arthur as his wife. Discussing Baba's affair with her, she realises that it is quite normal for Baba to expect her married man to divorce his wife and marry her; she tells a little of her story to Baba, seeing the similarities between their positions. But If It Had Been a Fine Day - ? Susan, a rural vicar's daughter of 30, and Rupert, the son of a new neighbour in the village, have become friends. One summer's day of uncertain weather, they go by bicycle to visit the ancient church at St Nancie. Susan, a modern woman who has read Havelock Ellis, knows that there is nothing romantic or sexual in their relationship although she is attractive and pleasant; she expects Rupert to return to Ceylon after his leave without any hint of a proposal. They reach the church, and while they are looking round it begins to sleet. They take shelter in the pub, and in the hours it takes for the publican to return home with his car and drive them home, they exhaust all their conversation. Paying for a fire, they begin to talk in a more intimate way, until Rupert is inspired to propose. He is accepted, although Susan wonders if it would ever have happened without the bad weather.

1930

Macmillan

none

This book is dedicated to A. D. Peters, kindest, most efficient and most patient of literary agents.

‘Books of the Day: New Novels--Turn Back the Leaves’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 7 Mar. 1930, p. 9; Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘Turn Back the Leaves’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1463, 13 Feb. 1930, p. 120; ‘Fiction: Turn Back the Leaves’. The English Review, Apr. 1930, p. 513; ‘New Novels’. The Times, no. 45437, 14 Feb. 1930, p. 20; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. [176], no. [4744], 22 Mar. 1930, p. 488; Pritchett, V. S. ‘The Month’s Fiction: Turn Back the Leaves’. Fortnightly Review, no. 127, Mar. 1930, pp. 429–32; West, Douglas. ‘Too Many Novels of Life in Little’. Daily Mail, 17 Feb. 1930, p. 4.

In 1890, Edmunda has been married to Sir Joseph Floyd for two years; he is twenty years her senior and had wanted to become a monk, but his confessor told him it was his duty to marry and produce a Catholic heir to Yardley, his family home. Yardley in Gloucestershire is a Queen Anne house, beautiful but already slightly decayed, with many of the rooms shut up. Edmunda has yet to have a child, and a sea-voyage is suggested to improve her health. The Floyds go to Rome; stopping at Genoa on their return, Edmunda meets Lord Charles Craddock, a diplomat. She falls in love with him and he pursues them to London where he arranges for them to be invited to a ball. Edmunda persuades her husband to allow her to attend, and she confesses her love to Craddock, but attempts to tell him she cannot see him again. Edmunda stays with an old friend, Theresa Delancey, in London while Sir Joseph attends a family funeral. Back at Yardley, Sir Joseph is informed that Edmunda is pregnant. Father Bailey, the priest living at Yardley, finds Edmunda sobbing; she confesses that the child is not her husband's. Edmunda goes to London to have the child, and Craddock goes abroad, having made arrangements for the baby's maintenance. Sir Joseph is persuaded by Father Bailey that he should forgive Edmunda; he agrees to this provided she gives up her baby. She agrees to this, and returns, but is a shadow of her former self. Edmunda has four more children in quick succession: Helen, Veronica, Casimira (Cassie) and finally Joey, after which birth Edmunda dies. Two years later, Sir Joseph marries Theresa Delancey on the advice of his confessor. In 1901, Chloe Bourdillon, a twenty-eight-year old New Woman, is in the habit of visiting Edmunda and Craddock's daughter Stella. Chloe is beginning to realise that she may now never be married. Stella lives with her nurse, Cording, and a maid and governess; she is a pretty but adaptive child, prone to telling people what they would like to hear. Chloe's father Stephen is an architect, and more socially successful than his plaintive wife; he excludes his wife and daughter from his social life. He has met Lord Charles Craddock, who knows of his daughter's interest in Stella; Mr Bourdillon reports to his that it seems likely that Stella will soon come under the care of the Floyds; they speculate that Stella is Edmunda's daughter and that Sir Joseph forgave Edmunda because of his extreme faith and need of an heir. Theresa comes to see Stella, and asks her if she would like to come and stay at Yardley; her objective is to bring up the child as a Catholic. Stella assents, but her nurse is not willing to compromise her Protestant principles and go with her. Miss Thompson, the governess, is more flexible, but in the end neither move to Yardley. Chloe arrives to say goodbye and meets Theresa; a sentimental reference to Catholicism means Theresa begins to consider her a possible convert. Chloe hopes Stella will remind Theresa to invite her to Yardley, which would confer social distinction, and give her an opportunity to meet men. Stella arrives at Yardley, and Theresa reflects on how she persuaded Sir Joseph to receive the child, which she achieved by appealing to his duty as a Catholic and with the support of Father Bailey. Stella is better educated than the young Floyds, but far behind them in terms of her religious upbringing. Stella meets the children - she is to be passed off as a cousin of Theresa's - and Theresa notices the resemblance between her and Cassie, who favours her mother; this causes Sir Joseph to pale when he is introduced to Stella. By 1909, Stella is eighteen and comes out; a garden-party is held to launch her in society. Stella gets on well with her half-siblings and with the extremely catholic nursemaid Agnes Martinelli, but is excited about being grown-up. Helen is tall, noisy and clumsy; Veronica equally noisy although she has pretensions to the religious life. Joey is now at boarding school, but has come home with a complaint from his headmaster for behaviour that cannot be discussed with girls. Cassie asks her stepmother about this, and is told not to ask Joey any more about it. Chloe Bourdillon attends the garden-party with the Nevilles, local Protestant gentry who have two grown-up sons, Peter and Thomas; Chloe's enthusiasm for Stella is rekindled. Peter Neville talks to Stella and is clearly attracted by her. Stella discusses her parentage with Theresa, and extracts from her the nature of her parent's relationship, that her mother is now dead, the name of her father and that provides an allowance for her, and that she may meet him. Stella and Theresa attend a tennis party at the Nevilles; Chloe suggests that Stella might come and stay with her family in London. The Floyd children speculate that Peter Neville might marry Stella. The Nevilles bring Chloe to Yardley for a final visit before her return to London, and they have an improvised picnic; both Tom and Peter Neville give Stella a great deal of attention. Veronica climbs a tree, gets stuck, is helped down by Peter. Tom and Stella discuss the Floyds; Tom is interested in character and his accurate assessment of Stella's annoys her. Theresa is angry with all the children, particularly Veronica for her "fast" behaviour. Stella goes to stay with the Bourdillons, with Sir Joseph's approval; he is averse to Stella anyway and worried that admirers will cause Joey, or one of the girls, to "lose their innocence." Stella sees both Peter and Tom Neville in London; Tom is pursing a medical degree with the aim of become a psychiatrist. Stella returns to the Bourdillons after Christmas at Yardley, as a paying guest. At Yardley, Helen has left school but is sulky and unhelpful; Sir Joseph has become even more withdrawn from the family than ever, and unable to tolerate conversation that does not revolve around Catholicism. The children all avoid him as much as possible. Cassie, on her seventeenth birthday, is dressed up in one of Stella's evening dresses by Agnes; Theresa is shocked by the resemblance to Edmunda, but Sir Joseph, returning from a retreat, is appalled by Cassie's lack of modesty. Veronica and Peter Neville fall in love; Peter will not consider conversion to her faith, and will not make the promises to allow their children to be brought up Catholic. Sir Joseph will not consent to the marriage on these terms. The young Floyds wonder whether the stringent rules of their faith are really necessary for salvation, and regret the lack of suitable Catholic young men in England. Peter is in the Army, and about to be sent to India; Veronica is sent to stay with a cousin in Bournemouth to recover from her disappointment. Shortly afterwards, Veronica writes to Helen and Theresa to tell that she has married Peter in a register office. The family are shocked to the core; Theresa reports that it would have been easier to tell Sir Joseph that all the children were dead, and that she would rather Veronica had been drowned. Sir Joseph and Father Donovan visit the young couple in London, but cannot get Veronica to come home, and she leaves for India with Peter. Sir Joseph tells the family that Veronica will not be received at home until she is reconciled to the Church. In London, Stella sees more of Tom Neville, who attracts her strongly. The Bourdillons are fascinated by Sir Joseph's disowning of his daughter, and Veronica's marriage is an ongoing topic of conversation. At a dance, Tom Neville kisses her, and after a few days asks her to marry him when he has completed his training in Vienna, in two years' time. He gives her a ring to wear in secret, and Stella promises to become engaged to him on his return. At the theatre, Stella meets Lady Charles Craddock, her father's wife; Mr Bourdillon suggests that she will take Stella up, and this proves to be the case. Stella consequently meets her father for the first time, and is charmed by him. The Craddocks take her to the South of France, and Lady Charles encourages her in an attraction to Julius Pemberton, divorced, rich and fifteen years older than Stella. She breaks off her engagement to Tom and becomes engaged to Julius; his divorce is not mentioned in her letter to Yardley. However, she cannot be married in a Catholic church under these circumstances, and Theresa pleads with her not to go through with the marriage; Stella does marry Julius, however, with the backing of the Craddocks. The Great War starts. Joey enlists in 1916 and expects to be sent to France. Helen stays at home and works on the land (Sir Joseph forbids her to wear breeches, so she does her farm work in a skirt) and Cassie gets a clerical post in Bristol. At first she stays at a convent, but then decides to move nearer to work and takes a room in a boarding-house. In 1917 Joey is sent to France, and takes Cassie out to lunch before he leaves. He is very bitter about their oppressive upbringing and Sir Joseph's tyrannical nature, and asserts that he will never marry a good Catholic girl and settle down at Yardley to continue the family line. Joey seems to want to confide in Cassie, and says he hopes he will be shot as this will end his "difficult" life, but does not go further. Cassie writes to Veronica, who is now in Alexandria with Peter and her two children, and to Stella, who is organising Red Cross entertainments and hoping to get war work in France. Theresa reports from Yardley that Helen is becoming very odd and silent. On leave at Yardley, Cassie learns that Joey has spent his leave in Paris; Helen is very hard about Veronica and refuses to hear anything about the children. Yardley seems very shabby and decayed to Cassie, and is terribly cold. Sir Joseph welcomes the wartime privations and suggests it will help people realise they have been eating too much all their lives. A telegram arrives to say that Joey is reported missing and feared killed. Tom Neville visits,on leave from the army after an injury; Cassie is in love with him, but clearly he still thinks of her as a child; she persuades him to give his professional opinion of Sir Joseph. Tom considers that he has religious mania. News comes that Peter Neville has been killed; Cassie hopes to go with Tom to bring her back from Alexandria, but Stella, whose husband is now working in the war office, is able to go and fetch her. On Cassie's last afternoon at home, she walks with Helen and Theresa into the village to take boots to be mended, and they meet Veronica, returning to stay at the Nevilles'. Theresa does not dare take her up to the house, but Tom manages a picnic tea in the pavilion; the time passes happily, with Theresa playing with her grandchildren and Cassie enjoying Tom's company. The Floyds return to the house, to find Sir Joseph enraged; a telegram has come while they were out to say that Joey is dead. Theresa goes to comfort him, but he throws her off, violently, shouting that she has been the cause of his sin, and now he has no heir to comfort him for ignoring his vocation. He then collapses into depression; Tom brings a specialist to see him, and although his verdict is kept from Helen and Cassie, Tom tells them that the inbreeding of Sir Joseph's lineage and the circumstances have caused his insanity, and that Theresa is determined to keep him at Yardley. Agnes tells the girls that Sir Joseph has behaved in a saintly manner in respect of Stella, and the story of her birth is gradually realised by Cassie. Helen is shocked and horrified, and considers that none of them can ever pray enough to atone. Cassie hopes that she will still be able to leave Yardley and work, and Tom Neville, paying a visit at the end of his leave, encourages her to do this. She returns to Bristol. Paying a visit after the Armistice, she finds that Sir Joseph is now paralysed and has a tendency to confess sexual excesses he believes himself to have committed to Theresa. Helen announces that she has made arrangements to enter a religious order, the Poor Clares, as atonement for Edmunda's sin and Veronica's apostasy. Cassie realises that she will now have to stay at home to help Theresa in Helen's place. In an epilogue, two young riders out hunting pass Yardley, and see the ancient Sir Joseph being wheeled down the drive by Theresa and Agnes, much to their amusement.

1931

Macmillan

none

none

‘Challenge to Clarissa’. The Women’s Leader, 3 July 1931, p. 5; Dane, Clemence. ‘Sowers and Reapers of the Novel’. The Listener, vol. 5, no. 127, 17 June 1931, p. 1027; Harwood, H. C. ‘New Novels: Challenge to Clarissa’. Saturday Review, June 1931, p. 832; ‘Notes for the Novel Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, 11 July 1931, p. 64; Scott, R. McNair. ‘New Novels: Challenge to Clarissa’. The English Review, July 1931, pp. 249–53; Thirkell, Angela. ‘Challenge to Clarissa’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1531, 4 June 1931, p. 444; West, Rebecca. ‘Good Books from England, Ireland & France’. Daily Telegraph, no. 23734, 12 June 1931, p. 17.

Published as House Party in the USA.

The novel opens with Clarissa's pursuit of, and eventual marriage to, the impoverished, limp and dissipated Reggie Fitzmaurice. Clarissa has been widowed during the first World War, and has inherited her husband's property and her father's money. Fitzmaurice is already married, to the daughter of the Princess de Candi-Laquerrière, adulterous Aldegonde, but is not seriously inclined to divorce her until Clarissa forces his hand. We get an early taste of Clarissa's belief that all obstacles can be removed with a liberal application of cash when she offers to settle £5,000 on Aldegonde once the divorce is completed, an offer that is gently turned down by the Princesse. Fitzmaurice makes one condition before agreeing to the divorce: to keep in his care his daughter Sophie. The narrative jumps ten years. Sophie is newly grown up and being circulated vigorously by Clarissa on the marriage market. Clarissa's son by her first husband, Lucien, is a year or two older than Sophie, and has been brought up to view her as his sister. During a summer house party at Mardale, their country home, Clarissa engineers a visit from a rich young lord, the hilariously named Bat Clutterthorpe, who proposes to Sophie; she obediently accepts. However, the Princesse and her retinue have arrrived in the area and meet Sophie and Lucien. Lucien quarrels with his mother, rushes from the house and immediately encounters the Princesse, who correctly diagnoses his problem: he is in love with Sophie. With his true feelings brought to light, Lucien proposes to Sophie, who accepts and immediately breaks off her engagement to Bat, who is decidedly unbothered. They announce to Clarissa that they intend to marry. Her response is to throw an impressive tantrum; refusing to countenance the marriage, she sets about arranging to send Lucien abroad and to ensure that Sophie becomes re-engaged to Bat. The Princesse, realising that Clarissa's only vulnerability is her abiding love for Fitzmaurice, bribes him to intervene. Unable to refuse the temptation of £300 a year of his own, Fitzmaurice threatens to leave Clarissa unless the marriage goes ahead. Clarissa is outraged, but defeated, and soon she is managing Lucien and Sophie's wedding plans as if it had been her idea in the first place.

1931

Macmillan

none

Dedicated to the Editor and the Directors of Time and Tide, in whose pages this diary first appeared

Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘The Diary of a Provincial Lady’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1507, 18 Dec. 1930, p. 1084; Mais, S. P. B. ‘New Novels: Miss Delafield’s Witty Tale’. Daily Telegraph, no. 23581, 12 Dec. 1930, p. 6; ‘Novel Notes: Diary of a Provincial Lady’. The Bookman, Jan. 1931, pp. 276–77; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 178, no. 4788, 24 Jan. 1931, pp. 142.

The first volume of the Provincial Lady novels focuses mainly on our nameless protagonist's domestic life in rural Devon, where she lives with her husband Robert, a land agent. They have two children, Robin (mostly away at prep school in this volume) and Vicky, who is cared for at home by Mademoiselle, a French governess. A housemaid and Cook complete the servants caring for the family. The book famously opens with the planting of the winter bulbs, and our heroine negotiates Women's Institute meetings, an outbreak of measles, the prolixity of Our Vicar's Wife and, above all, the awful high-handedness of Lady Boxe, who is both a neighbour and Robert's employer. The characteristics of the family are established: Robert is unemotional and taciturn, Robin is kind and playful, Vicky dynamic and assertive, Mademoiselle emotional and skilled with her needle. The Provincial Lady does occasionally get away from home, visiting her friend Rose in London, where she utterly fails to visit a celebrated Italian art exhibition, and joining Rose in the South of France for a fortnight in the sun. Her preoccupations with her wardrobe begin in this novel and recur throughout all four books, and her financial precarity is well-established here. The novel ends with a party held by Lady Boxe described in highly satirical terms.

1932

Hamish Hamilton

None

None

Linklater, Eric. ‘New Novels’. The Listener, vol. 7, no. 163, 24 Feb. 1932, p. 285; West, Geoffrey. ‘Time and Tide’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1572, 17 Mar. 1932, p. 196.

Selection of short stories from Time and Tide. A short enthusiastic foreword by John Galsworthy. No editorial commentary from Delafield, but she includes two of her own short stories: Gladys (pp62-67): Gladys is a fellow-guest of the narrator at a boarding-house. She is older, and her asthmatic husband Raymond a rather ridiculous old flirt. It turns out, however, that Gladys has been married before; her husband was in the Indian Army and they had a little girl. But she fell in love with Raymond, and went to Ceylon with him, hoping her first husband would divorce her and allow her to see her daughter. Eventually she got her divorce, but wasn’t allowed to see her daughter; she and Raymond have been quite poor afterwards. The narrator suggests to her that she has been brave, and Gladys agrees, but when it is suggested that Raymond was worth the sacrifice, her response is “Oh, I didn’t say that.” Sophy Mason Comes Back (pp287-304) A man called Fenwick tells a ghost story set in a house in a French provincial town. It was empty most of the year but in the summer a family would come, with an English ‘mees’ (governess) called Sophy Mason. Sent ahead to the country with the children, Sophy met and fell in love with a man called Alcide Lamotte, the charismatic son of a farmer. Betrayed to her employer, Sophy was persuaded to give him up in order to keep her job. Alcide did not propose to her to resolve the issue. Later, Sophy found herself pregnant, and wrote to Alcide for help. He ignored her and so she went down to the countryside to see him; he murdered her. Her employer and her only family at home (she was the illegitimate child of her late mother) were unworried by her disappearance and assumed she had run away. Fenwick came to know one of the grown-up children, Amede, who told the story of her disappearance. One day, near the house, Amede is told that a skeleton has been found. A witness comes forward who says she saw a man resembling Alcide dragging the body of a woman there. Fifteen years later, Alcide, rich after years in America, returned to the town. He has a business proposition for Amede, and comes to dinner. Sophy’s ghost appears at the meal, sobbing and wringing her hands. But Alcide notices nothing, and Fenwick is most frightened by his ability to separate his violent past from his successful present.

1932

Macmillan

none

For Cass Canfield

Linnell, John. ‘Novelists and "Fictioneers". The Bookman; Dec 1932; 83, 495; Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘The Provincial Lady Goes Further’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1605, 11 Mar. 1932, p. 810; Armstrong, Anne. ‘New Novels: The Provincial Lady Goes Further’. Saturday Review, Nov. 1932, pp. 480–81; ‘New Novels: The Provincial Lady Goes Further’. The Times, no. 46276, 28 Oct. 1932, p. 17; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 181, no. 4884, 26 Nov. 1932, p. 848; Holtby, Winifred. ‘Novels of the Year’. The Bookman, Dec. 1932, pp. 171–72.

