The Towers of Love by Stephen; Birmingham Page B

up. “It’s Edrita.”
    â€œEdrita? What the hell’s she calling you about? Where is she?”
    â€œShe’s back here for a few days,” Hugh said, standing up. “She’s just calling to say hallo. I’ll take it in the library, Pappy.”
    He went into the library and, behind him, heard his father’s loud voice saying, “Pappy, get me some sharp pencils. Understand? Pencils. Pencils , Pappy. There isn’t a single god-damned pencil in my desk.”
    He sat on the arm of one of the large leather chairs and picked up the telephone. “Good morning, Mrs. Smith,” he said.
    â€œHallo, Hugh. How are you?”
    â€œFine. How are you, Mrs. Smith?”
    He could hear her laughing softly at the other end of the line. “I told Pappy I was Miss Everett,” she said. “He wouldn’t have known who I was if I’d said Mrs. Smith.”
    â€œWell, how are you, Miss Everett?”
    â€œI’m very well.”
    â€œGood,” he said. “Taken any midnight walks lately?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, Hugh?”
    â€œI saw you last night. I saw you come out of the house. I was on the terrace, watching you.”
    â€œWere you? Were you really?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œI wanted a breath of fresh air.”
    â€œSo did I,” he said.
    There was a little silence on the other end. Then she said, “Hugh, your mother just called me.”
    â€œOh, did she?”
    â€œYes. She still wants me to come for dinner. She asked if I could come to-night.”
    â€œWell,” he said, “can you?”
    â€œDo you want me to come?”
    â€œ Can you come?”
    â€œAnswer my question first,” she said. “Do you want me to come?”
    â€œI think it would be very nice if you came,” he said.
    There was another little silence. “That’s a funny answer,” she said.
    â€œWhy is it a funny answer?” he asked her.
    â€œHugh, was it her idea, or yours—asking me?”
    â€œWell, she wants to see you,” he said. “She suggested asking you for to-night, and I said wonderful. There’s a surprise guest coming.”
    â€œOh.” Then she said, “So this is really her idea.”
    â€œYes, but I said wonderful. Can you come?”
    â€œI don’t know,” she said quietly.
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Washing your hair again?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen what’s the matter? Why don’t you know?”
    â€œI’m just not sure it’s a good idea,” she said.
    â€œWhy not?” he asked. “Look, there’s a surprise guest coming, and—”
    â€œYes, you said that.”
    â€œAnd it’s a sort of a party.”
    â€œSo I gather.”
    â€œWhy not come then?”
    â€œWell,” she said, “do you want me to?”
    â€œLook—” he began, and suddenly he felt his voice tightening. “Of course I want you to come, Edrita,” he said.
    â€œAll right, then.”
    â€œThen I’ll see you to-night?”
    â€œYes. Will you tell your mother?”
    â€œYes, I’ll tell her. Edrita,” he said, “the reason—I mean, the reason she asked you and not me is—well, after all it’s her house. And her party.”
    â€œOh, I understand that,” she said.
    â€œGood,” he said.
    â€œGood-bye,” she said.
    â€œGood-bye, Edrita.” He replaced the receiver in its cradle and sat for a moment on the arm of the chair, looking out at the morning. He stood up and walked back towards the study door to rejoin his father. But at the door he stopped. His father was deep in his crossword puzzle, frowning intently at it, chewing the eraser of a fresh pencil. Their interview, he decided, was over. He tiptoed away from the door.
    He went through the house and out on to the terrace. The fountain had been turned off, the pool around it was still and silent, and the only