The Angel in the Corner (25 page)

‘Not nearly as sad as if you don’t come.’ Virginia was sitting on his knee, trying to coax him out of his antipathy towards the party and everything connected with the magazine. ‘Everyone
wants to meet you. They keep asking me about you. They couldn’t understand why you didn’t come to the cocktail party for Archie’s birthday.’

‘Straight from Croydon in a pair of oily dungareees. That would have been charming.’

‘They’ll begin to think I haven’t got a husband,’ Virginia said sadly, stroking the hard line of his jaw. ‘The other women’s husbands will all be there. I’ve seen most of them, and there’s not one as attractive as you. I’ll be so proud of you. Come with me, Joe. I don’t want to go alone.’

He shook his head. He had taken his stand, and he was not going to be persuaded to change his mind. He did not want to have anything to do with this other world into which Virginia fitted so well. He did not want to see her there, belonging with that group, belonging with people who had money and jobs and sophistication. She would go away from him, chattering brightly, and he would be left stranded with some supercilious cow, and not the faintest idea what to say to her.

‘I’ll hate it without you,’ Virginia said.

‘Don’t go then.’

‘You know I must. I’ve told you. Everyone has to go. But they will all have somebody. Most of the unmarried girls are taking boy-friends. Who will I dance with?’

‘Derek?’

‘Derek can’t dance.’ Virginia jumped off his knee. ‘All right, I’ll dance with Derek. All evening. And probably kiss him behind a pillar. Now will you come?’

‘No. But I’ll wait outside and shoot Derek.’

Virginia put on the topless white dress to go to the party. ‘Take that off,’ Joe said. ‘You’re not wearing that.’

‘Why not? It’s the only decent dress I’ve got.’

‘It’s my dress. You only wear it for me.’ He began to pull at the zip fastener, swearing because the bodice was so tight that the fastener would not slide easily.

‘Stop that, Joe.’ Virginia pushed his hand away and pulled the fastener up. ‘I’m going to wear this. I haven’t anything else. If you had agreed to come with me, you would have seen me in it. You’ve spoiled my evening by not coming. You’re not going to make it worse by letting me go there looking like a tramp.’

‘That’s a good word to use,’ he said, ‘even if you didn’t mean it that way. You will look like a tramp, tarting round there trying to pick up any man who’ll take a good look down your front.’

He had been drinking most of the afternoon. He did not like Virginia going alone to the party. In the morning, he had begun to wish that he had agreed to go. But it was too late now. He could not go without the right clothes. Damn them, they had to make it a dress-up party just to make a fool out of him. He went to a public-house for his lunch, and came home with a bottle of whisky. He had drunk half of it. He would put himself to sleep with the other half, and be snoring when Virginia came home flushed and girlish and eager for romance.

He would not go out to get a taxi for Virginia, so she had to go upstairs to use Mollie’s telephone. That would give poor old Paul a thrill, but what would Mollie think of her going out without Joe, and looking like that? She would be certain to look out of the window when the taxi came, and would see Virginia go off alone.

When Virginia left, Joe could not help going to the window to stare up at her as she crossed the pavement. She had some kind of glittering thing in her hair, holding back the heavy wave that liked to flop over her forehead. She looked like girls he had seen in films and magazine pictures, and never dreamed of having for his own. He tortured himself with the sight of her long legs as she raised her skirt to step into the taxi, and then he went back to the whisky bottle.

He was not drunk when Mollie came down, but he was in a state of suspended animation, dreaming muddled thoughts. Mollie tapped on the door and poked her head round it.

‘All alone?’ she asked, feigning surprise. ‘Where’s the better half?’

‘Gone to a party,’ Joe said. ‘I wasn’t invited.’

‘Isn’t that a shame? She shouldn’t have gone without you. I’m sure I would never go anywhere they didn’t think Paul was good enough to come with me. Did I disturb you, Jo-Jo? I just felt like popping down for a visit, but since Virgie –’

‘Come in, anyway,’ Joe said. ‘Have a drink.’

‘You know I don’t.’

‘I know you do when no one’s looking.’ He poured a drink for her, and tipped the last of the bottle into his own glass.

Mollie glanced round at the chairs and then sat down on the bed. ‘You don’t mind?’ She put her head on one side and crossed her bony legs. ‘In my opinion, this is the only comfortable piece of furniture in the room. I’ve always meant to get new chairs, but is it worth it, with tenants the way they are? Excuse me, Jo-Jo. I didn’t mean you.’ Joe did not like the way she smiled at him.

