The New Sonia Wayward Read Online Free Page A

planted the trees of life.
     
    ‘As a matter of fact, Sonia’s thinking of taking a third title from the same stanza. The Trees of Life . I think I like that even better. But The Gates of Delight – I mean Man’s Desire – is just the thing for what she’s working at now.’
    Wedge was visibly impressed by this wealth of literary reference.
    ‘Man’s Desire isn’t bad,’ he said. ‘Provided, naturally, it’s the straight thing. We don’t expect anything pathological from Sonia. The travellers wouldn’t like it. And the reviewers mightn’t either – although of course that’s less important. Only one’s travellers sell books. That, you know, is the great lesson we have to learn from the Yanks. In the field of literature, that is to say.’
    Petticate was silent for a moment. He was reflecting that hoodwinking such a donkey as Ambrose Wedge was really rather poor sport for a person as clever as himself.
    ‘You’ll find,’ he said, ‘that Sonia’s new yarn, bless her, is as clean as a whistle. The Desire of Man is for the Woman, and the Desire of the Woman is for the Desire of the Man.’ Petticate cackled. ‘Such profundities reach the circulating libraries pretty rapidly, these days. The suburbs march breast forward with Maugham. And Sonia keeps up. And she’ll keep on keeping up, if you ask me.’
    ‘Alive,’ Wedge said.
    ‘Just that.’ Petticate accepted the word with enthusiasm. ‘Unquenchable vitality. I’m pretty sure Sonia will be going strong for as long as I live.’
    ‘Nice for you.’ Wedge, perhaps faintly aware that he was in some fashion being mocked at, made one of his detours into the disagreeable. ‘Keeps the wolf from the door, doesn’t it? Or even right at the bottom of the garden.’
    Petticate laughed what was by this time his deft liar’s laugh. ‘I have my modest private competence, you know, as well as my absurd pittance of a pension from the army. But naturally it’s delightful that the world treats Sonia so well. Last year was a pretty good one, I think you’ll agree.’
    ‘It wasn’t at all bad. In fact the sales were excellent.’ Wedge spoke as a fair-minded man. ‘Only they cost us something, I don’t mind telling you. It was quite a battle on the promotion side.’
    ‘Was it, indeed?’ Petticate sounded discreetly sceptical. ‘I don’t remember noticing that your advertising was anything out of the way.’
    ‘Advertising?’ Wedge, although he had now assumed the appearance of one sunk under a weight of care, managed an indulgent smile. ‘My dear chap, you don’t think advertisements sell books nowadays? It’s having the crack team of travellers that does the trick, every time. Unfortunately they’re devilishly expensive. I’d like to have you meet them, some time. They’re an – um – fine body of men.’ Wedge paused. ‘And women,’ he added as an afterthought. ‘I must certainly have you meet them one day.’
    Petticate, who had no belief in the substantial existence of this régiment d’élite , allowed himself a moment’s unresponsive silence.
    ‘I should mention,’ he said presently, ‘that I’ve been having a certain amount of business talk with Sonia – before she went off, that is. She started it, surprisingly enough. I’d say the royalty rates are a bit on her mind. Of course I tell her not to worry, and that I’ll look after all that. That’s much the best thing, you’ll agree.’
    Wedge considered this.
    ‘It has,’ he said rather ambiguously, ‘its advantages, no doubt.’
    ‘I’ve been thinking about that sliding scale. Quite frankly, I’d like to see the 20 % begin to operate a good deal earlier.’
    Wedge gave the sort of brisk nod that characterizes a man of eminently open mind.
    ‘My dear fellow, I’ll try to meet you if I possibly can. Only do remember’ – Wedge produced a charmingly frank smile, and at the same time achieved a practised gesture, sweeping in the threadbare drugget and horsehair