At the opening of this volume, which starts on 9 June, the Provincial Lady (PL) has published a book. Robin, Vicky and Mademoiselle are encouraging; Robert says that it is funny, but does not look amused. Various friends write to say how astonished they are that she has written a book, and her neighbours become suspicious that she might put them in a future book. A letter from a reader suggests that her book is harmful to art and morality. The family's finances are not improved as yet, and the PL resorts to asking her literary agent when she might expect to see some income. When a cheque does arrive, it is much larger than expected and the PL begins to think of taking a flat in London. Vicky asks to go to school. Mademoiselle is distraught at the prospect. Rose (Vicky's godmother) is asked for advice, and the neighbours ask whether Vicky is really to be sent away. Rose advises school and suggests two that the PL might visit. A plan to go to London, visit Rose, inspect schools and get a permanent wave is made. Mademoiselle recovers slightly from her crise de nerfs, but there is an emotional conversation about the possibility of Vicky leaving for school. The PL is invited to join a literary club and to attend its next International Congress, shortly to be held in Brussels; she decides to attend. A distant new neighbour, Mrs Callington-Clay, visits unexpectedly while the PL is covered with fluff after going through the linen cupboard. Mrs C.-C. reminds her of Pamela Pringle, now on her third husband, who the PL met once many years ago. Pamela now lives nearby and the PL agrees to visit. The visit to Rose in London takes place. They inspect the first school, which is large, cold, institutional and unsatisfactory. The PL has a successful permanent wave. A second school, which is nicer, is visited but there is too much focus on handicrafts and the table manners of the pupils let it down. Rose and the PL attend a literary party, where she is appalled to meet a connection of Jahsper, met in volume 1. A letter from Pamela Pringle arrives, inviting the PL to call. A third school, at Mickleham, is visited and found to be entirely satisfactory. Rose and the PL go out for the evening with a Canadian friend of Rose and his American friend; it is a highly enjoyable evening and they all get a little drunk on champagne. The literary conference in Brussels is starting, and the PL travels by train and boat; thankfully the crossing is a smooth one. At the hotel, the PL meets her old friend, playwright Emma Hay, who is eccentric in dress and over-generous with accessories and introduces her to several Balkan writers. The conference takes place but the PL finds it hard to focus on the speeches; this is followed by sight-seeing which is rather exhausting and a reception at the town hall. Emma introduces her friend repeatedly to the same Italian writer. A banquet and dancing concludes the event, none of which our heroine enjoys; the whole event leaves her feeling middle-aged. The PL and Emma travel back together and they argue about the PL's commitment to domesticity, but are reconciled later. Back in London, Rose has found the PL a suitable flat in Doughty Street. They go to see it and the PL signs the lease for a three-year tenancy. Returning home, she finds it hard to tell Robert about the flat, and Cook gives notice. The PL goes to visit Pamela Pringle in her large house; Pamela has many male guests and remains very beautiful, although the PL is glad to see that all her children wear spectacles and have straight hair. Robert is finally told about the flat and is kind but gloomy about it. Robin is sent home from school early because of another boy's jaundice. After a painful discussion with Mademoiselle, it is agreed that she will leave her post and Vicky will go to school in September. No replacement cook has been recruited. The family is persuaded to book a holiday in Brittany. Mademoiselle leaves and a holiday tutor (eventually nicknamed Casabianca) is appointed to come with them. After much packing and preparing, the family achieves St Malo, and travel on to St Briac. The weather is very wet and the sea turns out to be twenty minutes from the hotel. The bathing is cold, but the children enjoy it and they get on well with Casabianca, who is very effective. The holiday is enlivened by a medical emergency on the beach (safely resolved), a dance at the hotel (Robert does not attend but the PL dances with Casabianca), Vicky falling into a hole in the hotel floor, and an unsuccessful visit by Robert and the PL to the casino. Back at home, a temporary cook is employed and the weather is wet and cold. The PL visits London to sort out her flat and meets the Viscountess again. Felicity Fairmead, a friend of the PL that Robert actually likes, comes for a convalescent visit. They go for a picnic, and Vicky meets a dog which they eventually adopt - Kolynos. There is a national economic crisis, and Robert is eloquent on the topic. The family and Felicity spend an intolerable Sunday at home. Preparations start for the children to return to school; the PL takes Vicky to London and Casabianca departs. Vicky is left at school, very happy. The PL stays on in London with the intention of writing. She attends a literary party with Rose, which of course is awkward and dull. But more invitaitons come, from Emma, the Viscountess, and Pamela Pringle, now in London. The PL visits her first, and Pamela pours out the story of her life and several marriages; it becomes clear that she is having an affair now. Coming out of Pamela's flat into a cold wind, the PL meets Lady Boxe, by chance. The PL tries to write, but is distracted by domestic issues and interruptions. Then Rose volunteers her to go to Hertfordshire to speak at her niece's WI meeting. After this, Rose is elusive and when the friends do meet they quarrel, but make it up. The PL is disappointed to find out she is overdrawn again, and then comes down with a head cold just in time for a dinner party at Pamela's, a socially painful event. Pamela telephones late the next night to ask for an alibi for that evening, which stimulates a night of catastrophic imaginings. Robert writes to say that he wishes his wife would come home and she consequently covers the furniture in dust-sheets and prepares to return. First, however, she must lunch with Pamela and visit a clairvoyant with her. At the PL's club, Pamela eats nothing and tells her all about all the men who are in love with her. The clairvoyant issues a mixture of platitudes and unlikely predictions to the PL, and tells Pamela that she will never have peace in her life. The PL returns home on 7 November, and Robert announces that he has missed her. There is then a gap until 13 April; the family are still in a tense financial situation. Casabianca is back for the Easter holiday. Felicity comes to stay again, after a number of letters and telegrams re-arranging her plans. The two women go to visit an author, Charlotte Volley, at her invitation; she lives with a companion, Miss Postman. Miss Postman is voluble in her praise of Miss Volley, who she calls Carina, and the PL implies in her diary that they are a lesbian couple. Lady Frobisher invites the PL and Robert to dinner to meet Lord and Lady Blamington. Lord Blamington turns out to have been Bill Ransom, who the PL once had a close relationship with. Robert is pleased, because the Frobishers have good claret, but unmoved when the PL tells him that Bill asked her to marry him several times. The PL goes to Plymouth to get her hair done, undertakes tedious domestic shopping but cannot run to a new dress. At the dinner, the PL notes that Bill has kept his figure but lost his hair, and they discuss the past a little. There is a political discussion but the PL is unable to be frank about her left-wing views. Bill's wife is very glamorous. Bill suggests that she and Robert should visit them in Kent, but the PL knows this will not happen. The next day, discussing the evening with Robert, he tells his wife that the green dress she wore makes her look tawdry, which distresses her for the rest of the day. Casabianca and the children prepare to return to school. Mademoiselle arrives for a visit. The PL continues to speculate on the possibilities emerging from her meeting with Bill, but her romantic imagination is repeatedly quashed by domestic matters. Mademoiselle and Casabianca do not get on; a picnic which is already tense is made worse by wet weather. The PL's literary agent chases her about her next book and she decides to return to London. Mademoiselle and Casabianca both leave, and the children return to school; the PL returns to Doughty Street. Back in London, she receives invitations from Rose, Emma Hay and Pamela Pringle, who continues to involve her in her romantic entanglements. She attends Pamela's cocktail party where, under the influence of drink, the PL talks extensively and confidently with strangers, and has to get a taxi home. The PL feels guilty about her social life, when she is supposed to be writing, but finds time to visit Vicky at school and go to Emma's literary party, where the PL's conversational gambits are unsuccessful. She also visits Robert's Aunt Mary, who clearly disapproves of most aspects of the PL's life. She is then asked to be on the organising committee for a Time and Tide party, for which she buys a new frock. The party is very successful and the PL acquits herself well in her speech. The Viscountess invites the PL to a lunch party in Buckinghamshire and she drives there with Rose; they get lost and arrive part-way through lunch. After lunch, the PL is dragged unwillingly round the garden, much to the amusement of her friends. Robert arrives to take the PL and Vicky to Robin's sports day. At lunch, they meet Pamela Pringle with a young man, Hipps, who proves to be an artist, and agree to go to his exhibition later. Robert tells the PL he has committed her to doing a turn at the village concert next month. Later, at the gallery, the pictures are incomprehensible and Hipps inconsolable because Pamela has not shown up. Vicky arrives by bus, and they all go to Robin's school. PL attempts to get some information about Robin's progress from his form-master; they all enjoy the day. Back in London, Pamela suggests that she might visit them in Devon, and the PL tries to get on with some writing. She is commissioned to write an article on Modern Freedom in Marriage, but the usual domestic interruptions occur even in London when someone offers to clean her telephone and the window-cleaner puts his arm through some glass. Rose and Felicity visit, but do not get on. The PL goes to a dinner party, invited by Helen de Liman de la Pelouse who she has met through Pamela. Conversation is, as usual, difficult, although one of her neighbours at dinner is polite and interesting. After dinner, she is plied with questions about Pamela, and makes up some quite interesting answers. The PL decides to return to Devon and is pleased to see her home again. Robert is told about the Modern Freedom in Marriage article and supplies extensive suggestions. The PL notices a tendency towards day-dreaming in herself. Our Vicar's Wife calls to ask about her concert turn and they go to visit some new neighbours and call on Miss Pankerton; Our Vicar's Wife asks her to fetch a bicycle part from London the next time she goes. The concert takes place - the PL recites a narrative poem about Dick Turpin - and is a success. On returning home, the PL and Robert are astonished to find all the lights on and Pamela Pringle in their drawing-room with several strange men. They stay for drinks and one of them plays the piano until the party breaks up at about one in the morning. The PL finds that Pamela has used her dressing-table, and left it in a distressingly untidy state. The volume closes on 13 July with the PL preparing for the children's return home and dealing with Cook's request for extra help, while thinking that she would like to go to America.

1932

Macmillan

none

Dedicated to Margaret Rhondda. My dear Margaret, You will probably requite this dedication with one of those charmingly grateful letters that you so well know how to write. Let me at once forestall you by saying that the gratitude is entirely on my side, and that this book is only a very small expression of it. Again and again, I have found that the sincerity and strength of your own work, both in Time and Tide and elsewhere, have set a standard for mine. I wish I could feel that I had attained to it. Apart from the fact of our friendship, that to me is so wholly delightful, you are the fitting person to receive the dedication of this book, for it has sprung out of many conversations that we have held together. Please accept it, with my gratitude and admiration. Elizabeth M. Delafield.

Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘Thank Heaven Fasting’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1583, 2 June 1932, p. 406.; ‘Mr. Linklater Also Recommends’. The Listener, vol. 7, no. 181, 9 June 1932, p. 942; ’‘New Novels: Thank Heaven Fasting’. Saturday Review, June 1932, p. 565; ‘Note for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 181, no. 4863, 2 July 1932, p. 17; West, Rebecca. ‘The Need for Serenity in Novel Writing’. Daily Telegraph, no. 24037, 3 June 1932, p. 18.

Also published as A Good Man's Love in the USA

Eighteen-year-old Monica Ingram, brought up very strictly by her mother to view making a good marriage as her sole aim in life, comes out into London society. Monica is pretty and is popular during her first season, but is taken in by the flirtatious Captain Christopher Lane. Her mother tells her to have nothing to do with him, but Monica disobeys. After a week-long romance involving exciting secret assignations, Monica naively believes they are in love, and agrees to ‘sit out’ with him in the roof garden at a ball, where he kisses her. Monica’s mother is appalled and dismayed at her behaviour, and does what she can to prevent the story getting out, but Monica’s reputation is sullied, she becomes less popular, and loses her attractiveness. In her early twenties, Monica meets handsome Carol Anderson at a wedding, and they become friendly, but it soon becomes clear that Carol only wants Monica as a confidante; he is in love with a married woman. Monica is friendly with two other young women, Frederica and Cecily Marlowe, who have been equally unsuccessful on the marriage market; Frederica claims to hate men, and is anxiously possessive of Cecily. Their mother, Lady Marlowe, is openly scathing about their marriage prospects. When Lady Marlowe and Frederica become ill, the young doctor who treats them advises Lady Marlowe that the sisters should be separated, for their own good, but she dismisses this advice. He later proposes marriage to Cecily, who accepts him but then breaks off the engagement after Frederica has an hysterical breakdown. Lady Marlowe arranges for an allowance to be paid to her daughters and sends them to live in the country. Monica’s father is run over by a cab, and subsequently dies. Her mother leans heavily on Monica for emotional support. Monica, realising that Carol Anderson will never marry her, accepts the proposal of an old family friend, Mr Pelham, partly to escape from the aimless existence she is leading with her mother. The novel closes with their marriage. It is possible to date the action as taking place between 1905-10, from references to the suffragette militancy.

1933

Macmillan

none

This book is affectionately dedicated to Jean Raven-Hill

C. E. B. ‘Books of the Day’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 182, no. 4907, 5 June 1933, p. 644; Cannan, Joanna. ‘Essays’. The Bookman, May 1933, p. 117; ‘General Impressions’. The Scotsman, 20 Apr. 1933, p. 2; Mavrogordato, E. E. ‘General Impressions’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1629, 20 Apr. 1933, p. 275; ‘Shorter Notices: General Impressions’. The Times, no. 46413, 4 July 1933, p. 10.

All pieces previously published in Time and Tide. General Impressions (pp1-65). Collection of comic dialogues between character types (eg A Lady, An Elderly Gentleman, A Person with a Smattering of Science) in different settings: A Country Town House-Agent’s Office A House Removal The Zoo A Tennis Party A Ladies’ Committee Meeting A Country Auction-Sale A Bank The January Sales A Dentist’s Waiting Room A Servants’ Registry Office A West-End Draper’s A Hunt Ball A Second-Hand Clothes Shop An Atlantic Liner (First Day Out) A Children’s Party A Ladies’ Club A Christmas Shopping Centre Men, Women and Children in Fiction (pp67-117). Comic articles on literary representation and the lack of prosaic realism therein. Men: Professional Men (doctors, businessmen); Lovers (agricultural, in a satire reminiscent of Cold Comfort Farm); Husbands (young, besotted and inconceivably tolerant of their heartless and eventually adulterous wives, or possessed of “cast-iron stupidity); Fathers (touching and kindhearted, frequently widowers or unhappily married, absent-minded professors or clergymen, and brutes, usually lower-middle class); Criminals (idealised, known by a nickname, attractive to women, either repent or die by the end of the novel). Women: I, in dialect novels, old but wise or malignant, young, passionate and elliptical in speech, serious but unsuccessful mothers, likely to be murdered by the end of the book. II, in historical fiction, thoroughly wicked, early Christian martyrs, unrealistically good, or the repressed daughter of Victorian or Edwardian parents. III, in allegorical fiction, eccentric of dress and hairstyle, repetitive, and often a Mother who is prone to whimsical and inaccurate generalisations. IV, prostitutes, who are invariably generous and kindhearted, strongly associated with the colour pink, terribly similar across many books and always sentimentalised. V, in detective novels, often stereotypes rather than characters, young modern women who do much of the detecting, foreign-sounding sinister older women, wives who tell extensive lies because of their extra-marital affairs or pre-marital secrets, and servants who are highly unrealistic. VI, women involved in love affairs, who rarely show any sense of humour, are focused only on their emotional lives and think of nothing else, or who are modern young women who do “practically nothing except drink, dance and go about with men”. Children: children in books are rarer, and often present an idealised version of the author’s own childhood; they frequently feature in the sort of novel that requires a family tree at the beginning and their early lives are described with too much detail. Fictional children are often very sensitive and incredibly, precociously observant; if sent to school, it is implied, their experiences are likely to revolve around homosexual adolescent experiences. Children can also be used as the focus of a fantasy novel, or to point up the worthlessness of their mother; girls in fiction are often sexualised from an early age. Home Life Relayed (pp119-140). The radio reporter Clarion Vox is giving a running commentary on everyday situations, as from a major event or a sports match. The first scene is 74 Floral Crescent, Highgate, at breakfast, during which Father complains about the bacon at length, daughter Doris spills her tea, and Mother tries to manage everyone’s emotions harmoniously. In the second scene, breakfast is being cleared up, Mother asks Norah the maid to be careful, offending her; Doris is being told off, kicks a table leg repeatedly and knocks over the canary in its cage. Mother orders the groceries by phone, and the laundry van arrives. In the third section, the scene changes to The Laurels, Father’s parents’ house. It is very wet and Grandmama is laying down newspaper over the linoleum. The family from Floral Crescent arrives and they have supper and play bridge, which leads to an argument and Grandpapa taking the cards to play patience. The family settles down somewhat after cocoa. Back at Floral Crescent for the fourth scene, it is Father’s birthday and another very wet day. Father intends to take the family out for a day in the country and will not be deterred; they pack themselves into the open-topped car with a picnic. The final scene is a large railway station; the grandparents have come to see the family off on the boat-train. There is a polite disagreement with a Frenchman over possession of the corner seat, and Grandpapa gives stern warnings about drinking French water. The piece closes with a request for Clarion Vox’s relations to go to Hanwell Asylum, where he is dangerously ill. Studies in Everyday Life (pp141-164). Comic overview of aspects of modern life: Movements’ (political/charitable, including habits of speakers and operations of committees) Looking at Schools (failures of communication between parents and teachers, mothers’ over-estimation of their child’s abilities, fathers’ interests in the school drains) Being Parents (parenting advice, loss of parental infallibility, the difficulty of parents who were brought up as Victorians in raising twentieth-century children) Mr. Fairchild (overview of the character from Mary Martha Sherwood’s History of the Fairchild Family, published serially 1818-1847) The Non-Gardener’s Gardening Calendar (poking fun at the incomprehensibility of gardening tips for those who do not garden) Looking at the Classics (pp165-176). EMD takes as an example a young writer called Vavasour [a great of Sir Hugh Clifford married into the Vavasour family] who, seeking to write a play, draws on Shakespeare and other classics to shape his plays. She shows how dramatic construction can be used to get across any point of view in drama. Another example writer, Cathcart-Symington, can write dialogue but not plot; he can lift a plot from the classics instead. But this may fall foul of the censor as well as being hard to believe for the audience. The Sincerest Form... (pp177-222) Parodies of contemporary writers: ’The Supremacy of Mr Ponds’ - H. G. Wells, The Autocracy of Mr. Parham (1930), itself a satire of press monopolies, spiritualism and chemical warfare. ’Arnold Prohack, Journal 1929’ - Arnold Bennett’s edited Journals were published in two volumes in 1939. EMD satirises his luxurious lifestyle and the distance he has come from the Potteries. ’Super-Superlative’ - possibly a parody of Vicki Baum’s Grand Hotel (1929); the associated film was released in 1932. ’Still Dustier’ - Rosamond Lehmann, Dusty Answer (1927) and A Note in Music (1930). ’Platform Sweepers, by Albert Hall’ - parody of a history of a theatrical family. Possibly based on Gordon Craig’s memoirs of his family published in 1930 and 1931. ’Women and Children Last (but journalistic young gentlemen don’t, for very long)’ - Beverley Nichols, Women and Children Last (1931). Skewers Nichols’s misogyny. ’(Not) For Frightened People (as it will only make them feel worse)’ - E. Arnot Robinson, Four Frightened People (1931). ’Portrait of a Dark Circus: a Tale (Two or Three Tails, in fact)’ - Hugh Walpole, Above the Dark Circus (1931) ’Flamboyant, by the author of Pink Post Chaise’ - Lady Eleanor Smith, Flamenco (1931) and Red Wagon (1930) ’Hebraic, by Stern (but not very)’ - G. B. Stern, Mosaic (1931) ’White Wickedness: or, on the Waugh-Path’ - Evelyn Waugh, Black Mischief (1932) ’The Greater Britain, by a Greater Briton’ - Oswald Mosley, The Greater Britain (1931) When I’m Allowed to Be... (pp223-269 ’Mother Theresa Makes Her Meditation’. An Irish nun reflects on her family, particularly her brother Jamesie who became a priest and was killed in Manchuria. ’Retrospect’. A widowed woman remembers her sister Francie, who died in Canada and who she now misses more than her dead husband. ’The Generations’. A woman sits in the cathedral and remembers being a bridesmaid there, and how much she and her mother loved each other when she was little - but remembers how daughters inevitably grow away from their mothers. ’Where Have We Got to Now?’ An unemployed ex-serviceman with a wife and baby, goes to ask his wealthy stepsister for a loan. She agrees, after going over his finances, and he realises it will be easier to ask her again in the future. ’The Widow’. A working-class woman reflects on her marriage after her husband’s death, and plans to enjoy herself more in the future. ’End of a Holiday’. A family is returning from their holiday in France. Mrs Harper is on edge, placating her husband’s temper, managing the children and thinking of all that they will have to do when she gets home. ’The Mother’. A widow thinks about her son Cecil, who was different and clever and ran away from home at 15, ending up in America, and whether he is now happy. ’Conversation-Piece’. Two young women discuss their love affairs over a box of chocolates, and wonder why middle-aged people like to dance at parties. ’Men Have No Imagination’. A middle-aged woman remembers an extramarital affair she had, and how her lover told his much younger wife that she was a ‘wrong ‘un’. ’The Night Sister’. A nurse remembers her charming, spendthrift brother, who shot himself because he was in debt. Clearing the debt meant she could not go to college, but continued in nursing after the war. ’Fauntleroy (To A[rthur]. P[aul]. D[ashwood]. [ie EMD’s husband])’ An elderly couple disagree over Fauntleroy, the cat; she dotes on the cat, he thinks it should be kept out of the bedroom. When she dies and their son and family move into the house, the old man comes around to Fauntleroy, an real and tangible connection with the past. ’Question Without Answer’. A demi-mondaine recalls the time she fell in love with one of the men she was living with, and let him see that - only to lose him to another woman.

1933

Macmillan

none

To Francis Iles, from his obliged and affectionate friend, The Author

Armstrong, Anne. ‘New Novels: Gay Life’. Saturday Review, Oct. 1933, p. 396.; ‘Books of the Day: New Novels-Gay Life’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 27 Oct. 1933, p. 5; Hartley, L. P. ‘The Literary Lounger: On With The Motley!’ The Sketch, 1 Nov. 1933, p. 42; ‘Notes for the Novel Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 183, no. 4936, 25 Nov. 1933, p. 854; Thirkell, Angela. ‘Gay Life’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1654, 12 Oct. 1933, p. 688.

