Something in Disguise Read Online Free Page B

basins.
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘Don’t be so stupid, Liz.’
    ‘I’m not being stupid – I just don’t know what you mean.’ She seized a gin bottle filled with olive oil.
    ‘I said: what are you going to do ?’
    ‘Make mayonnaise.’ She selected a fork and began to beat the eggs: her eyes were pricking. ‘That’s one thing I can do.’ The feeling that she was dull, and
that Oliver, whom she loved, was brilliant and would therefore suddenly realize this one day and abandon her, recurred for what seemed like the millionth time. How did he know about
First-World-War gas masks? she thought. Why didn’t she know anything surprising like that?
    ‘I’ll pour – you beat.’ She wasn’t very bright, but from her first moments, May had, so to speak, let him in on looking after her. She wasn’t very bright, and
needed him.
    ‘You’re not stupid,’ he said, taking the oil bottle. ‘Goodness me, how weddings make women cry. Cheer up: think of spending a fortnight in Cornwall with
Leslie.’
    She smiled: she would have giggled if she’d felt better.
    ‘A pink chiffon nightdress and all the lights out and twin beds.’
    ‘He’s taken his golf clubs,’ she said, entering the game.
    ‘They can’t talk about what they did last week, because they didn’t have one.’
    ‘They can discuss the wedding. To tide them over.’
    ‘He can tell her about his future: and how he can’t stand dishonesty – he’s funny that way – but he’s all for plain speaking. That cuts down nearly
anyone’s conversation.’
    ‘But on honeymoons,’ said Elizabeth hesitantly, ‘don’t you spend a lot of time making love to the person?’
    ‘That’s a frightfully old-fashioned way of putting it. Besides, golf takes much longer: if he plays two rounds a day, he won’t have all that time.’
    ‘Steady: don’t put any more in till I tell you.’
    ‘What happens if I put in too much?’
    ‘It separates and I have to start all over again with another yolk.’
    ‘Listen: what I meant just now was, you don’t want to just stay here, do you?
    ‘I mean, there’s a serious danger that Daddo will just push you into being another Alice,’ he went on when she didn’t reply.
    ‘I know.’
    ‘We can’t have you escaping to Southport or Ostend in five years’ time for a gay fortnight with a girl friend and meeting someone like Leslie: if you had to choose
between dog kennels and Daddo or the equivalent of Leslie you might easily choose Leslie. Seriously, Liz, you’d be better off in London.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘With me.’
    She flushed with delight. ‘Oh – O l iver!’
    ‘We’ll live on our wits – Edwardian for sharp practice.’
    ‘How would we?’
    ‘My wits then,’ he said with careless affection. ‘Awful people are always offering me jobs.’
    ‘Aren’t you in a job?’
    ‘The accountants’ office? Honestly, Liz, I couldn’t stand it. I left last week.’
    ‘Does May know?’
    ‘ She knows, but he doesn’t. We’ve agreed not to tell him. He’d think I was going to the dogs more than ever. It’s funny how keen he is on girls going
to his blasted dogs, when he can’t stand young whipper-snappers like me going to them.’
    ‘What are you going to do ?’
    ‘I don’t know: that’s what’s so nice. After all those years of educational regimentation I want a breather. I shall probably marry an heiress,’ he added
carelessly.
    ‘You mightn’t love her. I mean – you couldn’t just marry her because of that.’
    ‘Oh, couldn’t I! Well – until we find her – we could always advertise as an unmarried couple willing to wash up, or something like that.’
    There was a pause while she beat industriously (the sauce was now the colour of Devonshire cream) and wondered what she ought to do. Then she said, ‘It’s all right now: pour a thin,
steady stream.’
    He said, ‘I know what’s the trouble. You’re worrying about May.’
    She hadn’t been, she’d started to imagine life in