He let us in. The lights were on in the living-room, now that the day had darkened, and my eyes were dazzled for a moment by rays from the glass ornaments which flashed back from every open space. There were angels on the buffet wearing robes striped like peppermint rock; and in an alcove there was a Madonna with a gold face and a gold halo and a blue robe. On a sideboard on a gold stand stood a navy-blue goblet, large enough to hold at least four bottles of wine, with a gold trellis curled around the bowl on which pink roses grew and green ivy. There were mauve storks on the bookshelves and red swans and blue fish. Black girls in scarlet dresses held green candle sconces, and shining down on all this was a chandelier which might have been made out of sugar icing hung with pale-blue, pink, and yellow blossoms.
He let us in. The lights were on in the living-room, now that the day had darkened, and my eyes were dazzled for a moment by rays from the glass ornaments which flashed back from every open space. There were angels on the buffet wearing robes striped like peppermint rock; and in an alcove there was a Madonna with a gold face and a gold halo and a blue robe. On a sideboard on a gold stand stood a navy-blue goblet, large enough to hold at least four bottles of wine, with a gold trellis curled around the bowl on which pink roses grew and green ivy. There were mauve storks on the bookshelves and red swans and blue fish. Black girls in scarlet dresses held green candle sconces, and shining down on all this was a chandelier which might have been made out of sugar icing hung with pale-blue, pink, and yellow blossoms.
Venice once meant a lot to me[15], my aunt said rather unnecessarily.
I dont pretend to be a judge of these things, but I thought the effect exaggerated and not in the best of taste.
Such wonderful craftsmanship, my aunt said. Wordsworth, be a dear and fetch us two whiskies. Augusta feels a teeny bit sad after the sad sad ceremony. She spoke to him as though he were a child or a lover, but that relationship I was reluctant to accept.
Everything go O.K.? Wordsworth asked. No bad medicine?
There was no contretemps[16], my aunt said. Oh gracious, Henry, you havent forgotten your parcel?
No, no, I have it here.
I think perhaps Wordsworth had better put it in the refrigerator.
Quite unnecessary, Aunt Augusta. Ashes dont deteriorate.
No, I suppose not. How silly of me. But let Wordsworth put it in the kitchen just the same. We dont want to be reminded all the time of my poor sister. Now let me show you my room. I have more of my Venice treasures there.
She had indeed. Her dressing-table gleamed with them: mirrors and powder-jars and ash-trays and bowls for safety pins. They brighten the darkest day, she said. There was a very large double-bed as curlicued as the glass. I am especially attached to Venice, she explained, because I began my real career there, and my travels. I have always been very fond of travel. Its a great grief to me that my travels now are curtailed.
Age strikes us all before we know it, I said.
Age? I was not referring to age. I hope I dont look all that decrepit, Henry, but I like having a companion and Wordsworth is very occupied now because hes studying to enter the London School of Economics. This is Wordsworths snuggery, and she opened the door of an adjoining room. It was crowded with glass Disney figures and worse all the grinning mice and cats and hares from inferior American cartoon films, blown with as much care as the chandelier.
From Venice too, my aunt said, clever but not so pretty. I thought them suitable, however, for a mans room.
Does he like them?
He spends very little time there, my aunt said, what with his studies and everything else
I wouldnt like to wake up to them, I said.
He seldom does.
My aunt led me back to the sitting-room, where Wordsworth had laid out three more Venetian glasses with gold rims and a water jug with colours mingled like marble. The bottle of Black Label[17] looked normal and out of place, rather like the only man in a dinner-jacket at a fancy-dress party[18], a comparison which came at once to my mind because I have found myself several times in that uncomfortable situation, since I have a rooted objection to dressing up.
Wordsworth said, The telephone talk all the bloody time while you not here. Ar tell them you don gone to a very smart funeral.
Its so convenient when one can tell the truth, my aunt said. Was there no message?
Oh, poor old Wordsworth not understand one bloody word. Ar say to them you no talk English. They go away double quick[19].
My aunt poured out larger portions of whisky than I am accustomed to.
A little more water please, Aunt Augusta.
I can say now to both of you how relieved I am that everything went without a hitch. I once attended a very important funeral the wife of a famous man of letters[20] who had not been the most faithful of husbands. It was soon after the first great war had ended. I was living in Brighton, and I was very interested at that time in the Fabians[21]. I had learnt about them from your father when I was a girl. I arrived early as a spectator and I was leaning over the Communion rail if you can call it that in a crematorium chapel trying to make out the names on the wreaths. I was the first there, all alone with the flowers and the coffin. Wordsworth must forgive me for telling this story at such length he has heard it before. Let me refresh your glass.