Encounters: stories by Elizabeth Bowen, Robarts - University of Toronto

Richard Evans got up and stood in front of the fireplace, delightedly kicking the fender.
    "Tea!"commanded Cicely through the crack of the door; just as she had done at No. 17 and at the New House, during the few short months of her reign there.
    "Hot day,"said Herbert, sitting down carefully.
    "Richard's hot,"said Cicely proudly;"he's been mowing the lawn."

    "Home early?"
    "Well, yes. One must slack off a bit this weather."
    "Idle dog,"said Herbert archly.
    "Doesn't being engaged agree with Herbert!"cried Cicely, slapping his knee. (She had never taken these liberties at No. 17.)"Don't you feel wonderful, Herbert? Isn't it not like anything you ever felt before?"
    Herbert ran one finger round the inside of his collar and smiled what Doris called his quizzical smile.
    "Only three weeks more,"contributed Richard."And how's the trousseau getting on?"
    "My trousseau?"
    "Ha, ha! Hers, of course. My dear Herbert, those dressmaker women have got you in their fist. If they don't choose to let her have the clothes in time she'll put the whole thing off."
    Herbert was not to be alarmed."Oh, they'll hurry up,"he said easily."I'm making it worth their while. By Gad, Cicely, she does know how to dress."118

    "They are most wonderful clothes—she is lucky, isn't she, Richard?"
    Herbert beamed complacency."She deserves it all,"he said.
    "I think she's getting handsomer every day."
    "Happiness does a good deal for us all,"said Herbert gallantly.
    "By the way,"said Cicely, winking across at Richard (an accomplishment he must have taught her),"look carefully round the room, Herbert, and see if you see anyone you know."
    Herbert, who had taken Richard's place on the sofa and was sitting with his hands in his pockets and his legs stretched out, turned his head as far as his collar would permit and made an elaborate inspection of the chimney-piece, the whatnot, the piano-top.
    "Very well she looks up there, too,"he said, raising himself a little with arched back for a better view, then relapsing with a grunt of relief. He had seen what he expected, the portrait of his beloved looking out coyly at him from between two top-heavy vases."Where did you get that. Cicely?"
    "She brought it round herself, the day 

    before yesterday. She came in just before supper; T was out, but she stayed a long time talking to Richard. Oh, Richard, look at Herbert getting crimson with jealousy!"Herbert, who never changed colour except after meals or from violent exertion, beamed with gratification."Never mind, Herbert,"said Cicely,"Frn jealous, too, you see."
    Herbert was often irritated by the way that Richard and Cicely looked at one another across him. He did not enjoy the feeling of exclusion. But of course he and Doris would be able to look at each other across people just like that when they were married.
    "Do bring it over here, Richard,"said Cicely, nodding at the portrait."I want to look at it again."Tea was carried in, not noiselessly, but quite unnoticed. The brother and sister were looking at the photograph. Herbert leant back, smiling at it with an absent and leisurely pride. Cicely bent forward in eager and short-sighted scrutiny. She seemed to be looking for something in it that she could not find.
    A young lady with symmetrically puffed-out hair returned both regards from out of a 120

    silver frame with slightly bovine intensity. Her lips were bowed in an indulgent smile —perhaps the photographer had been a funny man—a string of pearls closely encircled a long plump neck.
    "She has framed it for you very handsomely,"said Herbert. "I said to her when we were first engaged, ' Never stint over a present when it is necessary '—I think that is so sound. ' Of course I do not approve of giving indiscriminately,' I said, ' but when they must be given let them be handsome. It is agreeable to receive good presents, and to give them always makes a good impression.'"
    Cicely looked guilty; Richard had insisted on consigning the coal-scuttle that Herbert