Cover Page

Title Page

Folly

Susan Minot

Man is so necessarily foolish that not to be a fool is merely a varied freak of folly.

BLAISE PASCAL

I: Mr. Eliot

I

Mr. Eliot

1 • Fairfield Street, Boston, 1917

I’M AFRAID there’s been a change of plan, Mr. Eliot said. He stood in the dining room where Lilian was having her breakfast and reading a book. Her father had completed his breakfast some time before, having risen as usual at dawn. There are to be no guests at dinner tonight.

Lilian looked up, marking her place with a knife. Why not?

Because I was not informed.

But Ma told you Saturday that Walter Vail was coming. Remember, when you got home.

I said there will be no guests. Mr. Eliot lowered his chin and the light caught his rimless glasses, making them go white.

But he’s expecting to come. I’ve already asked him.

I have said all I am going to say. Mr. Eliot cleared his throat. So we’ll see you, just you, this evening. He turned his shoulders toward the door without moving his feet.

I’ll think about it, said Lilian in a very small voice.

Mr. Eliot’s feet moved. Then we won’t expect you, he said and departed the room, leaving her quite alone.

Immediately Lilian sent off a note to Walter Vail saying she was being forced to withdraw her invitation for dinner that evening, making no mystery about who was to blame. Then she found herself suggesting that Walter Vail come anyway, after dinner, after her parents had retired. Lilian was eighteen years old and had never had a rendezvous before, at least not one she had instigated. But everything was different now with the war and she felt different along with it.

His answer came that afternoon and she thrilled to see the handwriting.

Shall I wear a black cloak? Do I climb a trellis? Tell me when and I’ll be there.

Yours,

Walter Vail

She composed her reply a number of times, trying for the right tone. She was first cordial then businesslike. She imitated his comic tone then tried for something offhand, anything but being as serious as she felt. She thought of the time she’d met Jimmie Weld on the second green the summer before, and how different this was. She hardly knew what had come over her.

She finally settled on something.

They go up at 9:00. Come to the back garden and I’ll let you in at 9:30.

Your accomplice,

Lilian Eliot

That morning while Mr. Eliot was leaving for the office, out in the hall where Lilian could hear, Mrs. Eliot had said, Edward, but the young man is going off to fight. Is now the time to be so strict?

I didn’t like the look of him, Mr. Eliot said getting into his topcoat.

Whatever do you mean?