At the Hotel d'Azur in the South of France, a disparate group of visitors are assembled, some for a holiday, some to work. Hilary and Angie Moon, a young married couple in their twenties, are bored of each other and short of money; Angie is stunningly beautiful and has an eye out for her next lover. Misanthropic Mr Bolham, is an older, scholarly man, rich enough to hire a secretary to come with him on holiday. Coral Romayne, in her forties and losing her charm, which in her view is her only asset in life; she is separated from her husband, who makes her a generous allowance. Travelling with Coral are her son Patrick, sixteen years old and perpetually unhappy-looking, and his holiday tutor, Buckland. Coral is strongly attracted to Buckland and he plays up to this. They are wealthy enough to afford their own car. Mr Muller, an American businessman, is at the hotel alone, waiting for his family to join him. Mary and Captain Mervyn Morgan, who have a farm in Wales, are at the hotel having the holiday of a lifetime, Mary having inherited some money. Their three children are Olwen (about 16), David (about 12) and Gwennie (about 8), all attractive and well-behaved; Gwennie is the pet of the hotel staff. Denis Waller, Mr Bolham's secretary, is a young man in his late twenties, very self-conscious and anxious about what others think of him. Dulcie Courtenay, also sixteen, is a hotel child, the daughter of widowed Mr Courtenay who works at the hotel as a kind of entertainments manager for the guests. Nearby, at the villa called Les Mimosas, author Chrissie Challoner is staying, with Mrs Wolverton-Gush (Gushie) in tow as her secretary-cum-housekeeper. Gushie is a friend of both Coral and Buckland, and has obtained the job for him, at a commission. Mr Bolham is friendly with Mary Morgan, and makes waspish remarks about the other guests to her. Mary is not keen on most of them, but is more tolerant. Coral takes Buckland, Patrick, the Morgan children, Denis and Dulcie by car to swim from nearby rocks. Denis dislikes Coral but thinks she might be a useful social contact and has grandiose aspirations of being a good influence over women. Denis and Dulcie chat on the beach; Denis, a physical coward, is afraid of swimming and diving. Patrick and Olwen talk, and Patrick explains that his parents are separated, and talks of his great hatred for Buckland, who he sees as a sponge; his views of his mother are rose-coloured. The Morgans swim out to join their father on a rock. Mervyn is a very conventional man, fond of his children but not interested in them, and unconvinced about his wife's approach to childrearing, although he rarely criticises her. Buckland and Coral flirt in the water, and Patrick swims away, disgusted. The Moons discover that Chrissie is staying at the villa, and that Coral knows Gushie. They plan to visit Chrissie. Angie and Buckland are attracted to one another. Mr Bolham finds it difficult to get on with Denis, who is prone to lies and exaggeration in order to fit in, and is appalled if anyone takes a personal interest in his background. The Moons, Coral, Buckland and Denis all go to Les Mimosas. Chrissie and Denis strike up an immediate intimacy, and he tells her something of his background; they have each been lonely in some ways. They arrange to meet again after an intense conversation. Back at the hotel, Denis offers up rapturous, thankful prayers for Chrissie coming into his life. Buckland sees Coral to her room, and there is a flirtatious tussle on the landing before she goes into her room alone. Patrick, next door, sees her shut the door and Buckland leaving. The next day, Patrick has breakfast with Dulcie, who is waiting for her father to come back after a trip away. An expedition is planned to a nearby hotel which serves bouillabaisse. The postman comes; Denis receives, as he often does, a letter in a woman's hand from a suburban postcode. The Moons argue, as Hilary wants to move on to another town, and Angie refuses to go. Mr Bolham finds that his dislike of Denis is causing him to treat his secretary with excessive generosity, and agrees that Denis should join the bouillabaisse party. Denis is agonised as he had agreed to meet Chrissie, and after much soul-searching he leaves a message for her. Chrissie receives her message, and contemplates her strange, sudden enthusiasm for Denis. After some hanging about, the lunch party sets off, going part of the way by boat. Gwennie Morgan inadvertantly exposes a lie Denis has told to Dulcie. Mary Morgan feels vaguely sorry for Denis, and considers how her own romantic nature has never really been fulfilled. Denis is further humiliated by some horseplay from Buckland at lunch. Patrick spends lunch thinking of his dislike of Buckland and how difficult it is to be sixteen, not quite grown up and no longer a child. He is cheered by spending time with the Morgans but then discouraged again by a long dull discourse from Denis about his interest in psychology. Denis thinks he could help Patrick, and offers to, saying he can see how much he dislikes Buckland. Patrick brushes him off, saying he is having a marvellous holiday. Back at the hotel, Denis has a note from Chrissie arranging to meet that evening. Chrissie tells him the story of her life; she ran away from home at seventeen, and then her father died suddenly and she and her sister inherited much more money than they expected. She has lived a rather Bohemian life and tells him about her past lovers. Denis is rather shocked by her moral standards and tells her he tries to follow the moral teachings of Christ. But then he backtracks and thanks her for her frankness; he thinks he can help her. He tells her a version of his own life-story and they part affectionately. Earlier that day, Hilary and Angie go to Cannes and Hilary buys a motor-boat and a car. Back at the hotel, Buckland flirts with Angie but they are interrupted by the return of Mr Courtenay and then Coral. Coral and Buckland argue about a planned trip to see Chrissie that evening. Patrick offers to drive, but Coral refuses to allow it, forcing Buckland to come with them. Coral is distraught that Buckland prefers Angie to her, and complains about this to Gushie. Chrissie is very vague towards her guests and wanders off after dinner, to meet Denis. Gushie and Coral gossip about her attachment to Denis. Buckland considers his position, and realises he would be foolish to give up his job in order to chase Angie Moon. Returning to the hotel, Denis meets Mr Courtenay and realises with horror that he recognises him. Courtenay's London address is over the road from Denis's wife Phyllis. They were secretly married when Denis was 23 - she is a little older than him - and lived together briefly, but Denis's fastidious nature was distressed by the sordid proximity of their life in rooms. He rents a tiny flat for her, but has taken residential jobs or lived in boarding-houses rather than with his wife since then. Denis has a low sex drive and although he has had sentimental involvements with other women, he has been physically faithful. But he is now terrified that his marriage will come to light and that Chrissie will find out. The Moons, Buckland, Denis, Courtenay and Dulcie go out for a trip in the Moons' motor-boat. After a short distance, she hits a rock and is holed below the waterline. The party have to swim to a rock, some distance away. Dulcie is a poor swimmer but is helped by Hilary Moon and her father. Denis gets into difficulties and panics; Buckland swims out to him, hits him on the jaw and tows the stunned Denis to the rock. Dulcie is the only person to treat him sympathetically. Buckland swims back to the mainland and summons help. Later that evening, Denis meets Chrissie again and tries to sound out what she already knows, before giving his own, more flattering account of the events. Chrissie tells him firmly to stop dramatising himself and that they must be honest with each other. Hilary Moon receives his hotel bill unexpectedly early, but has no money to pay it. A trip to Monte Carlo is planned and Buckland persuades Angie to come, before kissing her for the first time. We learn Hilary Moon's back-story: his mother, a war widow, was chronically short of money and alcoholic, and his childhood was nomadic and disruptive. By chance, he makes friends with the son of a rich man and is taken in by them and treated as one of the family until Atkinson irritates him; Hilary is unkind to him and asked to leave. Since then he has been drifting around London, cadging and borrowing. He is tired of his relationship with Angie, and wonders whether an affair with wealthy Chrissie would be the solution. He bumps into Denis, and is very rude to him, but Denis unexpectedly defends himself. This is because Dulcie has come into the hotel lobby and Denis wishes to impress her. Hilary offers to drive Coral, Patrick and Dulcie to the local beach. Patrick reflects on how nobody seems to notice how beautiful the area is, and on how impressed he is with Mervyn Morgan, who has taught his son to identify birds. At the beach, Chrissie and Gushie are already there, much to the discomfort of overweight Gushie, who compares herself unfavourably to Chrissie. The hotel party arrive. Patrick, Hilary and Chrissie - who has confided to Gushie that Hilary bores her - swim out to a raft. Coral tells Gushie she is sick of the area and complains about her loss of attractiveness. Gushie is unworried about this herself, but puts on a display of sympathy as Coral complains about Buckland's pursuit of Angie; both arrive together at the beach. Gushie promises to have a word with Buckland, and warns him that he is being a fool to risk losing an easy and agreeable job. A trip to Monte Carlo is planned, and Gwennie is disappointed that she cannot go too. Mary is not going either, and Mr Muller invites her and her two younger children to come with him for a drive instead. We learn Mary's back-story; she is the daughter of a south Wales squire, and has had a quiet, old-fashioned upbringing. Mervyn attended her coming-out dance but she was nurturing the idea of a romantic lover. During the War, her oldest brother died and her other brother was taken prisoner; Mary worked on the land. After the War, Mervyn proposed, and it was partly his association with her childhood way of life that had persuaded her to accept him. Their relationship is affectionate but not passionate; Mary has suppressed her desire for romance, but it emerges when Mr Muller pays her attention. Her day out with him is a great success. In the evening, they watch local fireworks, Mr Muller contemplating how attractive he finds Mary, and how easy it would be to awaken her to this, but decides that he should do nothing about it. Going to bed, Mary realises how easily he could have kissed her, and part of her wishes he has. After much delay, the Monte Carlo party leaves. It comprises Coral, Patrick and Buckland; Mervyn and Olwen Morgan; Denis; both the Moons; and Courtenay, who is organising the whole thing, and Dulcie. They collect Chrissie and Gushie on the way. Denis attempts to impress by talking about his interest in psychology and his understanding of Patrick. At Monte Carlo, the main party goes for lunch, while Denis and Chrissie lunch alone. They discuss their relationship and Chrissie tries to make Denis understand that she only wants the truth from him. Denis thinks of telling her about his wife, but cannot bring himself to do it, and prevaricates when Chrissie asks if he is in love with her. When he says he could not afford to marry, Chrissie tells him she has no interest in marriage. Denis, rather drunk, tells her he thinks her feelings towards him have changed. Chrissie thinks to herself that this is true, and leaves him alone at the entrance to the Casino, going to join the Morgans, Patrick and Dulcie instead. Mervyn is surprised to find her an agreeable companion. Denis joins them, having lost 400 francs. They go to the swimming-baths and Denis confronts Chrissie, suggesting that she wants to end their friendship. She does not deny it. At the Casino. Buckland wins heavily with money borrowed from Coral. The Moons have lost money. Angie's back-story is told; she is the only daughter of a promiscuous woman. Amoral rather than immoral, Angie discovered her attractiveness at a young age and was thrown out by her aunt, after being found with her older cousin. She got a job in a hairdresser before becoming the mistress of an older Jewish man, and moved from him to a job in a clothes shop. She mixed in bohemian circles where she met Hilary, and agreed to marry him. They have lived on credit and occasional jobs since; Angie never worries about money or the future, but she and Hilary quarrel over his loss of money and her extravagance. A celebratory dinner takes place, with Buckland spending some of his winnings on champagne. Hilary wonders whether he can borrow from Buckland, and tries to interest him in buying the Moon car, but Buckland refuses, rudely. At dinner, Dulcie pays attention to Denis, about whom she has some innocent, romantic fantasies. They drive home together, and Dulcie offers friendship to a depressed Denis; he does not care for her much, but feels greatly in need of her admiration. He has one last conversation with Chrissie at Les Mimosas, having dropped Gushie at home; Chrissie tells him she does not believe her feelings for him to have been real. At the Hotel, Hilary is confronted by Madame, the owner, in pursuit of her bill. The friend who sold him the car has rung up, chasing his payment. Madame makes Hilary ring him to explain, and then tells him she expects to receive her payment tomorrow. In the lounge, he finds Buck having a drink and joins him, suggesting again that Buck should buy the car. Buck asks him why he is still married, and tells him Angie is sick of their way of life; he suggests that Hilary should leave. He offers Hilary fifty pounds to settle his bill, and a hundred for the car. When Hilary demurs, saying the car is worth more, Buckland tells him he can keep the car, implying that the money is so Buck can take Angie. Hilary takes the money. Patrick thanks Mervyn for what has been the best day of his holiday. He and Olwen chat, and she suggests he might come to stay in the holidays. He decides to go for a late-night swim, feeling much more positive about the future. Walking back, he sees his mother's car and overhears Buckland and Angie planning to leave tomorrow. Patrick is relieved to think he will be leaving. At the hotel, he goes to say goodnight to his mother, but she sends him to bed rather than letting him sit with her while she does her hair and face. Coral studies her appearance anxiously while we read her back-story. The daughter of a country vicar, she has always been attractive to men and had been engaged three times before marrying Gordon Romayne, much her senior and rich. They lived at first in India which she enjoyed; Gordon ignored the affairs she was having until there was a scandal, after which he resigned and they returned to live in Scotland. She hated that so much that they separated, and he made her a generous allowance, but refused to divorce her. As Coral still sought social and sexual success, this meant she could be exploited for her money. She still suffered from violent attractions, as in her current one for Buckland. He comes to her room and she admits him. Patrick, looking from his door, sees Buckland go in and the door closing behind him. Olwen Morgan wakes up from a nightmare feeling terror and overwhelming unhappiness. The next day, Mr Bolham, annoyed with himself for letting Denis go to Monte Carlo, loads him with work. Denis goes down to swim in the evening, and Dulcie comes with him; he tells her of his disappointment over Chrissie, and that he thinks Chrissie is spoilt. Dulcie is very sympathetic; Denis tries to be kind to her but is not really drawn to her. He has dinner with her and her father, and afterwards sits holding Dulcie's hand. Denis thinks little of it, but it is far more meaningful to Dulcie. He begins to recast the story of him and Chrissie in a pleasantly melancholy light. Hilary Moon leaves the hotel that evening. Dulcie, sent to bed, day-dreams romantically about Denis. Meeting him on the way to the bathroom, she dashes into his room and they look out the window together; she draws his arm around her. Dulcie says that Olwen says her prayers every day, and suggests this is old-fashioned; Denis is shocked at her attitude and to find she has no religion. When she reminds him she has no mother, he is touched and kisses her lightly on the cheek. Courtenay comes in and, furious, threatens to tell Chrissie about Denis's wife. Denis apologises, but Courtenay says only that he will see that Denis behaves himself, and won't elaborate on how he will do this. Denis, angry, tries to hit him but hits the door instead. Chrissie, at Les Mimosas, tells Gushie that her feelings for Denis have evaporated, and that she would like to move on to Italy in a couple of days. The Morgans leave the hotel. Denis notices that Patrick, while seeing them off, looks very unhappy. Chrissie arrives, partly to see them off, partly to see Denis. Denis attempts to confront her about her behaviour, telling her about his difficult life, but she is angry with him for being so self-dramatising and tells him his only chance in life is to stop lying to himself and become a real person. Denis tells her he has something important to tell her, but she guesses he is trying to get his confession in first, before someone else tells her. Courtenay comes up and lets slip that he knows Denis's wife. Chrissie leaves, saying she is sorry she has hurt him, and he panics, wondering how to deal with Mr Bolham. He plans to tell him he must resign, but Mr Bolham dismisses him first, giving him two months' pay in lieu of notice, and refusing to hear any of Denis's explanations. Angie and Buckland leave the hotel on the train to Italy. Patrick takes his mother's car and drives along the coast road to a dangerous bend, where he steers the car off the road and over a cliff onto rocks. Back at the hotel, Coral discovers that Buck has left with Angie, and is furious. Two policemen arrive to break the news about Patrick. In the final chapter, a whole new group of people are gathered at the hotel.

1934

Macmillan

none

none

Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘The Provincial Lady in America’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1700, 30 Aug. 1934, p. 588; Hilton, James. ‘Town, Country and Abroad’. The Bookman, Oct. 1934, p. 50; ‘New Novels: The Provincial Lady in America’. The Times, no. 46847, 31 Aug. 1934, p. 15; ‘The Provincial Lady [in America]’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 21 Sept. 1934, p. 5.

The Provincial Lady is invited by her American publisher to tour the US, on favourable financial terms which astonish her. She is anxious about telling Robert and puts this off, with the result that he is informed while taking down a telegram over the phone. They go to a local agricultural show where a small girl spills tea on Robert and neighbours ask lots of questions about the trip. A bad smell is detected in the bathroom. The next day, Robert takes up the bathroom floor to investigate it. An acquaintance, Mrs Tressider, calls, with her son, and wearing trousers. She is introduced to Robert, who has found half a dead rat under the bathroom floor. At tea, she suggests a prospective tenant for the Doughty Street flat, Caroline Concannon. Mrs Tressider is an expansive guest whose flood of conversation exhausts both Robert and the PL. There is an awkward conversation with Cook, who has heard about the US trip from others rather than her employer. The PL goes to Doughty Street and meets Caroline Concannon, who is an elegant young woman; they bond over a mutual friendship of Pamela Pringle and dislike of Mrs Tressider, and she agrees to rent the flat. Robin and Vicky arrive in London from their respective schools. Caroline needs to move in earlier than expected, and brings a large quantity of possessions, but gets on well with the children. Rose recommends a dressmaker for the PL's American wardrobe. At home, the summer holidays involve picnics and a visit from Caroline. Mrs Tressider writes to suggest that the PL travels on SS Rotterdam so that she can meet an American friend of Mrs T. She also warns that the PL may have to pay duty on arrival in America on any new clothes. Barbara Carruthers (née Blenkinsop) returns from India with her baby. Visiting neighbours give the PL extensive advice about America. Details of her accommodation in New York arrive, as do her new clothes which turn out well, although a backless evening dress is a worry. Mrs T's friend Ella writes to say that the SS Rotterdam sailing has been cancelled, and they must change to the SS Statendam. The PL takes the children back to school via London; the flat is very untidy. The PL attends a successful dinner party before returning to Devon. After much anxiety about the trip, she travels down from London to Southampton with Caroline; her friend Felicity sees them off at Waterloo. Robert and his brother William meet them at the boat and see the PL on board. Robert orders champagne and they drink her health. At dinner, she meets Ella Wheelwright and agrees to join her for meals, although sea-sickness keeps the PL in her cabin for several days. When they do meet, they get on, and the PL is constantly impressed by the elegance of Ella's wardrobe. Arriving in New York, the PL is almost immediately interviewed by the press and then met by her American publisher, before arriving at her hotel. Over the next few days invitations pour in and she is interviewed repeatedly before attending a dinner party with Ella where she sits next to a morose and antisemitic old man. Homesickness begins to set in. Her publishers confirm her schedule for talks and she is looked after by Ramona Herdman. She meets the libertarian critic Isabel Paterson. Ella arrives, and the PL asks her to recommend a hairdresser, but Ella merely describes the advantages of her own hair. The PL goes with Ella for a weekend at her luxurious Long Island house. The other guests are decorative and friendly, but conversation is as sticky as it often is at home, with the question of the American Woman and the novel Anthony Adverse recurring. Back in New York, the PL is prevented from reading letters from home by a Miss Katherine Ellen Blatt, a literary journalist who is prolix and tedious. She is more impressed by Alexander Woollcott who she meets at tea, particularly as he is able to actually turn down offers of work. Packing to leave for Chicago, she is interrupted by a visit from Mademoiselle, now working for an American family. She helps the PL with her packing and they lunch together. After taking the night train to Chicago, the PL is met by her literary friend Arthur, his friend Billy and a representative of her publisher, Pete. She is staying with Arthur and his family who are very kind and hospitable, and give a cocktail party for her and she receives many more invitations. She gives a talk at a department store, which displays many modern domestic interiors; a large crowd is assembled and the speech goes well. She signs many books and meets a rather stern woman who has met Mademoiselle and knows the family she works for. The PL visits the World's Fair and sees a replica Belgian village and an exhibit of live Native Americans, but eschews the display of live babies in incubators. At a dinner at Arthur's she meets other writers and a woman who knows Devonshire and the PL's neighbours the Frobishers. She visits, with Arthur, a beautiful Victorian house outside Chicago for lunch, then drives on, evening dress packed, to another immense house with a remarkable art collection and a heavily mirrored dining room. After dinner, another guest spills coffee over the PL and blames her for it. Katherine Ellen Blatt telegraphs to invite her to speak in New York, the PL refuses and then receives another telegram asking her to think it over. Presents are bought and she says goodbye to Arthur and leaves for Cleveland by the night train. In Cleveland, she is welcomed by Mrs Hallé, owner of a local department store where she is later to speak, and taken to see three schools, as the shop staff have decided she is interested in education. The third school, run on New Age lines, astounds her. Her talk goes well, although she is warned several times about the lock on the lavatory; a previous Pulitzer Prize winner managed to lock himself in so thoroughly that the door had to be broken down. Before leaving Cleveland she enjoys the film Private Life of Henry VIII with Charles Laughton, and receives letters from her family and friends, including an update from Robert on the winter bulbs. After a night journey she arrives in Toronto and is met by Mr and Mrs Lee, who take her to a Dr MacAfie's house for breakfast and a bath before an early morning trip to Niagara, accompanied by Minnie, the annoying child of a neighbour. The Falls impress her greatly but she is glad to return to the Lees' house and go to bed. The next day her talk is politely received and she visits a bank, the tallest building in the British Empire. At a lunch party before her departure, the PL is given a service revolver as a present for Robin and Vicky. This leads to a discussion with a Customs official as to why she has a gun in her luggage. Her next stop is Buffalo, where she is met by Mrs Walker who is her host, and also takes her to the women's club where she is to speak. She becomes trapped with the club's chair who tells her at length how she has always thought of writing a book. After a dinner-party, she travels on to Boston, which she has taken against because everyone has told her how English it is and how much she will love it. There she is met by Pete, who outlines her Boston programme. She asks him if he can arrange for her to visit the Alcott House in Concord; he is slightly surprised by this request. Interviewed by two journalists (the Problem of the American Woman recurs, but she also mentions her wish to visit the Alcott House) she is then taken to her hotel where a friend of Rose, Fanny Mason, arrives to take her to lunch and for a tour of the city. Pete arrives to take the PL to visit bookshops, and there is a short row before Pete prevails. The next day, everything is suddenly put in motion for the Alcott House visit, because Alexander Wollcott has read that she wants to go, and will mention her response to it in a radio talk. Before that, though, the PL is obliged to attend an American football match which she finds confusing and is perishingly cold throughout. The visit to the Alcott House is a great success, she meets a surviving relative of Miss Alcott and is given a present of a book for Vicky. She visits a friend of Caroline Concannon, and takes the opportunity to buy a foundation garment, as advised by Rose. Miss Katherine Blatt arrives at her hotel and the PL finds she has rearranged things with her publisher so that the PL can attend a tea she has organised. They lunch together and Miss Blatt drops a number of literary names. The tea party includes a number of awkward encounters. Finally the PL is able to catch her train to Washington. In Washington - after a disconcerting hotel transfer when the hotel her publisher recommended is full - she meets a General Clarence Dove, a connection of Ella Wheelwright, who is concerned that the PL is writing a book about America. He disapproves of this plan and refuses to acknowledge her protestations that she has no idea of writing such a book. After recovering from this discussion, the PL arranges to meet her friend James, who works in Washington, his wife Elizabeth and their baby daughter Katherine, which is a more pleasant social occasion. This is followed by another talk at a department store. James takes the PL around Washington, including the home of George Washington and the Lincoln Memorial. Through James, she is given a tour of the White House too. The PL's next stop is Philadelphia; she and her hostess Mrs. Elliot share a liking for the author Susan Warner, and her talk at a club seems to go well. Ramona Herdman arrives from New York with letters from home; Caroline Concannon is to have a book published. The PL and Ramona go to a bookshop where the PL gives a talk, followed by tea with a distinguished literary critic. The PL is daunted to find she is to give a talk at the Colony Club in New York, famed for its difficult audiences. She returns to New York to find a letter and some roses from Mademoiselle; they agree to meet to see the film of Little Women. Invitations pour in from previous acquaintances, and she visits Ella Wheelwright again; with Ramona and three men friends, she visits a speakeasy and a nightclub before going on to the Cotton Club in Harlem. Her final speaking engagement, at the Colony Club, goes better than expected. Struggling to sort her packing, and ensure she has presents for all at home who will expect them, the PL prepares to leave. Ella escorts her to the Berengaria and her cabin - tourist class this time - and Mademoiselle also comes to see her off, leaving the ship just in time before the gang-plank is pulled up. At dinner - her table consists of three Canadian brothers, possibly triplets, and a know-it-all Englishwoman called Mrs Smiley - the steward recognises her from a previous journey, and is very attentive. Sea-sickness prevails for a couple of days, but once she is recovered sufficiently to sit on the deck, she meets a fellow writer, H. Cyril de Mullins Green, who is disgusted with the state of modern fiction. Mrs Smiley attempts to get the PL to read at a charitable concert she is organising, with no success. Finally arriving at Southampton, the PL mistakes several strange men for Robert, and bursts into tears when he finally arrives. The table-steward appears, is pleased to see Robert, and sees their luggage through to the boat-train, where Robert produces letters from the children and an invitation to tea from Our Vicar's Wife.

