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. It snot the brewers fault they re a new team. No, but it was their fault that they turned up in aspanking new kit and proceeded to look down their noses atour rag-tag assortment, Matthew said warmly. Still, pridegoeth before a fall, as the Good Book says! Matthew! she chided him, laughing. Have a care!Father will have a heart attack if he hears you quotingscripture! ONCE Matthew had scraped off the accumulated grime andwas once more fit to be seen in company, he and Georgeindulged in the rather more sedate pleasures of a game ofbridge with Matthew s mother and sister. JL Merrow Dulce et Decorum Est [59] We shall have some people coming round for drinkslater on, Evelyn announced as she dealt. Just friends fromthe village, and one or two of them will be bringing guests, Ishould think.Quite an informal affair. George s stomach clenched briefly at the news, but heforced it to relax.It would be all right.Hadn t the rest of thestay gone off without incident? Oh.Right-oh. Matthew grinned. Don t worry.They ll have come to seeMother and Father, not us, and will most likely ignore usaltogether.Bother.I thoroughly messed up that round ofbidding, didn t I? Sorry, Aggie! Next time I m playing with George, his sister declaredfirmly, and the conversation remained with the cards forsome time.Later, when George and Matthew were idling in thedrawing room, talking of this and that, the reverend came in,having been engaged upon some parish business. Matthew,could I have a word with you? he asked. Of course, Father. Matthew sprang up from his chair,clapping George on the shoulder. I ll be right back, George. They retreated only as far as the next room, andthrough the open door George could watch them as theytalked.It amused him to see that they used the exact samemannerisms he wondered if they were aware of the fact.Hebecame less comfortable, however, as he realized each ofthem was periodically glancing over at him, their expressionshard to decipher.Could the reverend be warning his sonagainst George? JL Merrow Dulce et Decorum Est [60]Trying to convince himself that he must have developedsomething of a persecution complex, George was relievedwhen the little conference broke apart and Matthew returnedto him. Nothing serious, I hope? was all the enquiry hedared make.Matthew smiled. No! No, not at all.Now, would you liketo go for a stroll before tea? WHEN Evelyn Connaught said she had some people coming round for drinks, it appeared she meant the entirevillage, and half of the next. George was tempted to turn tailand run for his room at the sight of the chattering throngthat filled the drawing room and spilled into the hall.Healmost jumped as he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder. Chin up, George, Matthew murmured into his ear, causinga tingle to run down George s spine. We only need to showour faces, and then we can make a run for it.As long aswe ve been seen at some point, they ll never notice we re gonefor the rest of it. Sometimes I think you can read my mind, Georgereplied in a grateful whisper. Oh, I m being entirely selfish, believe me.Half of thesepeople are total strangers to me, and the rest I see only oncea year, and all they can think of to say when they see me is How s the arm? as if it might somehow have started to growback in the last twelve months. JL Merrow Dulce et Decorum Est [61]George was certain this was not, in fact, the case, buthe said nothing, grateful for his friend s thoughtfulness.Squaring their shoulders, they walked together into the fray.It turned out to be a social gathering much like anyother: everybody talked, and nobody said anything ofconsequence.George just was beginning to think he d nodoff if anyone else remarked how unusual the weather wasthat year when a party of latecomers drew attention by theirentrance
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