Five

While Joseph bore the step-ladder away to safety in the billiard-room, Mathilda went back into the library to pick up her handbag. She had reached the top of the stairs before he overtook her, but he did overtake her, and, tucking a hand in her arm, said that he did not know what they would any of them do without her.

‘No soft soap, thanks, Joe,’ replied Mathilda. ‘I’m not going to be the sacrifice.’

‘Sacrifice indeed! What an idea!’ He lowered his voice, for they had reached the door of Nathaniel’s room. ‘My dear, help me to save my poor party!’

‘No one can save your party. You might do a bit towards it by removing all paper festoons and mistletoe from his outraged sight.’

‘Sh!’ Joseph said, with an absurdly nervous glance towards Nathaniel’s shut door. ‘You know Nat! That was only just his way. He doesn’t really mind my decorations. I’m afraid the trouble is more difficult to deal with than that. To tell you the truth, Tilda, I wish Paula hadn’t brought that young man here.’

‘We all wish that,’ said Mathilda, coming to a halt outside her own bedroom. ‘But don’t you worry, Joe! He may have added to Nat’s annoyance, but he isn’t the cause of it.’

He sighed. ‘I did so hope that Nat would have taken to Valerie!’

‘You’re an incurable optimist.’

‘I know, I know, but one had to try to ease things for poor old Stephen! I must confess I am a little bit disappointed in Valerie. I’ve tried to make her realise just how things are, but – well, she doesn’t co-operate, does she?’

‘That, Joe, is meiosis,’ said Mathilda dryly.

‘And now there’s this bother with Mottisfont,’ he went on, a worried frown creasing his brow.

‘What’s he been up to?’

‘Oh, my dear, don’t ask me! You know what an impractical old fool I am about business! He seems to have done something that Nat very much disapproves of, but I don’t know all the ins and outs of it. I only know what Mottisfont told me, which was really nothing but hints, and very mysterious. But there! Nat’s bark is always worse than his bite, and I daresay it will all blow over. What we’ve got to do is to think of some way of keeping Nat in a good humour. I don’t think this is quite the moment for me to approach him about Mottisfont’s affairs.’

‘Joe,’ said Mathilda earnestly, ‘you can count me out in your benevolent schemes, but I’ll give you a piece of advice! Don’t approach Nat about anyone’s affairs!’

‘They all look to me, you see,’ he said, with one of his whimsical smiles.

She supposed that he really did see himself as a general mediator, but she was feeling tired, and this resumption of his peacemaking rôle exasperated her. ‘I haven’t noticed it!’ she said.