1935

Hamish Hamilton

Publisher's Note: This anonymous novel of the years 1870-76 is something of a literary conundrum and will, we believe, cause much discussion. When it came to us the style seemed faintly familiar and we suspected who might have written it. It seemed to us well worth publishing, both as a literary curiosity and also because it is interesting to se a theme that might well have been chosen by the most modern of present-day novelists treated in the Victorian manner.

none

Published anonymously

Young Margaret Mardon is so desperate to escape her unhappy family home that she determines to accept the first marriage proposal offered.  A suitor appears in the form of 64-year-old widower Sir Charles Bazalgette.  Margaret accepts his proposal with alacrity: she will take on his large house, Castle Hill, its long-established staff, and his five children. Despite the misgivings of her unmarried Aunt Mardon, the marriage takes place, and Margaret sets out to make the best of things with reasonable success. Margaret is somewhat disappointed in the lack of companionship she finds with her spouse, whose preference is to spend as much time alone as possible, but she does not let it bother her. She deals sensibly with the less amiable of her stepchildren, and with those servants who prove somewhat difficult; she is not much taken aback when she discovers that she is, in fact, the third Mrs Bazalgette, and that she has an unexpected stepson a few years older than herself. She is only seriously disturbed when she she comes to know Charlie, this stepson, and realises what sacrifices her light-hearted marriage of convenience actually entails. She falls in love with him, and her feelings are reciprocated. Margaret’s sister Julia, meanwhile, falls for, and eventually marries, a rather limp poet, Theodore Blanden, who favours the Chaucerian style.

1935

Macmillan

A compendium volume including Diary of a Provincial Lady, The Provincial Lady Goes Further and The Provincial Lady in America. Illustrations by Arthur Watts and Margaret Freeman.

1935

Hogarth Press

none

Compiler's note acknowledges Lorna Lewis.

Tomlinson, Philip. ‘Bronte Contemporaries’. Times Literary Supplement, no. 1739, 30 May 1935, p. 345.

In the Hogarth series Biographies through the Eyes of Contemporaries, this book has a short preface (pp13-20) by Delafield in which she discusses the biographical record of Charlotte Brontë and how it has been shaped and perhaps distorted by the focus and omissions in Mrs. Gaskell’s biography. We should instead, Delafield suggests, look at the letters for a more rounded portrait of Charlotte and her siblings. Delafield summarises what we know of Branwell’s life and deals with the suggestion that he might have written Wuthering Heights, an idea that she finds unlikely. Anne and Emily, as she points out, are known to us mostly from Charlotte’s letters; she finds Anne to be immature, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall to be unconvincing, because Helen’s experiences are not rooted in Anne’s own. Emily is, in Delafield’s view, a genius and a mystic - and therefore one whose relationships with others are necessarily painful: “No one of Emily’s calibre has ever yet gone through the world without causing apparently gratuitous misery to other people” (19). Delafield traces Charlotte’s brief emergence from obscurity into literary success following the death of her siblings, and recognises that her marriage represented a success for the mid-Victorian Miss Brontë, although she hints that the marriage was not perhaps as totally happy as Mrs. Gaskell suggests. The book itself is composed from quotations, often extensive, from primary and secondary sources, including Brontë family letters, the recollections of Charlotte’s friend Ellen Nussey, Mrs. Gaskell’s biography, official records, and letters, reviews, obituaries and other published writing about the family, with no further commentary by Delafield. The chapters are: I. The Children (pp23-41) II. Early Family Life (pp45-70) III. Branwell (pp73-86) IV. Emily and Anne (pp89-135) V. Charlotte (pp139-242) VI. Requiescant (pp245-256) VII. Some Appreciations (pp259-270) There is a short general index and an index of publications quoted.

1936

Macmillan

"The most curious part of the thing was, that the trees and the other things round them never changed their places at all: however fast they went, they never seemed to pass anything." Lewis Carroll

To Lorna [Lewis], with love and gratitude

‘Best Sellers in London’. The Observer, 28 June 1936, p. 7; Brighouse, Harold. ‘The Novelist on the Egotist’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 2 June 1936, p. 5; Lewis, C. Day. ‘New Fiction: Miss E. M. Delafield’s Success’. Daily Telegraph, no. 25280, 5 June 1936, p. 8; Muir, Edwin. ‘New Novels: Faster! Faster!’ The Listener, vol. 15, no. 389, 24 June 1936, p. 1223; ‘New Novels: Faster! Faster!’ The Times, no. 47384, 26 May 1936, p. 10; ‘Notable Novels’. The Times, no. 47435, 24 July 1936, p. 9; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 189, no. 5072, 4 July 1936, p. 30; Struensee. ‘Books of the Day: New Novels: Faster! Faster!’ The Times, 26 May 1936, p. 10; Sturch, Elizabeth L. ‘Another Domination: Faster! Faster!’ The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1791, 30 May 1936, p. 457; West, Douglas. ‘Books To-Day’. Daily Mail, 28 May 1936, p. 20.

Frances Ladislaw has returned to London after the death of her husband, and visits her old schoolfriend Claudia Winsloe. Claudia, in her early forties, has established London Universal Services, a business that functions as a literary agency as well as organising schools for children, providing escorts for journeys, finding houses, and shopping. Her business partner, Sal Oliver, has no great fondness for Claudia but admires her hard working nature. Frances and Sal accompany Claudia for an August bank holiday visit to her country house, Arling. Arling was Claudia's childhood home and she has stretched herself to buy it again. Living with her there are her husband Copper, her daughters Sylvia (nineteen) and Taffy (seventeen), eleven-year-old Maurice, and Claudia's mother, Mrs Peel. Copper has not worked for some time, and Claudia supports the family. Also visiting is Andrew Quarrendon, an Oxford don who has met Claudia through her work, and become friendly with her. The children are good-naturedly boisterous, fond of the wireless and dance music, but willing enough to turn it off at Sal Oliver's request. Mrs Peel's constant refrain is that Claudia works too hard; she is ill at ease in Claudia's modern household. Copper Winsloe, frustrated and bored, is snappish with his children and his wife. The weekend is a long holiday one; Claudia is unable to leave her work and is thoroughly martyred about her devotion to duty, in the face of constant criticism from her family. Claudia and Frances have some time to catch up; Claudia tells Frances about her sister Anna, married to a rich banker, Adolf Zienzi, and mainly now living in America. Claudia feels she has lost Anna; she believes Anna resents her controlling and bullying behaviour when they were young. She also confides that she knows her husband is unhappy that he is out of work and that the family relies on her income, but does not see how she can stop him minding this. Andrew Quarrendon is persuaded to play tennis by Sylvia, and talks to her afterwards; her mother has fixed up an interview for her at a publishing-house, but Sylvia would prefer to live at home and do nothing. The kind of life girls were expected to lead when Mother was young (42). She is, however, ashamed of this. Sylvia likes Quarrendon and compares him favourably with a young man at a dance who had wanted to kiss her. Sylvia and Taffy speculate about his attraction to their mother. Taffy and Claudia have a brief, muted disagreement over Taffy's choice of evening dress; Taffy is pulled between admiration of her brilliant, vital mother (51), and a recognition that her mother's need of admiration for her talents is excessive. After dinner the family, minus Copper, play paper games. Claudia, who prides herself on her honesty and ability to face facts, is disturbed when her talent for sincerity is graded 2/10 by an anonymous marker. The children, accompanied by Andrew Quarrendon, go to the beach. Quarrendon and Sylvia talk more, and declare themselves to be friends, but Quarrendon realises that he has fallen in love with the much younger Sylvia, and that she is similarly drawn to him. Claudia, working while the beach party takes place, is criticised by Sal Oliver for making a martyr of herself over her work. Claudia is annoyed but professes herself interested in Sal's view. The whole family goes to the beach for tea, and Frances is disturbed by Claudia's over-strained presentation of a happy, perfect mother. Frances and Taffy talk, and Taffy confides that she wants to go to college in America through the agency of her aunt Anna, who has suggested this. Taffy is keen to get away from home and to explore life outside England, and is very definite about not marrying an Englishman. It is a hot evening, and Sylvia is entrusted with the family car for a moonlit bathe. Quarrendon goes with the children, and Claudia realises that he is attracted by her daughter. There is a slight shock to her vanity, but she is determined to prevent Sylvia by being hurt by this attraction. On the beach, however, Sylvia and Andrew have become closer, and made avowals of love, and when they return to the house he kisses her in the garden. Claudia seeks out Sylvia, and understands what has happened, although Sylvia will tell her nothing; Claudia is pained to be deceived. Anna and Adolf call the following day and propose to visit for lunch. Frances discusses Claudia's work with her, and suggests that Claudia might be able to make use of her in her business. Claudia mentions that she is thinking of sending Sylvia to Paris to work with a dressmaker, rather than to London, remembering to add that the decision will, of course, be Sylvia's. Anna and Adolf arrive for lunch; Anna is rich, beautiful and glamorous. Anna asks Claudia whether she will allow her to take Taffy to America, where she can attend Bryn Mawr. Anna, Claudia, Sal and Frances discuss the issue. Anna and Sal feel that Taffy's aggressive tendencies will only increase if she is required to stay at home in regular combat with her equally assertive mother. Claudia is against the plan, for what she says are dispassionate reasons, but Anna confronts her and tells her plainly that she is deceiving herself - that her personal feelings for Taffy are influencing her decision. She goes on to say that the self-image Claudia has made of wife, mother and breadwinner is entirely artificial. Frances, appealed to as an arbiter by Claudia, agrees that this is part of the truth - that Claudia dramatises her position. Quarrendon and Sylvia discuss their future. Quarrendon does not wish for marriage; his preference is for affairs that allow him to dedicate himself to his academic work and allow him to take professional risks - the pram in the hall would be the end of his career. Sylvia consents to becoming his lover, at some unspecified point in the future. Mrs Peel criticises Claudia's plans for Sylvia's future; when Claudia reiterates that the decision will be Sylvia, Mrs Peel tells her that the children never think anything but what you've taught them to think (155); the decision will be Claudia's. Sylvia and Quarrendon make plans to meet in the old school-room after the household is in bed; they are surprised there by Mrs Peel, who thinks she has heard a burglar, and Copper, who grasps the situation and calmly sends Sylvia back to bed. Copper tells Claudia of this in the morning; he does not think the matter serious, although Sylvia ought to be spoken to. Claudia confronts Sylvia and Quarrendon about it and they tell her they are in love. Claudia criticises Quarrendon for wanting to have it both ways - to expect Sylvia to commit to him emotionally and sexually without giving her the security of marriage, although she agrees that they should not marry because of the age difference. Claudia attempts to diminish the importance of Quarrendon for her daughter, claiming that he doesn't love you enough (183); but Sylvia is unconvinced. Quarrendon ends the scene by proposing marriage. Claudia and Frances discuss the issue, and Claudia suggests again that Sylvia should be sent to Paris. Frances suggests that Claudia might be doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. Sylvia tells her mother that she is not going to accept Quarrendon's proposal, because she knows it is not right for him. Quarrendon goes away, having said a tearful goodbye to Sylvia and tried to persuade her to marry him. Claudia, at Sylvia's request, agrees to look for a career for her away from London, and writes to her Parisian contact. It is now October. Claudia is back at work; we meet her kind and hardworking employees, who have a tendency to be frivolous and vulgar. Frances seeks some employment from Claudia, who is unwilling to give it; Sal Oliver believes that Claudia wants to keep her office-self away from Frances, but the illness of a member of staff's daughter means that Frances becomes necessary. Copper appears unexpectedly to see Claudia, who is away from the office, and takes Frances out to lunch. He has the possibility of a job as the manager of a social club in the Midlands, but will need £200 capital to join the organisation. Claudia is unsettled by this, and unwilling to give up her place as chief breadwinner, but there are several people willing to put up the capital, and her brother-in-law endorses the project as sound. Anna invites Claudia to dinner, and they discuss again the issue of Taffy; Claudia has decided against letting her go, because she believes it would be bad for Taffy to think herself special at this stage in her life. Anna confronts her and states plainly that the reason Claudia puts obstacles in the way of Copper and Taffy is because she likes seeing herself as Atlas supporting the world. She says that Claudia is acting as the perfect, selfless mother, the sole support of them all, the woman who's gallantly working herself to death (277), and that she fears losing her influence over Taffy should she go away from home. The next day, news comes that Copper has indeed been offered the job. Sal suggests that Claudia looks ill and tired, but she will not spend a day resting. Claudia is tired, but is determined to drive down to Eastbourne to visit Maurice at school, despite many suggestions that she should leave it to the following day. The evening is wet and the traffic heavy. In a rush, Claudia overtakes a tram, only to crash into another tram coming the other way. A few months after Claudia's death, we catch up with her family and friends. Taffy is on her way to America with Anna and Adolf. Frances Ladislaw visits Maurice at school, and takes him out to tea; she provides unobtrusive comfort to the grieving child. Sylvia and Copper are living near the social club, which is proving a success. Andrew Quarrendon has written asking her to meet him in London, and hinting that they will become lovers, a prospect Sylvia welcomes; she believes that her mother will know about this and understand. Work at Claudia's office continues in the usual way. Copper has become fond of Frances, and looks forward to her letters, which seem to him to open a new possibility.

1937

Hogarth Press

none

None. Author's foreword acknowledges Miss Helen Parry of the Hogarth Press

‘A Reading List’. The Listener, vol. 17, no. 439, 9 June 1937, p. 1162; ‘Looking Back On Manners A Century Ago’. Aberdeen Press and Journal, 3 June 1937, p. 3; Murray, D. L. ‘The Worst of Victorianism’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1844, 5 June 1937, p. 424; ‘Victorians In Fiction’. The Times, no. 47717, 22 June 1937, p. 11.

An overview of the representations of men and women in Victorian novels, compiling extensive quotations from nineteenth-century writers with a linking text by Delafield. In the Introduction, focusing on Charlotte Yonge, she suggests that these novels are valuable not for their moral assertions but for the record of daily life that they offer; in particular, she highlights the way they expose normalised patriarchal authority, the way in which seniority was valued, advice taken and decisions thought through - and made on behalf of, not by, any young people. Victorian attitudes seem old-fashioned to 1930s readers, Delafield argues, but so will 1930s family life seem dated and even ridiculous to future generations; she uses the radio (“wireless”) as a symbol of modern home life. Modern personal relations are less emotional and becoming more honest, although this is a painful development, particularly between parents and children. Parents (at least from Delafield’s own class) see a great deal more of their children than they used to as there are no longer nurseries and school-rooms for children to spend most of their time in. Delafield notes that psychologists are equally critical of Victorian parental infallibility and twentieth-century close contact between parents and children, but suggests that home might in fact be a more positive place for those who inhabit it - even wives and mothers, who are no longer trapped in it. Cinema is also noted as an influence on family life, allowing both necessary escape from the home and presenting an idealised vision of family life. Delafield welcomes the franker discussions about money and sex that now form part of family life and suggests that children understand their parents better through understanding their financial struggles. The introduction ends with an assertion that neither the positive nor the negative aspects of Victorian family life can come back: “what we may have lost in leisure and dignity, we may have gained in freedom and efficiency” (p19). The book is then divided into seven themed chapters. I. Papa and Mama: discusses parental authority and filial obedience - and occasional disobedience and its consequences, particularly in terms of child discipline. Authors quoted include Yonge, Hon. Mrs. Greene, Mrs. Sherwood, and M. B. (Lady Marcia Bamfylde). II. “Only the Governess”: suggests that not all governesses were as unhappy as Agnes Grey. Quotations indicate the broad range of subjects a governess was expected to teach, and the liminal position of governesses - not quite a servant, not quite a lady - in the Victorian home. The strict and intellectually demanding governess is identified, as is the indulgent ill-disciplined one and the French one, a type of her own; difficult and sometimes snobbish pupils are also discussed. Authors quoted included Yonge, Eliza Meteyard, Ellen (Mrs. Henry) Wood, Elizabeth M. Sewell, Rhoda Broughton, Elizabeth Wetherell (pseudonym of Susan Warner), Juliana Horatia Ewing. III. Declarations of Feeling: overview of proposals of marriage, which could be very long and were often repeated before an acceptance was secured. Delafield notes the parental shock and fury which could follow even the most circumlocutory declaration of love; young women were also often shocked by them - and if not shocked, it was often an indicator that their romantic lives would not run smoothly. Proposals might come via other family members, principally fathers but also at least one aunt; acceptance in these cases seems to have been a matter of expectation rather than choice. Some unfortunate suitors are so oblique in their proposals that the young woman concerned has not realised a proposal was being made; other intended brides made forthright rejections. Authors quoted include Yonge, Elizabeth Wetherell, Christabel R. Coleridge, and Louisa May Alcott. IV. Enjoying Ill-Health: Delafield distinguishes between descriptions of named, specific illnesses, and of invalidism, where no diagnosis was ever made - but invalids were too often also mothers for this to be a coincidence. Hysteria, childbirth, accidents and trauma all leave women with the status of invalid, confined to a bed or a couch. Many of Yonge’s young women are afflicted by painful headaches after any kind of trauma or stress; guilty secrets also manifest as physical illness as well as nervous disorders. Brain-fever often lies in wait for wilful young women. Death is described in excruciating length and detail. Authors quoted include Yonge, Grace Aguilar, Wetherell, M. B., Ellen (Mrs. Henry) Wood, Catherine Sinclair, Mrs. Sherwood, Frederick W. Farrar, Harriet Martineau. V. All is Vanity. Delafield discusses the treatment of clothes and the association of women’s interest in clothes with vanity; luxurious, expensive clothes are often linked with immoral extravagance. The quotations show how shoppers tried to save money, while dressmakers and milliners encouraged them to spend a little more. Clothes are also an important form of social communication and help (or hinder) the wearer as she tries to integrate into social groups. Delafield also chooses quotes that indicate a premature form of sexual display being forced on young girls accustomed to dress modestly, usually by a more worldly grown-up cousin; even adult women struggle to achieve the right degree of modesty for their age and station in life. Respectability in dress is the aim, but it is very difficult to achieve; clothes must be good but not luxurious, suitable but not immodest or overly drab, and appropriate to the company and the occasion, the age and the class of the wearer. Young men are not immune to the lures of fashion and vanity. The awkwardness of the crinoline, which is liable to knock things over, is noted, as is the extensive discussion of furs and suitable nightwear. Women might dress unconventionally (or in an individual style) but they can expect to have it commented on. Authors quoted inclued Wetherell, Mrs. Sherwood, Yonge, E. Stuart Phelps, Elizabeth Lang, Rhoda Broughton, Hon. Mrs. Greene. VI. “Is this a party of pleasure?” covers excursions, games and pastimes which generally emphasise the moral that it is better to stay at home than to gad about. Mixed sports like croquet are morally suspect and may lead to flirtation. Imaginative play was also discouraged. Dances could be acceptable, and dancing was a necessary skill, to be learned from a teacher. Charades and acting also had a tang of impropriety about them, especially if Shakespeare was involved. Clothes for activities needed to be appropriate; games could be used as opportunities for moral improvement but were sometimes simply fun; but writers also used them to introduce drama by way of accidents during rougher games. Delafield notes the only child and her solitary games, contrasted with the large families of Yonge’s novels, and the tendency of children’s imaginative games to focus on death and violence; she is quite favourable towards vigourous, active games and children who are playful rather than priggish. Similarly, she endorses outdoor activities in the few places where they appear, even to the extent of camping. She discusses the tendency of moral heroines to renounce their pleasures. Authors quoted include Maria Edgeworth, Yonge, E. Perring, Mrs. Sherwood, Annie Keary, Elizabeth Lang, Susan Coolidge, E. Stuart Phelps, Wetherell and F. Anstey. VII. The Fair Sex. On the representation of women, and the expectation that they acknowledge male superiority. Women needed male attention but should not ostentatiously seek it or show they enjoyed it; wives must submit to the authority of their husbands, even bad ones. Married women can expect the interference of their relations in their married lives. Delafield notes the tyrannical Victorian patriarch as a feature of fiction and his unpleasant impact on wives and daughters. Women who try to remove themselves from the constraints of male ‘protection’ rarely end well, but there are some positive representations of women throwing off propriety and engaging in feminist discussion - although any feminist points are often shut down by male characters. Propriety, Delafield suggests, moves with the times, noting that in Yonge’s early novels waltzing is indecorous, but perfectly acceptable in her later works. Authors quoted include Yonge, Elizabeth M. Sewell, Rhoda Broughton, Helen B. Mathers, Wetherell.