‘Happy days.’ Mollie raised her glass, and swallowed half of the whisky and water in a surprisingly short time for a woman who did not drink. ‘It’s a long time since we had one of our little chats, isn’t it?’

Joe grunted. Stretched out in the chair with his chin on his chest, he looked at her, then lowered his lids and looked away. The poor old girl had floured her face with that white powder, and smeared on some lipstick. Some of it had come off on her teeth.

Mollie talked nervously, leaning forward and finishing her drink in quick sips, as if she were perched on the edge of a bird bath. She put down her glass and patted the bed. ‘Come and sit here, Jo-Jo. You’ll be more comfortable.’

‘I’m O.K.’

Mollie got up and came to sit on the arm of his chair, pulling her tight skirt down over her knees. Or was she trying to pull it farther up?

‘How about a little kiss for old times’ sake?’ she murmured.

Joe did not move. Although she revolted him, he could not help feeling sorry for her. The poor old thing was starved for it. And after all, in the old days, she had let him off an occasional week’s rent for the sake of a kiss and a mild fumble. He moistened his lips. They felt dry and swollen. If he could only have another drink, he would feel much better.

‘Well, how about it?’ Mollie said. ‘You needn’t be shy with me, you know. You never used to be.’

‘Sorry, Moll,’ he said thickly. ‘It’s different now. I’m married.’

‘Oh, pooh,’ she said, resting her claw-like hand on the top of his hair. ‘In my opinion, it’s the feeblest apology for a marriage I ever saw. How long do you think that girl is going to stick to
you? I’ve seen it happen like this dozens of times. First, it’s wanting to go off and have a job of her own. Then it’s going to parties on her own – like tonight. Don’t you know she thinks she’s much too good for you?’

‘Shut up,’ Joe said angrily. ‘That isn’t true. Get away from me.’ He pushed away her hand as it slipped from his hair to his cheek, and got up from the chair swaying a little on the hearthrug, and rubbing his hands roughly over his face, as if he were trying to rub away the words that Mollie had spoken, and the mocking sound of them in his head.
She thinks she’s much too good for you
.

The slam of a taxi, door cut sharply across his clouded thoughts. ‘Clear out, Mollie,’ Joe said. ‘That must be her coming back.’

‘Why should I? Why shouldn’t I come down for a visit in my own house?’

Joe heard only the shrill complaint of her voice, without hearing what she said. He was listening to the voices on the pavement. Virginia’s voice, and a man’s.

Virginia came in alone, and stopped just inside the door when she saw Mollie. ‘Oh – hullo,’ she said vaguely. ‘Been keeping Joe company?’

‘That’s right,’ Mollie said, folding her hands smugly. ‘We had a nice little chat. You’re back very early from your party. I’m sure Joe didn’t expect you back yet.’

‘I didn’t feel well,’ Virginia said shortly. ‘I’m sorry, Mollie, but I’ll have to ask you to go. I want to go straight to bed.’

‘Oh, certainly,’ Mollie said, in her grandest voice. ‘I know when I’m not wanted. Good night then, Jo-Jo. Thanks for the visit.’

Joe felt her hand brush his arm as she passed him, but he did not see her go. He was watching Virginia. She looked pale, and she moved more slowly than usual. He watched her as she went to put away her evening bag, bending to open the drawer. Her smooth young back grew out of the white gown’s embrace like a flower from its calyx.

‘Come here,’ he said.

She turned to look at him. ‘You’re drunk,’ she said, not critically, but as a statement of fact.

‘Not too drunk to be fooled. I mean, not to be fooled. I mean, what do you think I think? I mean, how do you – what am I –’ His speech could not cope with the words that were tumbling in his head.

‘I don’t know what you mean.’ Virginia frowned. ‘What was Mollie doing here? I don’t like her being here.’

‘Never mind that. What I –’

‘But I do mind. She looked as if she was after something.’

‘Of course she was.’ He grinned. ‘The poor old soul has been trying to make me ever since I came here.’

‘She has?’ Virginia suddenly became animated, as if his words had switched away the veil of tiredness. ‘You mean even after I came? That woman’s got a nerve. Just let me get my hands on her!’ She picked up her skirts and moved fast. Joe grabbed at her, lurching forward, but she ran to the door and slammed through it. He heard her feet hurrying up the stairs, and then the slam of the other door into the house.

