The afternoon dragged, like the last hour before a journey when one is packed up and keyed to departure, and I wandered from room to room almost as lost as Jasper, who trailed reproachfully at my heels.
There was nothing I could do to help, and it would have been wiser on my part to have kept clear of the house altogether and taken the dog and myself for a long walk. By the time I decided upon this it was too late, Maxim and Frank were demanding tea, and when tea was over Beatrice and Giles arrived. The evening had come upon us all too soon.
“This is like old times,” said Beatrice, kissing Maxim, and looking about her. “Congratulations to you for remembering every detail. The flowers are exquisite,” she added, turning to me. “Did you do them?”
“No,” I said, rather ashamed, “Mrs. Danvers is responsible for everything.”
“Oh. Well, after all…” Beatrice did not finish her sentence, she accepted a light for her cigarette from Frank, and once it was lit she appeared to have forgotten what she was going to say.
“Have you got Mitchell’s to do the catering as usual?” asked Giles.
“Yes,” said Maxim. “I don’t think anything has been altered, has it, Frank? We had all the records down at the office. Nothing has been forgotten, and I don’t think we have left anyone out.”
“What a relief to find only ourselves,” said Beatrice. “I remember once arriving about this time, and there were about twenty-five people in the place already. All going to stop the night.”
“What’s everyone going to wear? I suppose Maxim, as always, refuses to play?”
“As always,” said Maxim.
“Such a mistake I think. The whole thing would go with much more swing if you did.”
“Have you ever known a ball at Manderley not to go with a swing?”
“No, my dear boy, the organization is too good. But I do think the host ought to give the lead himself.”
“I think it’s quite enough if the hostess makes the effort,” said Maxim. “Why should I make myself hot and uncomfortable and a damn fool into the bargain?”
“Oh, but that’s absurd. There’s no need to look a fool. With your appearance, my dear Maxim, you could get away with any costume. You don’t have to worry about your figure like poor Giles.”
“What is Giles going to wear tonight?” I asked, “or is it a dead secret?”
“No, rather not,” beamed Giles; “as a matter-of-fact it’s a pretty good effort. I got our local tailor to rig it up. I’m coming as an Arabian sheik.”
“Good God,” said Maxim.
“It’s not at all bad,” said Beatrice warmly. “He stains his face of course, and leaves off his glasses. The head-dress is authentic. We borrowed it off a friend who used to live in the East, and the rest the tailor copied from some paper. Giles looks very well in it.”
“What are you going to be, Mrs. Lacy?” said Frank.
“Oh, I’m afraid I haven’t coped much,” said Beatrice, “I’ve got some sort of Eastern getup to go with Giles, but I don’t pretend it’s genuine. Strings of beads, you know, and a veil over my face.”
“It sounds very nice,” I said politely.
“Oh, it’s not bad. Comfortable to wear, that’s one blessing. I shall take off the veil if I get too hot. What are you wearing?”
“Don’t ask her,” said Maxim. “She won’t tell any of us. There has never been such a secret. I believe she even wrote to London for it.”
“My dear,” said Beatrice, rather impressed, “don’t say you have gone a bust and will put us all to shame? Mine is only homemade, you know.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, laughing, “it’s quite simple really. But Maxim would tease me, and I’ve promised to give him the surprise of his life.”
“Quite right too,” said Giles. “Maxim is too superior altogether. The fact is he’s jealous. Wishes he was dressing up like the rest of us, and doesn’t like to say so.”
“Heaven forbid,” said Maxim.
“What are you doing, Crawley?” asked Giles.
Frank looked rather apologetic. “I’ve been so busy I’m afraid I’ve left things to the last moment. I hunted up an old pair of trousers last night, and a striped football jersey, and thought of putting a patch over one eye and coming as a pirate.”
“Why on earth didn’t you write to us and borrow a costume?” said Beatrice. “There’s one of a Dutchman that Roger had last winter in Switzerland. It would have suited you excellently.”