1937

Macmillan

none

Dedicated to Phyllis and Henry Rushbrooke, with love

‘Other New Books: As Others Hear Us’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1867, 13 Nov. 1937, pp. 872.

Comic short pieces previously published in Punch and Time and Tide. I. As Others Hear Us (pp1-114): comic dialogues 1 The Reconciliation (pp3-5): two friends attempt to resolve a disagreement, but cannot help bringing up old grievances. 2 With the Difficult Guest (pp6-9): a hostess attempts to feed and entertain a relatively unknown and rather fussy visitor. 3 The New Outlook (pp9-13): two friends discuss the psychology of murderers. 4 Music at Eventide (pp13-16): two sisters attempt to play the violin and the piano, and explain to their deaf father what they are doing. 5 The Interview (pp16-20): Miss Monkley-Welsh, a young aspirant novelist, road-hog and amateur yodeller, is being interviewed by Mrs. Robinson, who is looking for a live-in companion for her great aunt. 6 Last Instructions (pp20-22): a wife and mother gives detailed instructions to a friend who is looking after her house and family while she goes away. 7 Asking for a Job (pp23-25): a young woman visits an employment agency and explains all the things and jobs she couldn’t possibly do. 8 In the Crisis (pp25-28): Cook has given notice, and no replacement can be found. 9 The Country Walk (pp29-31): two friends go for a country walk, and take the opportunity for a good bitch about their mutual friend Winifred. 10 Meeting the Traveller (pp31-34): a woman and her husband collect her mother, and her vast quantities of luggage, some of which is missing, from the railway station. 11 Discussing the Fiancée (pp34-37): Tony has brought his fiancée to meet his mother, sister and aunt, and they discuss her shortcomings. 12 The Mine of Information (pp37-41): pedantic and opinionated Mr Plunk shares his knowledge liberally over tea. 13 The Unselfish Hostess (pp41-45): a house guest is discomfited by her hostess’s well-advertised altruism. 14 The Chairman (pp45-48): prolix and forgetful Sir James takes the chair at a public lecture by a cookery writer. 15 The Mutual Friend (pp49-51): a friend talks up her friends the Potters, who are witty, intelligent, stylish, musical and have perfect children, to a third party who is driven to leave the neighbourhood to avoid them. 16 Inspecting the Prep School (pp51-55): a schoolmaster shows a mother over his school and avoids answering any of her questions. 17 Sitting on the Jubilee (pp55-59): a committee is formed to plan village Jubilee celebrations. 18 Pas Devant (pp59-62): entirely in French so that the servants will not understand, two friends attempt to gossip about a local couple who are divorcing. 19 Discussing the Detective Story (pp62-65): a woman attempts to stop her two friends revealing the plot of the crime novel she is reading. 20 In the Holidays (pp65-67): two children, home for the holidays, are appalled by the prospect of going for a walk and having friends to tea. 21 Choosing a Hat (pp67-70): two women are indecisive about millinery. 22 Visiting Shakespeare (pp70-73): two friends are at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, and struggle to recall the plot of Much Ado about Nothing. 23 At the Writing-Table (pp73-76): one woman is struggling to write a letter of complaint about a sweet-stall, abetted by a friend. 24 Looking at our Snapshots (pp77-79): a couple review their holiday photographs. 25 Arranging the Picnic (pp79-83): at a family picnic, it is difficult to pick the right spot that suits everyone. 26 Meeting the Speaker (pp83-86): a kind but nervous host gives a visiting speaker a lift. 27 In the Kitchen (pp86-89): a housewife discusses menus with her cook, and makes various criticisms, and at the end of the conversation, the cook gives notice. 28 After the Symphony Concert (pp89-92): two friends discuss modern music over tea. 29 At the Special School Train (pp92-95): parents crowd the station platform, seeing off their apparently indifferent sons. 30 Winding the Clocks (pp95-97): a married couple discuss matters of timekeeping and lament changes in pronunciation. 31 In the Lower Fourth (pp97-99): two schoolfriends share a funny story. 32 The Fellow-Travellers (pp100-102): two friends quarrel over one’s tendency to self-sacrifice and who should have the last banana. 33 Arranging the Party (pp103-105): a married couple discuss dinner-party seating while one is trying to complete a crossword. 34 The Old Friends Meet (pp105-107): two old colonialists meet by chance in London. 35 Seeking the Lost (pp108-111): a cheque-book is misplaced. 36 Paving the Way: (pp111-114): a wife carefully persuades her husband that they should give a party for their daughter, forestalling his objections to late nights, their children’s friends, American music and make-up. II A Guide to Conversation (pp115-154) Humorous guide to types of conversation, including Amateur Political, Family Conversation (which is very difficult to manage), committee and board meetings, technical conversations while dress shopping and with the dentist, and talking to parents about their children; conversations between parents and teachers, ordinary social conversation and actual truthfulness therein, old furniture, and conversations in hospitals; and finally idle, circular and frustrating conversations. III Charles, Laura and Another (pp155-227) Comic pieces about the domestic and social lives of Charles and his nameless wife Another (the narrator), and her friend Laura. 1 Speaking (pp157-161): a visit to a village fete, and the difficulties of speaking to Cook. 2 The Bark and the Bite (pp161-164): Charles is outraged when a fellow hotel guest smokes a cigar at breakfast. 3 Success (pp164-168): Charles and his wife accidentally bid against each other at a country house auction. 4 The Right-and-Left (pp168-172): reflections on ageing 5 Banks are Like That (pp172-176): the narrator attempts to manage her bank accounts. 6 Those Were the Days (pp176-180): Charles and his wife visit their son at Rugby, and Charles suffers an attack of nostalgia. 7 Domestic Economy (pp180-184): is five pounds, ten shillings and sixpence too much for a rug? 8 The Trope (pp185-188): a literary review remarks on Another’s tendency to metynomy. 9 The New Candour (pp188-192): the family considers a parlour-game based on giving honest, expert opinions on another family member, but soon abandons the idea. 10 The Game (pp192-197): at a lunch party, Charles and Another play a game where everything must be said either in rhyme or blank verse. This proves to be annoying but addictive. 11 The Household Gods (pp197-201): a household inventory and valuation leads the couple to look at their possessions in quite a new light. 12 Biographical (pp201-205): concerns about the intrusive nature of modern biography. 13 Fame (pp205-209): our narrator is surprised to be recognised as an author by the local car-park attendant. 14 The Canines (pp210-214): dentistry, rather than dogs. 15 The Phylloxera (pp214-217): imaginative speculations on the possible meaning of phylloxera. 16 Aunt Julia (pp217-222): our narrator wonders about her pawnbroker’s relationship with her often-pawned diamond and ruby pendant, left to her by Aunt Julia. 17 Enlightenment (pp222-227): an American visitor is helped to understand British currency. IV The New Rosamond (pp229-272) An updated version of Maria Edgeworth’s Rosamond dialogues between a young girl and her mother. The style is Edgeworthian but the subject matter modern. Rosamond and her mother discuss broadcasting and the BBC, the education of boys at public schools, crime fiction, historical novels and modern biography. V With Acknowledgements (pp273-314) 1 Graphology (pp275-278): satirical handwriting analysis 2 The Boot on the Other Leg (pp278-281): what would it be like if the BBC listened in to home life? 3 The Old and the New (pp282-285): combinations of modern social and literary trends into the school story. 4 See England First (pp285-290): how Scotland, Wales and Ireland are represented in fiction. 5 Whither (pp290-295): how China, the USA and the Riviera are represented in fiction. 6 The Summer Outing (pp295-298): a WI meeting discusses plans for its summer outing. 7 Fiction is Stranger than Truth (pp289-303): imagines the correspondence between schools and parents if girls’ school story plots featured in real life. 8 The World of Advertisement (pp303-308): imagines the narratives of magazine advertisements taking place in real life. 9 Tests (pp308-314): an exam paper intended to admit would-be authors into the profession, and a second one for aspirant sportspeople.

1937

Macmillan

none

Dedicated to Cicely [McCall], who doesn't need convincing.

Beresford, J. D. ‘Mr. Wells and Miss Delafield’. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959), 4 June 1937, p. 7; Cook, Marjorie Grant. ‘Defrauded Children: Nothing Is Safe’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1844, 5 June 1937, p. 427; J. S. ‘New Novels: Nothing Is Safe’. The Times, no. 47702, 4 June 1937, p. 9; Muir, Edwin. ‘New Novels: Nothing Is Safe’. The Listener, vol. 17, no. 441, 23 June 1937, p. 1276; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, 7 Mar. 1937, p. 36; Richardson, Maurice. ‘New Novels: Nothing Is Safe’. The English Review, vol. 64, no. 7, July 1937, pp. 866–67; ‘What to Pack--Ii: Novels, Literature, and Travel’. The Observer, 8 Aug. 1937, p. 7.

Ten-year-old Julia is fiercely protective of Terry, her vague, clumsy older brother. Their parents, Daphne and Alick, separate at the start of the novel, and the children return to their boarding schools not knowing where or how they will spend the next holidays; Julia is also very worried about where her beloved dog Chang will live. For their first school holidays after the separation, the children and Chang stay with their grandparents at Chepstow, who, although old-fashioned, indulge the children rather. Alick, a journalist, comes to visit Julia at school with his fiancee Petah, who at 22 is much younger than her future husband. They will live in a mews flat in London, which means that Julia and Terry can never visit together, as there is no room. Daphne writes to say that she is to marry Captain Prettyman, who the children already know and dislike. Julia is disappointed by all this and worried about how Terry will cope. After a muddle at the end of term when both children linger in their mother’s London club, Captain Prettyman collects them and takes them to Wimbledon. There are good aspects to their mother’s new home - the food, and the Captain’s favour of Julia - but Chang is not there, and the Captain is perpetually impatient and angry with Terry’s clumsiness, bullying him in the guise of toughening him up. Their mother is very taken up with her new husband, and quarrelling with their father about money. When Daphne and the Captain leave unexpectedly for Paris, Julia is sent - via the club, and Mrs. Capper, Petah’s mother - to her father’s flat, where Terry is already staying. The flat is small, and there seems to be a constant party going on. But there is no room for Julia, who is to stay in Mrs Capper’s flat. One night Julia is there alone - Annie, Mrs. Capper’s kind maid, has the evening off - when she develops agonising earache. Mrs Capper is no use to her and Julia spends the night in pain until her father and Annie appear. After this, both children return to their grandparents’ house and are delighted to see Chang again. The children enjoy their holiday there and escape into the imaginative games they like to share. Gradmama talks to Julia about Terry going soon to public school, and learning to do without Julia. Julia is convinced, however, that Terry needs her to protect him from the world. Their mother arrives to stay, with presents from Paris. The children visit a neighbouring family, the Drummonds, and are taken to watch rabbits being driven out of the corn and killed. Terry, very upset, disappears, and is found to have locked himself in the lavatory, refusing to come out after being sick and crying. He stays with the Drummonds to recover while Julia is taken home. The Drummond parents visit to complain about Julia’s conversation (divorce and adultery) and to suggest that Terry is not emotionally ready to go to public school. Their mother agrees, but their grandparents do not. Daphne takes the children back to Wimbledon, and the Captain resumes his bullying of Terry. When he tries to make Terry ride his bicycle no-hands, and will not accept Terry’s refusal, Julia physically attacks him. He is more amused than angry about this, but refuses to have Terry stay longer in the house. The children are sent to stay with Alick and Petah, who have been lent a tiny cottage in the country. Eavesdropping, Julia learns that her parents are seriously worried about Terry and considering psychological help for him. Soon, Terry is taken to London by Alick, and they see a psychotherapist, Dr Dubillier. Julia is taken too the next day, and the doctor talks to her and Terry about their parents and stepparents. Daphne arrives, and Julia eavesdrops, hearing things she doesn’t understand about a dependency being broken, and that Terry should not go to public school yet. The children are moved to a London hotel with Daphne and their grandmother, and Terry continues to see the doctor. The new plan is to send Terry to stay with a tutor in Norfolk, who teaches a few boys at a time. Julia is also to go to a new school, nearer to her grandparents. But all the adults are very vague about plans for the Christmas holidays. Catching her school train, Julia is distraught that Terry is late to see her off, but he just makes it; as the train leaves, she realises that her parents plan to keep the two siblings separate.

1937

Macmillan

none

none

Cummings, A. J. ‘Life in Soviet Russia’. The Listener, vol. 17, no. 426, 10 Mar. 1937, p. XV; Iles, Francis. ‘Forerunner of the Modern Dictators’. Daily Telegraph, no. 25506, 20 Feb. 1937, p. 8; MacDonell, A. G. ‘Miss Delafield in Russia’. The Observer, 28 Feb. 1937, p. 8; Mavrogordato, E. E. ‘Miss Delafield in Russia’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1830, 27 Feb. 1937, p. 140; ‘Miss Delafield In Russia’. The Times, no. 47619, 27 Feb. 1937, p. 11; Stocks, Mary. ‘Miss Delafield Looks at Russia’. The Manchester Guardian, 12 Mar. 1937, p. 9.

Sometimes published with the title The Provincial Lady in Russia, although this is not a Provincial Lady book.

Delafield, at the suggestion of her US publisher, arranges to visit the USSR. She is initially very unwilling to do this, and tries to think of various reasons why she should not, but succumbs out of curiosity and financial motivations. Her publisher is keen that she should stay on a collective farm, but this seems to be impossible; she is refused a worker’s visa. But once in Moscow, she is put in touch with the Seattle Commune, a farm established by a group of American workers in 1922. She goes to stay at the farm, now mostly staffed by Russians. Her accommodation is extremely simple, there is a general lack of privacy and the toilet arrangements are a communal cess-pit. Meals are taken communally in a dining-hall; the food is monotonous but not unhealthy. Laundry and washing arrangements are also communal: Delafield carries hot water to her own room. The farm is now a large affair with an elected committee to manage it, with its own school and small library. Delafield makes friends with Eva, a multilingual Estonian who, once a nurse, now deals with all medical matters at the Commune; Eva admits the limitations of commune life but is a committed socialist. It is hard for Delafield to undertake any work - she is treated as a guest and the other women think she is too thin and frail to do heavy work - but she does work in the bakery, in the kitchen and with the children. She is constantly concerned about hygiene at the Commune and this only gets worse when it rains and the ground becomes a mass of mud and puddles; her walking boots are useless, but Eva lends her some rubber ones. Delafield is eventually forced to leave because she has toothache. A party is arranged to mark her departure; she gives a short speech and is asked many detailed questions about her views on the USSR and her life in England. The next day, she has a long and uncomfortable journey back to Rostov and her Intourist hotel, which now seems incredibly luxurious. The book then steps back in time to her journey out to Russia, and introduces her to Mrs. Pansy Baker, an American with a great enthusiasm for Communism and Soviet Russia, and Miss Blake and Miss Bolton, two young women who live and travel together. They arrive at Leningrad (St Petersburg) which is shabby, although its streets are thronged with people. Delafield is appalled to find that her Intourist hotel expects her to share with Mrs. Baker. They undertake some sightseeing with an official guide, whose explanations are, unsurprisingly, undiluted Soviet propaganda. They are very proud of their progress in women’s equality in particular, and access to abortion, childcare and employment for women is often mentioned. Delafield finds their attitude to the victims of revolutionary violence heartless in the extreme; she also dislikes the lack of individuality among the people. She comments more humorously on the need for patience in dealing with any matters in the USSR, and the amount of waiting that everyone seems to do. After travelling ‘hard’ class by train to Moscow, Delafield is tired but receptive to the beauty of Red Square. She tries to track down an English friend, Peter, and when she does they are delighted to see each other again. They visit, with another guide (nicknamed the Little Monster), a Mother and Baby Welfare clinic, which they approve of, and the Marriage and Divorce Court, which is baffling. Delafield sells some of her spare possessions to a woman she meets at a drinks party, and has some difficulty in preventing her buying all her possessions. Delafield’s shopping in Moscow is limited to volumes two and three of The Fairchild Family (Mary Martha Sherwood) which she is astonished to find in a bookshop. In Rostov, after her stay on the farm, Delafield meets an English economics lecturer and - trapped in their hotel by rain - the two women discuss their travels. There are things they think good in the USSR - the prison system, at least as far as they have seen it (and for ordinary criminals not political prisoners); some of the health and educational facilities - but the lack of privacy, the cult of Lenin and Stalin and the suppression of other religion concern them. Delafield visits a girls’ school; the girls have high aspirations (to be doctors, architects and so on) but are given no domestic training as communal kitchens and living remove the need for this. Religious education, if any, is only given by parents. She meets a French Savoyard agronome, who is very interested in the price of everything and attaches himself to her. He is suspicious that things are being hidden from the tourists. They visit a state farm, clearly a show-place, and are prevented from visiting a second farm, which enrages him. Delafield manages a short conversation in Russian, and is surprised how much she understands. Familiar fellow-tourists depart, and a rather isolated Delafield travels - ‘soft’ class this time - to Odessa. In Odessa, she is reunited with the Savoyard agronome, whose paranoia has increased, and they view a solar eclipse together. He then learns that he will not be able to exchange his roubles for francs, and is outraged all over again. Delafield attempts to find out how pets are viewed in the USSR but beyond farm dogs, a few stray cats and some sad caged birds, she sees very few - although there is a grey kitten in her hotel that is the especial favourite of one of the hall porters. Back in Rostov, which she likes, Delafield visits an iron foundry, partially staffed by women; despite the guide’s bests efforts, she is not convinced that such heavy work is good for women. She makes another friend, Miss D., but is baffled as to why she has come to Russia; she is distinguished-looking, upper class, rather vague and prone to getting into scrapes, and does not really seem interested in the country. They are taken to visit a hospital together, and are appalled when they are taken into the maternity ward where women are in labour. Afterwards, Miss D. confides that she has - against the rules - tipped her waiter, and her toast has been hot for every meal thereafter. At the beach in Odessa, Delafield sees evidence to counter the frequent assertion that there are no prostitutes in the USSR. As her stay comes to an end, she feels the need to speak her mind about the Soviet system to somebody, She tries this with a Russian doctor, but she counters all of Delafield’s criticisms - about the lack of privacy, the lack of choice and individuality - with statements upholding the Soviet system. At her actual departure, Delafield realises that she will need to hide her notebook somehow, and eventually decides to hide it under her clothes. After a long, tense and hot wait at customs, eventually she makes it onto her ship, regretting that she did not really ever speak her mind.

1939

Macmillan

Brophy, John. ‘New Fiction’. Daily Telegraph, no. 26107, 2 Mar. 1939, p. 7; Charques, R. D. ‘Novels of the Week: Three Marriages’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1930, 28 Sept. 1939, p. 55; J. S. ‘New Novels: Three Marriages’. The Times, no. 48214, 27 Jan. 1939, p. 18; Moult, Thomas. ‘Short Stories: Three Marriages’. The Manchester Guardian, 3 Mar. 1939, p. 7; Three Marriages’. Manchester Evening News, 18 Feb. 1939, p. 8.

Published in the USA as When Women Love, but including the first two stories only.