‘That’s torn it,’ Joe said aloud. He sat down again and beat his fist slowly on his knee, waiting for her to come back.

When Virginia came down again she was flushed, and her eyes were shining. She looked invigorated, as if she had been for a walk in the fresh air.

‘Well, I did it!’ she said triumphantly. ‘I didn’t know I had it in me. I’ve never had a real slanging match with a woman before. I told her what I thought of her, and she told me what she thought of me. Didn’t you hear us shouting? Poor Paul put his head under the bedclothes. That creature … of all the nerve … that vile woman …’ She prowled round the room like an angry leopard, too aroused to keep still.

Joe caught hold of her and swung her round to face him. ‘Who came with you in the taxi?’ he asked. His voice was more controlled now.

‘Only Derek.’ She blinked in surprise at being jerked out of her furious concentration on Mollie. ‘I tried to make him come in for a drink, but he wouldn’t. He’s a bit scared of you, I think.’

‘He’d better be.’

‘Oh, don’t be silly,’ Virginia said. ‘He was only being kind. For some reason, I suddenly felt faint after dinner, and I
wanted to come home. Derek wouldn’t let me come alone.’ She laughed. ‘I think he thought I was pregnant.’

‘Are you?’

‘Of course not. You know that. But poor Derek was quite worried. He kept talking to me in a soothing voice, as if he — Joe, what
is
the matter? Why are you looking like that? Surely you can’t mind if a simple creature like Derek brings me home?’

‘Why shouldn’t I mind? I’ve taken just about all I can stand from dear, simple, kind Derek, and all the rest of that fancy crowd you run around with, for that matter. I don’t want you to go back to that office.’

‘That’s nonsense. How can you be so childish? You’re drunk. You’ll forget all about it in the morning.’ She turned away, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her round again.

‘I said you’re not going back!’

‘Don’t shout at me. I heard you. And you heard me say it was nonsense. I’m not going to lose my job just because you choose to sit here with a whisky bottle and sulk yourself into a state of pointless jealously.’ She stood in front of him, with her cool, smooth shoulders and her cool, defiant face.

‘I said you’re not going back.’ Joe did not shout it this time. He could not. The pounding in his head was in his throat too, robbing him of breath, filling his ears with the sound of Mollie’s mocking voice.
Don’t you know she thinks she’s much too good for you?

Virginia smiled. ‘I’ll do what I like.’ The smile disappeared under his hand as her head jerked backwards and she stumbled to the floor.

It was the first time he had ever hit her. Even as his hand touched her mouth, he had the terrible feeling that now that he had done it once, it would be more easy to do it again.

When the door opened, Virginia was still sitting on the floor with her hand to her mouth and her head hanging forward, the sparkling clip swinging on the end of her heavy lock of hair. She was half hidden behind a chair, and Joe went quickly to the door, so that Mollie should not come into the room and see her.

‘You can clear out,’ Mollie was shouting, her head jerking on her scrawny neck, and her eyes staring hatred. ‘You can
clear out of my house – or be put out! People like you should be thrown on the street, that’s what I’m telling you, thrown on the street!’

‘Look here, Mollie, what on earth –?’

‘Don’t Mollie me, you lout. Don’t think I’m going to listen to anything from you after the things your wife said to me. If Paul was half a man, he’d come down here and kick your teeth in. As it is, I’m kicking you out. No one can speak to me like that and get away with it. A month’s notice, that’s the law. If you haven’t found anyone before that who’s fool enough to take you in, you can go and sleep on the Embankment for all I care. I’ll not have that – that – that – woman in my house!’ Mollie’s voice rose to a shrill stutter. ‘I don’t need people like you. I don’t have to put up with this from every common girl who wants to move in here and sleep with you. Married, you call yourselves. Well, I’m lady enough never to have asked any questions about that, but in my opinion –’

‘Shut up,’ Joe said, and she jerked up her hands as he took a step towards her. ‘Shut up talking like that. We’re married. We’ll get out all right, the sooner the better. You can keep your stinking basement.’

Mollie slammed the door in his face. Joe turned back into the room as Virginia got to her feet, pulling herself up by the arm of a chair. What would he say to her? What would she say to him? What did a woman say after you had knocked her down?

Virginia pushed back her hair. ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘Thanks for not letting her see me on the floor. That would have been too much of a triumph for her.’