The Wedding of Rose Barlow (1857) In 1855, Rose Barlow is sixteen; her mother Rosabel, fearful that her unkind and stingy husband Sir Comus will not allow her to bring her daughter out properly, suggests to her cousin, Gilbert Harrington, that he should marry Rose. Gilbert is a Colonel and has been invalided home from the Crimean War. He is rather shocked, and worried about the twenty-year age gap between them, but he agrees to think about it. He realises that any child would be "doubly a Harrington" and that Rose already loves his home, Orlebar; he also realises that Rose's marriage would allow Rosabel some respite from her own husband. At breakfast the next day, he tells Rosabel that he will propose to Rose, and Rosabel makes him promise to let Rose's governess, Miss Mortimer, to stay on with her for a while after their marriage. Rose and Mortimer speculate about the mysterious discussions that seem to be going on. Sir Comus arrives at Orlebar and tells Rose that Gilbert has asked for her hand. Rose is surprised, and slightly embarrassed to think that her cousin, known all her life, is in love with her, but is happy to accept. They are to marry before Gilbert returns to his regiment, now in India, but Rose will stay at Orlebar while he is there. She tells Mortimer the news; her governess is equally surprised and considers her young to be married. Rose is relieved that Miss Mortimer will stay on with her after her marriage. Rose and Gilbert meet in the garden and Gilbert proposes formally, and is accepted. Rose feels warmly affectionate towards him, if not passionate. Gilbert gives her his mother's pearl ring, and an emerald ring that is to be her engagement ring; Rose is more excited about the latter. Countess Aurelie, an ancient displaced French aristocrat and a regular house guest at Orlebar, offers her congratulations. Rose and her mother return to London to prepare for her wedding; she suggests to Gilbert that she and Miss Mortimer might join him in India, later on. Gilbert agrees to consider this. Gilbert visits Rosabel, who weeps over the lost opportunities of her youth; Gilbert realises that she has always been in love with him, and that he has strong feelings for her, but determines that this must not go further. After their marriage and wedding-tour, Gilbert leaves for India; Rose is proving good-natured and sweet-tempered, and he is sorry to leave her, although her lack of passion for him is a slight disappointment that he hopes his absence will correct. Rose and Miss Mortimer settle down at Orlebar, Gilbert's Aunt Mollie continuing to manage the house as she has always done. Countess Aurelie comes to visit, bringing her nephew Count Pierre de St Edme who works as a tutor; he also plays the violin. Rose misses his arrival, and finds him tuning his violin; she is struck by the sadness in his handsome face. He tells Rose some of his family history, and that he hopes to return to France one day. They find, coincidentally, that they share the same middle name, Valentine. After dinner Pierre sings to the family, and Rose is entranced; later, she accompanies him while he plays the violin. Rose remembers Gilbert's assertion of his marital rights, with no pleasure. Countess Aurelie becomes ill, and is nursed by Miss Mortimer, so Rose and Pierre are much in each other's company and play together each evening while Aunt Mollie dozes. Pierre tells Rose that he must go, and she is devastated; she realises that she is in love with Pierre and is deeply upset. Consoling herself with the idea that they may meet again in another world, and consoled by Miss Mortimer's assurance that nothing can last for ever. Out for a walk, she meets a gypsy couple, who tell her she will get her heart's desire, but through fire and flood. As she returns to the house, a huge elm tree crashes to the ground just in front. Pierre has seen the crash and rushes out to see if she is all right; they exchange a passionate embrace, and speak openly of their love for one another. They know they must part, but assure each other of their lasting love. Rose is profoundly upset by Pierre's departure, and finds it hard to hide her feelings from Miss Mortimer, who is very kind to her. Rose's realisaiton that her hasty marriage was a childish mistake affects her relationship with her mother; she cannot forgive her for persuading Rose to marry. When Rosabel visits, she notices the difference in Rose, but attributes it to marriage. In September Rose and Miss Mortimer sail for India. Before they leave, Rose reproaches her mother for not telling her frankly about the facts of life, when Rosabel mentioneds that Gilbert needs an heir. In Cawnpore in India, the following May, Rose has settled in well to the local routine, made friends, and she and Gilbert get on well enough. Gilbert is worried about the reports of unrest in the native population, and Rose discusses this with her friend Margaret Ransome. Margaret's frank admission of her love for her husband pains Rose, who can only think of Pierre. The regiment builds defensive earthworks and it is decided that all the women and children should retreat behind them. By 6 June, four native regiments have mutinied and are attacking the English with guns they have captured. Rose and Miss Mortimer work to help the sick and injured, and to care for the others in the encampment. Soldiers, women and children begin to die. On the eighth day of the siege they hear from Lucknow that there is no immediate help to be given. After three weeks of siege, almost two hundred and fifty people have died. The English feel they will have to capitulate, and fear the consequences, particularly for the women. Gilbert tells Rose that they have received the offer of safe conduct to Allahabad by boat if they surrender their arms, and he believes this is their only hope. They talk of Orlebar, and how Gilbert wishes he could think of an heir there; he asks Rose, if she should reach England, to take Rosabel his love. The next morning arrangements are made to take the English to the river. Gilbert tells Rose that the women are to travel first, and he will follow in the next party. Margaret confides that she has the means of suicide rather than be captured alive by the Indians. Rose and Gilbert say their farewells at the water's edge, and Rose climbs into Major Fairfield's boat with Miss Mortimer. As soon as the boats cast off the Indian soldiers begin to fire on them; the thatched roofs of the boats burn and their passengers burn with them. Miss Mortimer is hit by a bullet, and the rest of the party in Rose's boat are all killed and injured apart from Major Fairfield. Rose is unhurt. Miss Mortimer is breathing but gravely injured. A swimmer, Mr Calcott, reaches the boat; Rose and the Major pull him in. The three of them begin to lower the dead into the water. Miss Mortimer regains consciousness, and Rose tells her what has happened, and prays with her; Miss Mortimer dies in Rose's arms. Further down the river, an injured and deranged woman throws herself at Major Fairfield, knocking them both into the water; Rose and Calcott cannot turn the boat against the tide to rescue them. Rose makes Calcott promise to kill her if the Indians come. Two Englishmen swim to the boat; they have escaped from a sinking boat. The three men agree that their only hope is to swim to land, which is in the control of a friendly Rajah who may protect them. They will carry Rose, who cannot swim well, between them. Reaching the bank, they are met by Indians; Rose, terrified, faints, but they agree to protect the English. Rose is badly sunburnt and Calcott looks half dead, but one of the other men, Lefanu, tells Rose he is only exhausted. Rose regains consciousness only at the Rajah's fort, where a doctor cares for her and the refugees are treated well. Eventually a British steamer comes to fetch them; Rose longs for news from Cawnpore of Gilbert, who she feels must be dead. At Alllahabad, Rose is looked after by the Brightons, and Mrs Brighton nurses her and encourages her to speak of her ordeal. News finally comes from Cawnpore and confirms that Gilbert was killed in the fighting, and that Margaret Ransome was killed with her husband. The women and children left behind were imprisoned before being murdered; Gilbert died trying to protect them. Rose agrees to return to England, and to visit Mrs Brighton's daughters and write to her about them. In England, Rose stays with her mother, who looks very unwell; her father is actually ill and being nursed by the cook. Rose passes Gilbert's message to Rosabel, who is made very unhappy by it; Rose does not enquire deeply into the reasons for her mother's grief. Gilbert's will allows Rose to live at Orlebar in her lifetime, provided she does not marry again, and she returns there, escorted by Mr Calcott. Aunt Mollie is comforting to Rose, and Rose is able to tell her of Gilbert's bravery in India. Mollie and Rose arrange for a memorial to Gilbert, and a smaller tablet commemorating Miss Mortimer, to be put up in the church. Sir Comus dies, and Rosabel is free to come with Rose to live at Orlebar, although she treats Rose with a mixture of affection and resentment; Rose suspects that her mother is jealous of her position as mistress of the house, but will not consider other sources of her behaviour. Countess Aurelie comes for another visit, and tells Rose that Pierre is working in a boys' school outside London. The Countess sends for Pierre to accompany her to Bath, but he refuses, much to her and Rosabel's annoyance. Countess Aurelie has a heart attack on the eve of her journey, however, and a telegram is sent to Pierre. Rose goes to the church to pray, and feels convinced that Pierre will come to her, and they will be able to marry. In the park, she meets him arriving at the house. Girl-of-the-Period (1897) Violet Cumberledge is engaged to be married to Harvey Lessingham. Violet, as she is well aware, is extremely pretty, but despite being much admired during her two seasons she has only attracted one proposal. Harvey has six older unmarried sisters, and Violet constrasts her sophistication and reticence with their naivety and exuberance. The Lessinghams are fond of Violet, however, and draw attention to her cleverness and beauty. Violet's mother is less enthusiastic about her fiancé but Violet is confident that they will be compatible; she considers herself her mother's superior in terms of sense and rationality, keen to stress that she does not need to be with Harvey all the time. Her mother suggests that Violet's rational approach to matrimony may be a mistake, and that she is not in love with Harvey, but Violet reassures her that her feelings are sound and her rationality is part of her modernity. Lady Cumberledge is unconvinced and suggests that Violet does not understand what love is; Violet begins to cry, but continues to insist that she will be married, and eventually warns her mother not to raise the matter again. Harvey comes to dinner, reflecting on his inadequacy as a lover for the cultured Violet. After dinner, Violet alludes to her conversation with her mother, but tells Harvey she is confident that they are entering marriage with no illusions about each other, and no old-fashioned sentiment. Harvey expresses the hope that they may be silly with each other sometimes, to Violet's evident disapproval. Eventually, she allows herself to be persuaded that a little silliness is tolerable, and that the wedding vows are just a conventional expression of what she already knows; she goes on to tell Harvey that should he ever come to care for another woman, he must tell her, and she will try to make things easy for her. As the wedding approaches, Violet becomes increasingly unhappy, although she does her best to busy herself and ignore her feelings. Two of the Lessingham sisters visit and discuss engagements, and how awful it must be to break one off after the presents have started to arrive. Violet asserts that she would still be able to break an engagement if she felt it right, while Dorothy says she would hang on to a fiancé at all costs. Violet considers their attitudes old-fashioned, and their manners and frank deprecation of their unattached state responsible for their all being spinsters. Harvey arrives, and when the others have gone compliments Violet's beautiful eyelashes; she wonders if she is only loved for her looks. Charlie, Violet's brother, and Harvey leave a party together, and go on to a party of some people Charlie knows. On the way Charlie asks if Harvey does not find Violet's high ideals difficult to live up to, to Harvey's annoyance, and suggests that marriage is a mistake for any man, and that Violet is cold. At the party, an artistic one in a Chelsea studio, Harvey meets Peggy, an art student, with whom he very quickly falls in love. Remembering Violet's statements about personal freedom and jealousy, he suggests that he and Peggy might visit Hampton Court Maze together. He takes Peggy home from the party, and she tells him about her first love, who drifted away from her; he confides in her that he has always felt rather lonely, and they end by embracing. They attempt to part forever, but Harvey has great misgivings. After a dinner party with Violet and the Lessinghams, Charlie suggests to Lady Cumberledge that Harvey is beginning to recognise Violet's rather cold nature, and was only ever really in love with her looks. He tells his mother that he does not believe Violet loves Harvey, and she agrees. Charlie agrees to discuss this with Harvey. Harvey arrives to see Violet, looking pale and tired. He suggests that they are not getting on as well as they did at first, which Violet disclaims, but then tells her he has fallen in love with someone else. Violet is angry, but remains calm, and refuses to decide anything about their position straight away. The news leaks out to the rest of the family, Charlie is asked to talk to Harvey, the Lessingham sisters are furious with their brother. Violet wants to meet Peggy, and Charlie arranges this; Violet is slightly shocked by Peggy's independent life with her own latch-key and flatmate. Violet finds Peggy scruffy and unattractive. She cannot understand how Peggy could have allowed herself to fall in love with an engaged man, and Peggy suggests that she has not actually been in love herself in that case, and tells Violet bluntly that Harvey does not want to marry her and their engagement should be broken off. Violet tells her that it will be, as she will not marry a man who has behaved in this way. Peggy suggests that Harvey has not really done anything wrong, and, in an echo of Violet's own views, suggests that it is better for him to be honest about his changed feelings. That evening, Harvey arrives and Violet returns his ring. Harvey apologises and hopes that Violet will remain on good terms with his sisters. Violet is, at heart, relieved that the engagement and the preparations for the wedding are over. Violet continues to see Dorothy and Enid Lessingham when she returns from a trip to Scotland to get over the end of her engagement. Harvey has married Peggy, and is slightly estranged from his family, having married rather out of his class. The three girls go to the Hurlingham club and Violet is introduced to a Major Courtenay, a man clearly being admired by Dorothy, who says he has been called a bounder but that she could marry any man not "absolutely repulsive". After tea, Major Courtenay takes Violet for a walk; she finds him very sympathetic and they seem to have many views and tastes in common. Violet quarrels with her mother when she seeks to reassure her that Violet is still attractive. At a ball, Violet is told by Enid that Dorothy expects the Major to propose. Violet has many partners, but Major Courtenay asks her to dance; they waltz together and then go out on the balcony. Courtenay tells Violet he was disappointed not to find her in the Lessingham party, takes her hand and unbuttons her glove to hold her bare hand, finally kissing her, much to her agitation. Afterwards Violet is deeply disapppointed by her own irrational behaviour, and ashamed that she has allowed a man to kiss her when he is all but engaged to someone else. Lady Cumberledge has noticed how long her daughter sat out with him on the balcony, but Violet can only think that Courtenay may possibly call, and is deeply distracted. The next day, they meet Courtenay in the park with the Lessinghams; he asks Violet if she is angry at his behaviour, and she can only shake her head. Charlie invites him to lunch, and Violet realises that she is in love with him. After lunch, they manage to be alone together and he kisses her again, while telling her this is goodbye; he must return to his regiment in York in a few days; he also tells her that he is not in love with Dorothy but will certainly have to marry her, having paid so much attention to her. Violet feels that she will do anything to prevent this, while realising that Courtenay is not behaving well. Suddenly Dorothy and Charlie appear. Dorothy, alone with Violet, asks her angrily to leave Courtenay alone; he is her last chance of marriage. Violet argues that there is no engagement and therefore Courtenay is free to pay attention to her. They argue, and Violet loses her temper and slaps Dorothy, resulting in a wrestling match until Violet manages to hit Dorothy in the mouth. Suddenly she realises how appallingly she is behaving, and faints away. Charlie suggests to a distressed Lady Cumberledge that Violet's coldness has been transformed by Courtenay's attention, and that Courtenay will certainly marry Dorothy. Charlie tells Violet that this will have done her good - she has realised that she can be as uncivilised and passionate as anyone else. Violet realises that her infatuation is over and says she may have seemed self-righteous in the past, but will not do so now. We Meant to be Happy (1937) Cathleen Christmas is 36 and grew up in an orphanage, although not unhappily, and began her working life as a mother's help. Her second job was as nurse-companion to an elderly lady, and doing this job she met Philip Christmas, the lady's bank manager and a widower. They become friends and he proposed marriage, which she accepted; she had never been much attractive to men and thought herself lucky to get the proposal. although she was not in love wth him. Their marriage is happy, if not passionate, and they have three young children. Cathleen is generously provided for and has a nursery-maid. She has a friend, Pat Schofield, who is socially prominent, wealthy and attractive. Philip has an unmarried sister, Blanche, who has just had an operation, paid for by her brother. Blanche is a negative and unenthusiastic character with a tendency to hypochondria, but doing better under the care of a new Irish doctor, Kavanagh. Cathleen tries to be affectionate to Philip, but finds sex dull and unpleasant, but thankfully since their son was born Philip has asked for more than a kiss, citing his age as the reason. Blanche is ready to go home, but unwilling to leave the comfortable nursing home; Dr Kavanagh talks to Cathleen about her, and Cathleen tells him how dreary Blanche's life is. Dr Kavanagh suggests that a week's convalescence at the sea might help her adjust; Philip suggests instead that she should stay with the family for ten days. Cathleen cannot look forward to this, as Blanche criticises the children and Cathleen's parenting. However, the visit goes fairly smoothly until Pat visits, and Blanche takes against her; it is not "nice" for a single woman to be friends with a married one. A series of dances are arranged at the tennis club; Pat and Dr Kavanagh are both members, and Philip agrees to take Cathleen, drawn by the offer of bridge. Cathleen assumes that Maurice Kavanagh is attracted by Pat, and they dance together; Pat is, in Cathleen's view, clever ass well as attractive. During the dance, Maurice and Cathleen talk together, and he remembers something she has said before, about life being hard for women with nothing to look forward to. He refers to her housekeeping as work, which surprises her; Maurice tells her how his widowed mother worked to bring up her family. Some days later, Cathleen and the children are out for a walk when Pat and Maurice pass them in Maurice's car, and offer them a ride; Pat is going to a nearby village to interview a cook. They wait for her, and they hear birdsong; Maurice tells Cathleen it is a blackbird. Looking at each other, they realise that they have fallen in love. The next day, the children ask to go to hear the band in the park, and Cathleen sends them with her maid; she then goes out to look for Kavanagh, utterly distracted. He meets her in her road, and they go into the house where they embrace, and confide their mutual love. Both are radiant with happiness. But when Philip comes home, she realises the difficulty of her position. She feels that she is already being unfaithful to Philip, and wonders if she should talk to him about it; she realises that she could renounce Maurice, but feels that she never could. They attend the tennis club dance, and discuss their position; Cathleen says she would like to tell Philip, but knows that a divorce is impossible for him professionally. She also cannot leave the children, so the lovers agree to meet in secret. Initially it is relatively easy for them to continue to see each other socially and occasionally to meet alone. One day Cathleen visits Blanche, and while she is there Maurice phones Blanche about her medication; he will come to her flat to deliver it. Cathleen takes her leave, and says she will walk home but Blanche, suggesting she looks ill, insists that she takes the tram. The tram stop is in full view of Blanche's window so Cathleen takes it, miserable that she has missed seeing Maurice. She gets off at the next stop and finds that Maurice has driven after her; he drives her home and they make plans to meet at the next Saturday dance. Pat visits her that afternoon and tells her that she has noticed Cathleen's feelings for Maurice and suggests, kindly, that Cathleen stop the relationship before there is a scandal. She offers to let Cathleen talk to her about it, and to explain the psychological basis for her feelings, but this angers Cathleen greatly. She tells Pat that she and Maurice are hurting no-one, but Pat warns her that Philip will soon come to hear of their relationship and that will hurt him. Increasingly unhappy, Cathleen goes to the dance and tells Maurice about her conversation with Pat and that people are beginning to talk. Pat's mother goes to some effort to prevent Maurice talking to Cathleen, and once alone they discuss, repeatedly, how to resolve their situation. Their conversation finally ends with the arrival of Philip, but Maurice manages to suggest a time to meet on the following Monday. Monday is wet, and Cathleen realises desparingly that she will not be able to go for a walk and meet him, but Maurice telephones and suggests that he will call that afternoon. When he arrives, he tells Cathleen they must talk to Philip. Blanche arrives, and conversation is desultory while they all wait for Philip; Cathleen turns faint, and Philip suddenly arrives home. Cathleen and Maurice realise that Blanche knows about their relationship. Philip sees Blanche out, and is gone for some time, and Cathleen becomes seriously frightened; on his return, Maurice tells him that he and Cathleen love one another and that he will marry her if Philip will give her a divorce. Philip tells her that she will lose the children if they divorce, which is in any case out of the question. He and Maurice go into another room, and Cathleen goes up to see the children. Coming downstairs, she hears shouting, and then a heavy crash; in the room, Philip has collapsed with a heart attack. Another doctor is called to tend to Philip and Maurice leaves. Philip is diagnosed with angina and needs to avoid anxiety and exertion. Cathleen goes to him, and he is distant and polite with her. The next day, Philip asks to see Blanche, and Cathleen sends for her. Cathleen realises that Philip might die, and is horrified to feel relieved. Blanche arrives, and talks to Philip; she then relays his views to Cathleen. Once Cathleen has confirmed she is not pregnant, Blanche tells her she must make up her mind whether to stay or leave now, to avoid causing Philip stress. Philip begins to get better, but is told that he must live quietly. On the way back from seeing a London specialist, Cathleen tries to talk to him about her affair, but he will not engage with her, citing his illness as a reason for not discussing her feelings. He tells her that Blanche will explain the terms for the continuation of their marriage, and that Blanche will play a much bigger role in their lives than before. At home, he tells Cathleen that he plans to invite Blanche to live with them. The family prepare for a holiday to Devon, and Philip suggests that, on their return, they should make a new start. He has arranged to sell the house and move somewhere larger where Blanche will come to live with them. Cathleen protests, but Philip refuses to listen to her. Cathleen telephones Pat and asks her to help her meet Maurice at Pat's house for the last time. She agrees, and they make an emotional farewell. In the new house, Blanche's nagging drives servants away and makes the children unhappy. Cathleen becomes guilty for spoiling the children's previously happy life. Pat is preparing for marriage to a rich American, and Cathleen realises that she now, like Blanche who she once pitied, has nothing to look forward to.

1939

Macmillan

none

To Priscilla, although she found fault with all of them, I dedicate these stories

J. S. ‘New Novels: Love Has No Resurrection’. The Times, no. 48417, 22 Sept. 1939, p. 3; Muir, Edwin. ‘New Novels’. The Listener, vol. 22, no. 561, 12 Oct. 1939, p. 734; Tiltman, Marjorie Hessell. ‘Novels of the Week: Love Has No Resurrection’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1963, 16 Sept. 1939, p. 537.

Love Has No Resurrection (pp1-6): Thalia has been having a love affair with Mickey, who is now attracted by the younger, blonde Yvonne. Thalia tries to treat him generously, believing that is the way to get him to recognise how much she loves him - but he leaves, saying she is the most neurotic woman he ever met. Fainting away, Thalia hopes that he will recognise this distress as proof of her love and value. Mothers Don’t Know Everything (pp7-31) Michael is the young son of Clara Grogan, a Catholic Irishwoman whose husband has left her for another woman. Michael has heard his parents arguing and is sorry that his mother is so sad; she tells him to forget all about his father. Unable to afford a holiday, they take a trip to the seaside for the day. Michael gives a lot of thought to pleasing his mother but, while she is napping, he plays cricket with some other children and their father. Returning to his mother and learning it is time to go home, he begins to cry. O.K. for Story (pp32-54) Mervyn, a writer who has published a slim book of poems, has got a job at a film studio. He has very little to do but is anxious to keep the job, as it is well-paid and he is not well-off. The film, a Christmas story, seems very bad to him. The star, Charlotte, quarrels with a producer and leaves the film. Mervyn suggests a way to rewrite the film so her part is not required, drawing heavily on the plot of The Merchant of Venice, and is given a permanent job. It’s All Too Difficult (pp55-67): Mrs Amberley is staying in Italy with her nine-year-old daughter Jennie, who has been ordered south over the winter as she may have TB. Her Cousin Horatio has been very helpful with arrangements and is now visiting. He has some rich friends, Claude and Carol, who have a house nearby and he takes Mrs Amberley to visit. Jennie is not permitted to attend as their hosts do not care for children. The two men are middle-aged, dressed rather alike, and both seem sad, Carol particularly so. They show them round the house, which is exquisite and beautifully decorated. Mrs Amberley realises that they share a room. Over tea, Mrs Amberley becomes convinced that Claude is making Carol so sad. They are shown the garden, and Mrs Amberley takes her leave, marvelling at the lifestyle of the rich. The Young Are in Earnest (pp68-93): Oliver Innes, an unmarried barrister, and Lorna Bannister, a young widow, have been friends for many years, and are seen as an established unofficial couple in their circles. They are invited to stay by Keith Russell, a novelist and his wife Anita, to their house on the Welsh coast. They have a young daughter, Sylvie, who is eighteen and very beautiful. Oliver gets on well with Keith and is quite impressed with Sylvie’s intelligence. They bathe in a natural pool, and Oliver and Sylvie show off their diving. The next day, Oliver takes Lorna for a walk, but talks only of Sylvie, and Lorna realises he is smitten with her. Swimming again that afternoon, Lorna feels the last traces of youthfulness leave her. After dinner that evening, there is dancing. Sylvie and Oliver go out into the garden and Sylvie returns upset; Oliver has kissed her. The next day, Oliver confesses this to Lorna and marvels at Sylvie’s lack of sophistication, and their relationship is restored. Bluff (pp94-120): Benson, the male first-person narrator, is travelling from London to Singapore by boat, a journey he is familiar with as a worker with the Eastern Telegraph Company. On this journey, among his fellow passengers and Clare Christie, a beautiful, intelligent and flirtatious woman who is universally popular, and Teddy Reed, who she says she knows slightly. Teddy Reed is, in the ship’s estimation, a ‘bounder’: vain, mildly dishonest about his past, and boastful. One of his boasts is his shorthand speed and the passengers agree to trick him into testing this. Also on the ship is H. A. Leslie, a distinguished novelist; he does not mix much but, like everyone else is taken with Clare. She persuades him to ask Teddy to take down some shorthand; it is fast and complicated and Teddy fails, publicly, and suggests it is the heat. A concert is arranged, and Teddy (who plays the piano badly) is asked - or suggests - that he accompany Clare’s songs. Benson finds Clare arguing with him on deck about this, and refusing to have him accompany her. Drunk and angry, Teddy reveals that they have had a previous romantic, and probably sexual relationship, and were secretly engaged. Clare denies this, and says that he harassed her. She asks Benson to keep this secret; Teddy leaves the ship shortly afterwards at Colombo. Benson has his doubts about the truth of the matter, and wonders still further when he meets Clare’s fiancé at Singapore, who tells him Clare is a wonderful poker player. The Girl Who Told the Truth (pp121-128): Lady Catherine, involved in many public organisations and also writing a book, is dismayed to find her secretary, Miss Palmer is resigning to care for her ill mother. She is replaced by efficient Mrs Fisher, who leaves after a month because the post is too far from High Wycombe, where her daughter is at school; Mrs Fisher is exhausted by the time she reaches the town for her week-end visits. Miss Cram is interviewed as her replacement, and Lady Catherine sets out her expectations: the work must come first. When Miss Cram admits occasional bilious attacks, the interview is terminated. Eventually, Miss Giles takes the post and is the perfect secretary for over three years. When she takes a holiday, she writes to a furious Lady Catherine that she has been ordered to take a complete rest in the country. Returning to put things in order for the next secretary, Lady Catherine suggests that she simply does not want to work. Miss Giles tells her the truth: on holiday, she has met a man who is likely to propose, and she must be on the spot to pursue the relationship. She is not intelligent enough to do anything except work for someone else, and she would rather have the chance of a home and a husband, even one she does not love. Victims (pp129-148): Sisters Ada and Mabel Fletcher run a lodging-house in a seaside town. Mabel owns the house, bought with money earned and saved during her nursing career; she has a hot temper. Ada is older (about 60) and has kept house most of her life for a widowed uncle, who unexpectedly married; Mabel then offered her a home. Ada has a calmer nature and does all the cooking; the story is told from her point of view. Major Trimmer has been lodging with them over three months in the winter season, which is excellent from the economic viewpoint, but he has also begun to pay attention to Mabel, and take her to the cinema. Before one of these trips, Mabel criticises the amount of food Ada has left out for the maid, Dolly. Ada gives it to her anyway and they discuss Mabel’s prospects with the Major. Ada admits to thinking of having a tea-shop if Mabel were to marry and sell the guest house. A telegram comes for the Major; his sister is in the area and wants to visit for lunch. Mabel initiates a great flurry of cleaning and cooking, and puts on her best clothes; she is invited upstairs to meet the sister after lunch. Ada indulges in a daydream about her tea-shop, but when Mabel comes down she shuts herself away in her own room. The Major leaves to spend a weekend visit with his sister’s hosts; on Monday morning, a letter arrives saying he will not be returning. Mabel deals with her disappointment by taking it out on Ada and Dolly, The Other Poor Chap (pp149-157): Harry Newberry receives a telephone call saying that Tom Kelly has been badly injured in a car accident; the hospital has asked him to visit. The Irish Major Kelly was a rival for the affections of Harry’s wife Geraldine, before they married; Tom went to live in India, but after his return became a friend of both the Newberrys. Harry reflects on the marvellous luck he had when Geraldine chose him. Geraldine is visiting some friends, and he phones them to tell them the news; Myrtle, her friend, suggests that she should break the news to Geraldine, and send her to the hospital in her car. He agrees, and drives to the hospital himself, where he is told that Tom will not survive, but that he recognised Geraldine before losing consciousness. Harry is glad about this until he sees his wife and her stricken expression. ”I Believe in Love” (pp158-183): Ivy Vernon, as a schoolgirl, makes this statement; her schoolfellows ostracise her as a result. Orphaned Ivy gets a job after school as an assistant teacher in Yorkshire and stays there for five years. Every summer she stays with her aunt, who has a boarding-house on the South Coast, and enjoys some summer romances. However, the young men forget her as soon as they leave. Eventually her aunt May invites her to come there permanently to work. When Ivy is thirty-eight, her aunt dies and leaves her the house and investments which give her an annual income of £300. Ivy sells the house and goes on a Mediterranean cruise. She makes some friends among the quieter, more sedate passengers. One evening Ivy is surprised when a young man, Mick Lawson (part of a glamorous party set on the ship) asks her to dance. She dances well, and tells him all about herself, including her recent inheritance. A romance develops as Mick pays her his undivided attention and tells her that his mother was a Spanish dancer, deserted by her husband, who died when he was six; he was raised in an orphanage before going to work in a hotel and eventually a a chauffeur to a rich old woman; she had left him her estate, but her children had disputed the will and he was left with nothing. He gambled with what money he had, and had been in and out of work before receiving a sudden, unexpected inheritance from his estranged father. But the inheritance is going through probate and he does not yet have the money. Ivy’s friends on the cruise warn her that Mick is likely telling her a lot of lies, and is simply in pursuit of Ivy’s money, but she refuses to listen. When he tells her there is a problem obtaining an advance from his inheritance, she offers to lend him money. He refuses at first, then agrees. After the cruise, Ivy marries Mick. He goes through all their money, is unfaithful and eventually leaves her, lying that he is going to take a hotel job in Brighton. Ivy is left impoverished and has to take work as a hotel housekeeper, but never loses her faith in Mick’s love. It All Came Right in the End (pp184-210): The Allisons live in Johore (now Malaysia), and their only child, Rose, is being sent back to England now she is six, as is the custom. Her mother confides in the narrator, a schoolmaster, that she is worried that Rose is too dependent on personal relationships, and will always be at the mercy of her affections. Life goes on in Johore for the Allisons, and Mrs Allison and the other mothers discuss their children now in England. At 18, Rose returns to Johore to spend a year with her parents. She is very pretty and lively, and has great social success among the unmarried English men, but falls in love with a married man, Copper Gifford. There is much gossip about this, but her parents are helpless to prevent it; her mother says that there is a perfect affinity between them and they would allow the marriage if he were divorced, which rather shocks the narrator, as does their failure to prevent the romance. Mrs Gifford refuses to give Copper a divorce, however. Mrs Allison believes Rose will give him up, however, and is very sorry for them both. Indeed, they do part and Rose goes back to England with her parents who are returning for good. Visiting England a few years later, Mrs Allison relates that Rose has never forgotten Copper and has yet to marry. Five more years past, and two visitors to Johore, the Misses Verschoyle, bring news that Rose is engaged to their nephew Humphrey, a neighbouring farmer substantially older than Rose. Discussing it, the narrator concludes that Rose, now reportedly pale and quiet, is not in love with Humphrey, but he is well-off and she has been persuaded into a sensible marriage. The marriage takes place. Our narrator returns to England permanently some years later, and meets a Miss Verschoyle again by chance. Rose’s marriage has not gone well; her mother died, and Rose wanted more emotional support - including conversation over meals - than Humphrey could give. They had no children and Rose was not well-adapted to rural life; with her mother gone, Rose felt she had no companionship. She had what Miss Verschoyle sceptically calls a nervous breakdown, and has lost weight and her good looks. The doctor recommended a change, so she went to stay in the South of France. From there, she wrote to Humphrey saying she wanted to spend half of each year in London or abroad. He refused, and Rose left him. A year later, Miss Verschoyle relates the next episode in the story: Rose has returned to Humphrey, after becoming ill, potentially with TB, and getting into financial difficulties. She has tried to earn money, but failed. Now she is a most devoted wife to Humphrey and, Miss Verschoyle asserts, perfectly happy. The narrator is sceptical, suggesting that it is Rose’s ‘utter desolation of spirit’ that has driven her to this step. Soliloquy before a Mirror (pp211-214): A monologue by an older woman, Isabelle, admitting to sixty but evidently older than that, in which she reminisces about the death of her husband thirty years earlier, considers whether her daughter-in-law is jealous of her, reflects with some satisfaction on her continued attractiveness and slim figure, and on the slow creep of the aging process. She remembers her childhood and how much cleverer she was than her younger sister, and wonders whether she could have done something ‘quite brilliant’ if only she had been properly educated, like writing plays. She congratulates herself on being able to remember the details of her childhood, poems memorised and the songs her mother used to sing. But in the closing paragraphs her confusion emerges, as she instructs her maid (whose name she cannot get right) to pack for a trip to her childhood home, long since demolished. The Reason (pp215-234): Catherine and Oliver have been on holiday in Brittany. Oliver is leaving for a brief work trip back to London, and they make jokes about their fellow English tourists rather mechanically at the railway station. It emerges that Oliver is married, and has been writing regularly to his wife Valerie during their trip; he and Catherine have been having an affair for six months, and he has made it quite clear he won’t be leaving Valerie. Catherine is jealous of Oliver’s love, and longs for him to say he loves her best of the two; she regrets being reasonable about his return to London. Back at the hotel, she sees the two middle-aged Englishwomen that she and Oliver have laughed about, implying they are a couple, christening them Miss Lump and Miss Dump. She feels they are wondering about Oliver’s departure and feels very lonely and self-conscious; her only comfort is in writing to Oliver at length. But she gets a letter and then a telegram from him which cheer her, although he does not say when he might come back. The holiday season is nearly over, and the weather turns colder; Catherine knows that unless he returns soon, it will be too late. But she does not suggest any solutions to him in her letters. The other guests start to leave. She ruminates painfully on her circumstances and wanders around the resort, revisiting places that are special because of memories of Oliver, of the holiday traditions they had so quickly established. Catherine’s mind chases after potential reasons for Oliver’s continued absence: Valerie could be ill, there could really be a work problem, he might be coming back secretly to surprise her. But when a letter finally comes, although it is full of loving affection, saying that Brittany ‘had been a heavenly dream, and they’d always remember it, and one day they must do it again’. She realises he is not coming back, and that he will never give her a reason for this. Miss Lump and Miss Dump are the last guests still at the hotel, and they invite her out for a walk; she realises they are sorry for her. The Indispensable Woman (pp235-254): Helen Blunt lives, happily single, in London, but when her sister-in-law dies she moves abruptly to the country to live with her brother Edward and his four children, for fear that the governess will marry Edward. Taking over the household, she replaces the young, pretty governess with 37-year-old Miss May. She misses her London life but is interested in the children and her genius for administration means that the house is soon running exceptionally well with established routines, although Edward is reserved, vague and often late for things. On a day trip to London, Helen slips on a wet pavement and breaks her leg. Her friend Dr. Marian Arrows comes to the hospital, and Helen confides her anguish that Edward’s house will get in to a terrible muddle without her. She has to convalesce for at least six weeks. Edward comes to visit and is of the same mind; he resolves to pay more attention to how the household is run, and the children cared for. Consequently he spends more time with them and with Miss May. Helen’s routines slip rather, but the household is much more relaxed, and Edward realises that he much prefers the new atmosphere. He also enjoys spending evenings with Miss May. Dr. Arrows tells Edward that Helen needs a longer rest, and mentions how much of her pleasurable London life she has given up to look after him - and Helen’s fear that he would marry the governess. Edward is rather shocked by this - he would never have considered marrying his first governess - but the idea takes root. That evening, he proposes to Miss May and is accepted. Helen stays on in London living with Dr. Arrows; Edward and his new wife lead a happy, unpunctual life in the country. Opportunity (pp255-276): Harry and Fan Hancock live in the country with their children Billie and Dinah; Harry’s inheritance from his uncle has enabled him to retire at 45. It is the summer holidays, and Fan’s sister Millie is visiting from America. Harry is a stickler for punctuality, chivvying his wife out of bed so she will be in time for breakfast, and complains extensively about the lack of hot water. Fan tries to dissuade him from speaking to the servants. He tells his children off for singing in the garden and leaving their toys out. Fan reproaches herself for not reminding them. At breakfast, Harry’s complaints continue, mainly about his son’s cat, and he reminds the children how lucky they are to live in such a beautiful place. Millie slightly contradicts him. An understamped letter arrives, and Harry refuses to pay the twopence required. Millie gets Fan to come and sit with her under the willow-tree for a while, but they are interrupted by Harry who has views about the sandwiches for a proposed picnic. When they go and make them, he wonders why they are not making the best of a lovely day. Before lunch, Harry attempts to stop Dinah running upstairs, and tears her dress; he is then greeted affectionately by the cat, and threatens to have it drowned, distressing Billie. After lunch, they go to the beach, and Harry’s complaints continue; he constantly chivvies the children and Fan about. Millie takes him for a walk and tells him he needs to stop his perpetual nagging and grumbling, and give Fan more affectionate attention and help with tiresome chores; “if it wasn’t for the children, I should do my very best to persuade her to leave you”. Harry is reflective. At home, he actually hangs up the wet bathing-things. But at bed-time he invites Fan to confirm that they have nothing to complain of, and immediately his litany of complaints starts up again. ”My Son Had Nothing On His Mind” (pp277-301): the story opens with a radio announcement asking Gilbert Catto, 23, to contact his family; he has been missing from home for a few days. He has disappeared just before he was due to marry Rhoda Taverner; his mother has asserted that he was happy and had nothing on his mind. The narrative then shifts back to a tea-party of Mrs Catto’s friends at which she discusses her son, his forthcoming marriage and his writing career in tones of great satisfaction; she was widowed in pregnancy, and has had a close, doting relationship with Gilbert. Gilbert and Rhoda will not live with Mrs Catto permanently after the wedding, but will be staying for a long visit. At the same time, Rhoda is packing for her honeymoon; she is attractive, but lacking in vitality, and has a tendency to put on weight. Rhoda is not in favour of slimming or the use of cosmetics and has never cut her hair; she thinks of herself as an old-fashioned girl. Her cousin Shirley, who is with her, is more modern, watches her weight, plucks her eyebrows and is far more modern, training to be a medical student. Rhoda says a lot of sententious things about love, and Shirley asks whether it is really wise for the couple to live with Mrs Catto, but Rhoda feels that Gilbert needs both of them to look after him, and that she would not want to come between them. While these conversations are taking place, Gilbert is walking on the moors and reflecting on his engagement to Rhoda. Whenever he had shown a vague interest in a woman before, his mother had a spell of headaches; she had introduced him to Rhoda, who was very like her. Alone with Rhoda, he had kissed her and she had accepted a proposal he had not actually made. He has gone along with the wedding, but realises now that he cannot marry Rhoda, as it will drive him mad to be trapped with her and his mother. Later that afternoon, he meets Shirley, who tells him he looks wretched and that she thinks it has to do with the wedding. Gilbert pours out his heart to her, and she suggests he should run away, as he is clearly not up to calling off the marriage. He gives Shirley a letter to post on his behalf. His mother, receiving it, tells the press that she and Rhoda - who has come to live with her - will wait for Gilbert. He has got lodgings, and a job in a film studio, in London, and meets Shirley again, who advises him to break off his engagement. He is reconciled with his mother, and Rhoda writes to forgive him. This panics him so much that he marries his landlady. They Don’t Wear Labels (pp302-314): Mrs Fuller runs a London boarding-house and narrates the story. Two of her guests are Mr and Mrs Peverelli; she is an invalid, although Mr Peverelli confides that there is nothing organically wrong with her. Mr Peverelli is sociable, and a good card-player. One night when he is away, Mrs Peverelli asks for some cocoa, and confides that she feels unsafe and is afraid of her husband, who has repeatedly tried to poison her. Mrs Fuller brushes this away, ascribing it to jealousy and self-dramatisation. At Christmas, the boarding-house has a small tree, and Mr Peverelli buys some baubles to decorate it. On Boxing Day, he announces they are moving on. Clearing out their room, Mrs Fuller finds a tiny fragment of coloured glass from a broken bauble; but she never finds the rest of the pieces.

1940

Macmillan

none

Affectionately dedicated to Peter Stucley, because of our long friendship and as a tribute to many shared recollections of Moscow, London, Edinburgh and the West Country.

Charques, R. D. ‘War-Time Rejuvenation’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 1984, 10 Feb. 1940, p. 71; Muir, Edwin. ‘New Novels: The Provincial Lady in War-Time’. The Listener, vol. 23, no. 587, 11 Apr. 1940, p. 754; ‘New Novels: The Provincial Lady in War-Time’. The Times, no. 48535, 10 Feb. 1940, p. 4; Pope, Margaret. ‘New Fiction’. Daily Telegraph, no. 26423, 10 Feb. 1940, p. 5.

At the start of September 1939 Robert (as ARP (Air Raid Precautions) Organiser) is fitting the family (and Cook) for gas-masks. The PL, Robin and Vicky (now capable teenagers) prepare the house to receive refugees, and put up black-out under Robert’s direction. Aunt Blanche asks to come to stay as a paying guest for the duration. Humphrey Holloway, the local billetting officer, describes how difficult it is to get evacuees settled. War is declared, and the PL makes plans for undertaking war work in London, while wondering about the economic impact on her family. Cook loyally agrees to stay with them, as does one housemaid. Aunt Blanche arrives in the middle of the night, after a much-delayed train journey. Lady Boxe turns her house into a convalescent home for officers only, and is seen in Red Cross uniform. The villagers struggle rather with their evacuees, although Miss Pankerton - in wartime garb of blue slacks and leather jerkin - is pleased with her six little boys from the East End. Aunt Blanche proposes some evacuated children, Marigold and Margery, from a family she knows in Coventry. They arrive with their nurse, a young Irishwoman called Doreen Fitzgerald and settle in well. Aunt Blanche complains bitterly about her former flatmate Pussy Winter-Gammon, who has volunteered for the ARP at the Adelphi in London in a way Aunt Blanche thinks unsuitable for her age. Rose writes to offer the tenancy of a flat in Buckingham Street in London, and Aunt Blanche agrees to take over the running of the house in Devon while the PL goes to undertake war-work in London. Robin attempts to enlist with the Reserve of the Devon Regiment, but is told to return to school. Our Vicar’s Wife is struggling with some difficult evacuees and no servants. Robert is being driven mad by a volunteer at the ARP. The PL is driven to London by Humphrey Holloway, neighbour and billeting officer, and moves in to Buckingham Street; she is warned by the owner of the house how unsafe it would be if bombed. Nearby is the Adelphi ARP station and the PL goes there where she meets the prolix and self-obsesssed Pussy Winter-Gammon and the much more pleasant Serena Brown, a friend of Aunt Blanche. The ARP station is noisy smoky and airless, and the sleeping arrangements are uncomfortable in the extreme. The PL invites Serena to use the bathroom at her flat whenever she needs to, as her own flat is in Belsize Park and she has four Austrian Jewish refugees staying with her. The PL begins the search for war work but is rebuffed by the BBC and Ministry of Information; she volunteers at the Adelphi canteen instead. Rose, Cissie Crabbe and various other friends are all similarly searching for war work, without success. Rose reports that the hospitals are all empty but suggests that the PL ring up the Blowfields; Sir Archibald Blowfield has a job at the Ministry of Information. She does so, but gets no further. She and Serena meet for coffee, and Serena explains how the barrage balloons work. Visiting Serena at her flat, she meets the oldest of Serena’s refugees, who feels the cold and is wearing an overcoat and sitting over an electric fire. They practice wearing their gas-masks, much to the alarm of Serena’s refugees. The PL is introduced to Serena’s friend J. L., an author and broadcaster, who is having similar difficulty finding suitable war work. Serena introduces the PL to the Adelphi Commandant, an officious and bad-tempered young woman, and Darling, the Commandant’s friend and assistant; despite their very rude treatment the PL begins work in the Adelphi Canteen with Mrs. Peacock, who is kind and friendly and has a bad leg. Following another conversation with the owner of her building in Buckingham Street, the PL experiments successfully with finding her way to the nearest air-raid shelter in the dark - but returns to find she left all her lights on and her gas-mask behind. She is saddened by a letter from Felicity Fairmead, who is helping a friend with domestic work while trying to find war work, and irritated by a selfish one from Barbara Blenkinsop. She buys trousers and an overall to wear at the Canteen before lunching with Mr and Mrs Weatherby; he is an overworked civil servant, but is not helpful in offering contacts for war work. Later she visits Uncle A., in his eighties, for tea; he is pleased to see her and full of sprightly energy. During her Canteen duty, she is subjected to Pussy Winter-Gammon’s prolix and self-serving monologues. The Commandant arrives in the Canteen, intimidating the staff and being exceptionally high-handed about her food. Rumours of air-raids abound and the PL makes an inefficient job of slicing bread for sandwiches. Hitler has made peace proposals which are universally found unacceptable. The PL makes another young friend at the Canteen, Muriel, who also makes use of her bathroom. Serena asks for advice as to whether marriage to J. L. would be a good idea. The PL lunches with the Blowfields and a clearly fraudulent young man called Gitnik who passes on rumours characterised as inside information. The Weatherbys are also there and equally unimpressed. The PL volunteers for a Sunday shift and is appalled to be put on the rota for 6 a.m; even being there this early cannot save her from Mrs Winter-Gammon’s conversation. Rose is having similar problems finding suitable war work, despite her medical qualifications. At the Canteen, a stretcher-bearer complains that they are to be issued with shrouds for the dead, a measure he considers overly refined. Cook writes to the PL to say that Winnie the housemaid has had to go home, and this domestic disruption causes some anxiety, especially as there has been no word from Aunt Blanche. Robert, on the telephone, is rather vague about the whole thing. The PL decides to take ten days’ leave and return to Devon to sort out domestic matters; she beards the Commandant in a spirit of defiance, but the Commandant is as rude as ever. A mock air raid takes place at the Adelphi. The PL advises Serena to find another sort of war work, as her current role is bad for her health, but Serena points out that there is nothing else available. Returning to Devonshire, the PL finds Winnie has come back and that food is plentiful, but Cook is generally unhappy, especially with the state of the range. Aunt Blanche suggests sending her on holiday. Young men in the village appear in uniform and Lady Boxe is holding First Aid classes at her house, although her hospital has yet to manifest. Cook is told of her impending holiday, but offers a spirited resistance. Lady Boxe visits, and shares a number of rumours about the war; she is keeping on all her staff except her second footman. There is an air raid over the Firth of Forth, after much speculation about raids; Vicky’s school hears the warning. Mrs. Vallence arrives to take over the cooking and teaches the PL how to prepare rabbits, which she is unable to eat afterwards. A discussion of her hunt for war work with Miss Pankerton drives the PL into a state of fury. She decides to return to London and asks Robert whether he can spare her - he is not enthusiastic but assents. The PL returns to the Canteen, which has changed considerably in her absence, and is reunited with Serena, who tells her about J. L.’s novel. Uncle A. has provided an introduction to a Mr. Molesworth at the Ministry of Information, and the PL makes an appointment to see him. She gets thoroughly lost in the Ministry building, and has a vague discussion with Mr Molesworth who refers her to a Captain Jerry Skein-Tring. Jerry tells her that writers, artists and so on need to keep working at their normal activities but stay off the War as a topic, and is unmoved by her argument that the market for books is depressed and there is also a paper shortage. A sudden craze for knitting overtakes the Adelphi ARP, mostly for the war effort although Mrs. Peacock is knitting a shawl for an imminent grandchild. Serena discusses J. L. and whether she should marry him; she is shocked when the PL asks if she is considering an affair with him. Mrs. Winter-Gammon interrupts them with one of her self-promoting monologues. The PL’s literary agent telephones and encourages her to get on with a new novel. Serena brings J. L., Muriel and a handsome man who turns out to be a psychiatrist to the flat for sherry, and J. L. then takes the PL out for dinner where he talks about his relationship with Serena. They attend Ridgway’s Late Joys at the Players’ Theatre. An assassination attempt on Hitler in a Munich beer-hall fails. Lady Blowfield, depressed as ever, lunches with the PL at her club; afterwards, the PL tries to work out a synopsis of a new novel. Back at the flat, Serena is in a low state, and the PL advises again that she should find different war work - but notes that this is next to impossible. The canteen’s Deb has left because of nervous strain. Felicity Fairmead is in London and the two friends meet; Felicity is saddened by her general uselessness in wartime and they reminisce about the way they were brought up. The PL loses her gas-mask and National Registration Card, and has to obtain replacements. A chance meeting with Humphrey Holloway leads to the organisation of a sherry-party at Serena’s flat; one of her refugees makes excellent canapes. The PL buys a siren-suit to wear to the party. Cissie Crabbe visits, in uniform; Rose, at the party, has also found suitable war-work. The party is a great success, and the next day the PL hears that her services as a writer are now required for the war effort, and expects that these activities will be too important to record in her diary.

1940

Collins

An account of life in Nazi Germany, and the implications of a Nazi invasion of Britain, addressed to women. Her main point is that the Nazi regime seeks to crush the individual, and force all citizens to serve the state without dissent. Delafield discusses home-life: married women will see little of their husbands, since compulsory military service, and parents will have no choice over their children’s education. Children will be indoctrinated into Nazism and encourage to report any dissent from their parents. Young lovers may have been separated by war-work, but in Nazi Germany they can be separated by arrests, deportation, disappearance if one of them has spoken unwisely about the regime. Delafield argues that love and affection can be used against women, to blackmail them into the service of the state. She shows how thought and ideas can be state-controlled by Nazi control of the education system, and how this is managed on highly gendered lines. She criticises the ways in which schoolchildren are inducted into violence and militarized behaviour. As well as deploring Nazi antisemitism, she describes how membership of Christian churches have been regulated by the Nazis. She shows the loss of freedom for all under Nazism, and particularly for women, given the expectation that women would be relegated to the home. Wartime restrictions, she suggests, however severe, are nothing to the lack of freedom under Nazi rule. Nothing else matters, she says, other than supporting the war effort and ensuring we win the war.

1941

Macmillan

"Who loved her best? There's no one now will know." Moira O'Neill, Songs of the Glens of Antrim

none

Charques, R. D. ‘Past and Present: No One Now Will Know’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 2057, 5 July 1941, p. 321; Muir, Edwin. ‘New Novels: No One No Will Know’. The Listener, vol. 26, no. 655, 31 July 1941, p. 175; ‘Notes for the Novel-Reader: Fiction of the Month’. The Illustrated London News, vol. 199, no. 5340, 23 Aug. 1941, p. 252.

Description of Rock Place possibly East Butterleigh? Also Fanny remaining “a West Indian” and never becoming a lady of the manor (p48) possibly reminiscent of Mrs Henry? The Grove is definitely The Priory. Waspish comment on Cecilia: “Sooner or later, and probably sooner, men would want to marry her, attracted by her fortune, her good looks, and a latent strength of character that at present manifested itself principally in her management of her children. It was Joe’s opinion that Frederic had never awakened Cecilia to passion, but that a stronger man might do so, all the more successfully because she was no longer in her first youth.” (pp174-5). Fairly strong intimation that Lucy has murdered Rosalie - reference to an inquest confirming it was an accident (p362) and Lucy admits to letting his horse have its head (p363) - it’s the same horse that bolts earlier in part III.

The novel is organised into three sections running in reverse chronological order. Part I, Nice Maritime (August 1939), introduces us to Sue Ballantyne. Sue is nineteen, and travelling to the South of France for the first time with her wealthy and glamorous aunt Mona (Lady Dallas); her cousin Rosemary who is seventeen, pretty and charming, and both smokes and wears make-up; and Sue’s brother Carol, who is handsome but impoverished. Their parents, Callie and Cecil, are first cousins; her father, a farmer, has a lame foot from a war injury and, it is implied, ongoing psychological problems too. The family is not well-off and Carol works for a publisher in London. The group discuss the likelihood of war, and the fact that Sue’s grandfather (and Rosemary’s great-uncle) Lucy (Lucian Lemprière) is buried at Nice. Lucy, born in 1865, is described as a Creole who had a sugar plantation in Barbados. Rosemary is reminded that she also has West Indian blood through her grandmother, Fanny Lemprière - which she describes as ‘ghastly’. The cousins reflect on the possibility of death through wartime bombing. Sue compares herself, unfavourably, to the vivacious redheaded Rosemary. Part II, Rock Place (1910-1914) tells the story of Sue’s mother Callie. She is twelve years old when this section opens and living in Bridgetown, Barbados. Her grandmother Celia (born Odell, married first to Frederick Lemprière and mother of Fred, Lucy and Fanny, married secondly to Lorimer Charlecombe and mother of Kate) has just died, and Callie is sent by her uncle Fred to live in England with Fanny and her family. Separated from her Barbadian amah and everything she has known, she is dismayed when she has to leave; Fred leaves her with a parting gift of all the silver coins he has in his pockets. On the boat, in charge of Major and Mrs Edwards, Callie overhears a conversation about some scandal attached to her family - “typical Creole” - and the death of woman in a carriage accident. Arriving in a cold English February, Callie travels to London with the Edwardses, who leave her alone at a hotel to await her family. Her uncle Tom Ballantyne arrives - Fanny is an invalid - but Callie is now missing. She is soon found, however, crying from homesickness that only the Edwards’s amah has perceived. Callie arrives at Rock Place, in Devon, a slightly worn and untidy converted farmhouse, and meets her aunt Kate, and her cousins Awdry (14), Juliet (13), Reggie (10), Cecil (15) and Mona (9). The older girls are pleased to see her. Aunt Fanny has large dark eyes like Uncle Fred’s, and keeps to a sofa. Kate (called Aunt by all) is dynamic and kind. Put to bed in her own, pretty room, Callie has a nightmare but is kindly dealt with by the family. She settles in well with the Ballantynes and Kate talks to her about her mother and father. Her mother Rosalie died when Callie was very small, and her father Lucy has been living abroad, travelling about ever since. Callie shares lessons with the governess, Tansy; most of the Ballantynes ride, and they all play cricket with enthusiasm. The Ballantynes’s neighbours include the foxhunting squires the Berringers, who have a French Catholic governess; the Palambos, whose son has gone to the bad and who feud with the Berringers and with each other; Dr and Mrs. Umfraville, and their occasionally visiting niece Elisabeth; and the ffillimores, four foxhunting spinster sisters who look after their bachelor brother Bob. Cecil is odd one out in the family; he is quiet and does not hunt, and is a disappointment to his father. The family attends a village concert, and Callie sees Elisabeth for the first time. Uncle Fred turns up unexpectedly for a visit. He plans to sell The Grove, a large house in Wales that belongs to Kate, inherited from her father Mr Charlecombe. Fanny explains to Callie that the Lemprières owned sugar plantations in Barbados, and shows her a picture of her mother Rosalie as a girl, but Callie cannot relate to her as her mother. Callie is taken by Kate and Fred to call on neighbours. She does not care for the Palambos but enjoys her visit to the High Victorian home of the ffillimores, who are kind to her. Eavesdropping, she hears that Bob ffillimore proposed to Kate, who turned him down as she did not wish to marry. They visit the Umfravilles and Callie and Elisabeth make friends; Elisabeth’s mother is separated from her husband, who treated her badly. The children socialise between each others’ houses; Cecil and Reggie go back to school, and Elisabeth’s cousin Bella arrives for a visit. Fred, after much inaction (”No Lemprière ever works”), decides to go with Kate to South Wales to arrange to sell The Grove. They take Callie with them, as she was born there. Fred oversleeps, and Kate and Callie go to Chepstow alone. In Wales, they meet elderly cousins Joe and Edith Newton, and John, formerly overseer of the Lemprière plantation in Barbados. Edith tells Callie about Kate’s early life and the loss of Rosalie. They explore the house, which is mostly empty, but Callie finds it delightful. Kate and Callie visit Rosalie’s grave; she died at 26. The Newton cousins are former plantation-owners, and now impoverished. Edith hints to Kate that Callie may not be Lucy’s daughter. It is decided to auction The Grove. The action moves on to early 1914. Cecil is now at an agricultural college, but lacks enthusiasm for it - and for anything else. Reggie has joined the Navy. Fanny and Kate discuss the Lemprière disposition to idleness and to putting on weight. A letter comes from Nice, telling Kate that Lucy is seriously ill. Kate, distressed, arranges to leave to see him. Fred is expected to join her there, but as usual his plans are vague. While Kate is away, Callie hears more than she ever has about her father and how he and Kate were both devastated by Rosalie’s death. By May of 1914, Lucy has died; Fred arrived a day too late to see him. Callie again overhears a hint that Lucy may not have been her father. This section closes with an epilogue in 1918. Cecil has survived the war but been wounded and shell-shocked. Callie comes to visit him at his London club; she has been working as a nurse in Salonika. Reggie has been killed in the war. Callie has been in love with a man called Michael Lorac, who married her friend Elisabeth, but she claims to have got over this betrayal. Kate also nursed in the war, and Fred turned up suddenly in France, ill, alcoholic and overweight. Kate has gone back with him to Barbados to look after him. Part III is The Grove (1872-1901), focusing on the youth of Fred, Lucy, Fanny and Kate. A prologue tells of their origins. Frederick Lemprière senior is “a Creole gentleman of French origins [...] in whom the Barbadian climate had served to increase natural apathy”. He and Cecilia marry in 1863 and move to Bridgetown, where he has sugar plantations staffed by “coloured labour” (p169). Cecilia is an orphan on her marriage and glad to swap her Brighton home for Bridgetown and a rich, amiable husband. Her real passion, though, is for her firstborn son Fred; she is fond of Lucy and frankly dismayed by the arrival of Fanny. When her husband dies of fever at 42, she lets her house, leaves loyal and capable John Newton to manage the plantation, and takes her children back to Britain, having commissioned Joe Newton to find them a house in South Wales. Joe finds them The Rise, and he and Edith are endlessly helpful to Cecilia. She keeps the children at home despite expectations that Fred and Lucy will soon go to school; Fred is spoiled, Lucy loved rather less, and Fanny mostly ignored to the extent that she is selectively mute. Eight years later, the boys are at Harrow and Cecilia meets Lorimer Charlecombe, a civil servant who has inherited The Grove, a house nearby. He courts her, throwing cricket lunches to which she brings her sons, and they marry. Their daughter Kate is born two years later. Visiting Barbados with her husband, Cecilia tells John Newton that Lucy will be sent out to manage the plantation in due course. Charlcombe dies following a riding accident when Kate is three; The Grove is left in trust to her. The story jumps forward to Kate at seventeen, excited because Lucy is coming home after a Grand Tour, and her friend Rosalie Meredith is coming to visit. Fanny has been married to Tom for four years, and Fred has gone to Barbados against his mother’s wishes. Tall and blonde, Rosalie is five years older than Kate, who cares for her passionately. Otherwise, she is fondest of Lucy, and is delighted that he has come home. Rosalie meets Lucy at a cricket match at The Grove; her aunt, Mrs Troyle, also attends, and reports back to Rosalie’s mother that Lucy seemed attracted to Rosalie, but is very concerned that the Lemprières might have black ancestry. Mrs Meredith - who is not well off - denies this emphatically and insists that either of the Lemprière sons would be a good match for Rosalie. Rosalie herself is fond of romantic adventures and is attracted to Lucy. Cecilia decides to have some parties for Lucy, and invites Rosalie to stay for a few days. Lucy collects her in a dog-cart and they engage in some enjoyable flirtation. Fanny and her family arrive, as do Joe and Edith Newton. There is a plan to go to a local flower show; Kate is disappointed when Rosalie prefers to stay behind with Lucy. He kisses her, and asks her to marry him; she does not give a straight answer, but is powerfully attracted to him but wishes to retain her freedom. Cecilia has noticed their attraction and endorses the match, tacitly. Rosalie becomes more distant from Kate, and Fanny points out the growing attraction between her and Lucy; Kate is stricken with jealousy. At a dance, she is overwhelmed by conflicting emotions. Rosalie returns home and Lucy finds pretexts to visit her there. Her mother sees them holding hands and confronts Rosalie, who prevaricates about accepting Lucy’s reiterated proposals, but is eventually persuaded and they become engaged. Kate is desperately unhappy; Cousin Edith listens kindly to her and invites her to come and stay for a while. Cecilia tells Kate Rosalie was never really her friend, and that both Lucy and Rosalie are disgusted with her; but Rosalie is kind and reassuring. Lucy, however, lets Kate down when he has promised to talk to her and she leaves for the Newtons without talking to him. Fred arrives home and says the plantation is doing badly. Cecilia is unworried, she has other income and would prefer it if Fred came back to Britain permanently. Rosalie comes to visit Lucy and is alarmed by a loose horse pulling a buggy; she approaches who she thinks is Lucy, but it is Fred. She becomes faint, and Fred helps her to the house, telling her how lucky Lucy is and how he wishes he had come home earlier and seen her first. As the wedding preparations continue, Rosalie realises she is attracted to Fred. When he visits her in London, where she and her mother are buying her trousseau, she faints. Fred takes her out in his carriage, having said they would dine with Fanny, who is in Devonshire. He asks Rosalie to break off her engagement and kisses her. They go to Kenwood, and dine outside before he takes her for a walk in the woods; Rosalie is overwhelmed by her passion and happiness. Back in Wales, she cries over Kate on the day before her wedding to Lucy, but goes ahead with the marriage. After their honeymoon, the couple return to The Grove in December. Fred is still there and the plantations are doing worse than ever; he reminds Rosalie that they are still in love, but Rosalie does not want to hurt Lucy. Kate is calmer and she and Lucy are reconciled. Lucy confronts Fred and Rosalie; they admit their attraction but Rosalie wants to remain with Lucy. Fred refuses to leave and, when he meets Rosalie out walking, makes love to her again. Rosalie’s daughter Callie is born in October 1898. The plantations continue to decline. Kate, now twenty, has lost confidence and spontenaity; she does not seem likely to attract a husband. Lucy serves in the South African war and Fred comes home while he is away. Lucy is taken prisoner and correspondence is very patchy. Rosalie realises that the attraction between her and Fred is as strong as ever. Lucy returns but the atmosphere at the Grove is sombre; he and Fred barely speak and Rosalie is distracted. Her mother is ill, and must have an operation. Lucy speaks of moving his family out to Barbados but first they go to London to be near Mrs Meredith, who dies during surgery. Back in Wales, Lucy gives Fred and Rosalie - who may be pregnant again - an ultimatum: Fred will go back to Barbados and take Rosalie with him. There will be no divorce but they can live there together without scandal. Fred goes to London and Lucy asks Kate to pack up Rosalie’s things, telling her that Callie will stay behind with her. Lucy drives to collect Rosalie from her father’s in a storm; there is an accident and Rosalie is thrown from the buggy and killed. After the inquest, Fred and Cecilia return to Barbados with Callie; Kate has moved to Rock Place while Lucy wanders around the earth.

1943

Macmillan

none

For Kate O'Brien

Charques, R. D., and Elizabeth L. Sturch. ‘Experienced Lovers: Late and Soon’. The Times Literary Supplement, no. 2157, 5 June 1943, p. 269.

In 1942, Valentine Arbell (44) is living in her country house, Coombe in Devon, with her arthritic and reactionary brother General Reggie Levallois (56) and her younger daughter Jess (17), who is waiting to be called up for the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Valentine’s husband Humphrey died in a hunting accident twelve years previously. Her older daughter Primrose is 23, lives in London and is currently driving a mobile canteen; she and Valentine do not get on well, as Primrose finds her mother’s diplomatic politeness dishonest, despises her upper-class practical incompetence, and holds very different values. The family is already housing some evacuated children, and the house is very uncomfortable as they have lost most of their servants, there is a single bathroom (and about 8 bedrooms plus servants’ rooms) and the heating and hot water are inadequate. An officer comes to the house and asks whether Valentine would consider hosting two senior officers, a Colonel Lonergan and Captain Sedgwick. In the summer of 1914, living in Rome with her diplomat parents, Valentine had a short, chaste but intense romance with an Irish painter of that name; when discovered, her mother had put a stop to it. Valentine’s subsequent marriage was emotionally limited. She rather hopes that this Colonel will turn out to be the Rory Lonergan of her youth. Colonel Lonergan arrives by car, having collected Primrose from Exeter station; they have been having an affair for a couple of weeks. He is starting to find the age gap awkward and is embarrassed by Primrose’s bad manners when they stop for a drink. She mentions her mother’s maiden name and he realises she might have been the girl he knew in Rome. When they arrive at the house, both he and Valentine realise that they have been reunited. There is an awkward dinner where Primrose is very rude to her mother, and Rory Lonergan tells her he will not sleep with her in her mother’s house. He and Valentine tell each other how their lives have been since they parted. Rory had a long relationship with a Frenchwoman, Laurence, who died in 1934; they have a daughter, Arlette, who is living in Ireland with Rory’s sister. In bed, Valentine realises that she is falling in love with Rory again. But the next day she realises that there is some connection between him and Primrose. At dinner, though, Primrose is rude and argumentative with Rory; he tells her that their relationship is definitely over and then tells Valentine that he loves her, which she reciprocates. He confesses to Valentine that he and Primrose have had an affair, but that it was a short-lived thing and is now over. Valentine is concerned about this but content to accept his proposal of marriage. Venetia Rockingham, Valentine’s sister-in-law, arrives for a visit with Hughie Spurway, a neurotic and probably homosexual young man who is in love with Primrose. Valentine and Rory discuss the differences between them and how they might adjust to them, especially their differences of class and life experience. Reggie, who has anti-Irish prejudice and has already warned Valentine about spending time with Rory, gossips with Venetia about their friendship and Venetia tries to warn Valentine off him. Valentine is newly confident and tells her firmly that she is in love and will marry Rory. Hughie has got drunk and made a scene with Primrose; Valentine scares him away when she comes to tell Primrose of her plans to marry. Primrose is less angry than Valentine expects, and she is able to tell Jess (nonplussed). Hughie gets drunker still and Primrose throws a jug of cold water over him; in the aftermath, Venetia turns the conversation to Rory’s complicated love affairs but Valentine forestalls her by telling Reggie that she is to marry him. Valentine tells Primrose that she knows their relationship has gone wrong and is sorry; they seem to come to an understanding. Reggie is appalled to learn that Rory has slept with Primrose and will now marry Valentine. But Valentine’s old French servant Madeleine is supportive and pleased. Rory and Valentine talk over Arlette, and his relationship with Laurence. Valentine realises that this will always be a source of pain that she will have to live with. Jess tells Valentine that she thinks her marriage will be a good thing, and that she does not think much of Primrose’s treatment of her admirers. Venetia tries to dissuade Valentine from marrying, citing the views of the extended family, Rory’s Catholicism and their class difference. Reggie has a similar conversation with her, suggesting that her feelings are an infatuation of middle age and to put off marriage until after the end of the war. Hughie, ashamed of himself, leaves the house. Rory telephones from his office: he has 48 hours embarkation leave. Valentine walks to meet him, but instead bumps into Jess who tells her that Rory has been called away. Jess has her call-up papers. Later, Rory tries and fails to reach Arlette by telephone. Venetia talks to him to try to put him off the proposed marriage. Rory has obtained a special marriage licence, but he is still concerned about how they will merge their very different lives; Valentine is willing, eventually, to leave Coombe, as her daughters are grown up. But they are both concerned that they will marry in haste and be unable to resolve matters. Rory is called away by war duties; Arlette sends a telegram asking for her father to visit or to send for her. He returns late at night but does not come to see Valentine. The next morning, it is snowing. Madeleine wakes Valentine with a note from Rory. He has got over his doubts, and they agree to be married that morning. They go out into the snow.