Josephine made no reply. She had flown off on one of her tangents. She
had suddenly thought of Cyril. Wasn’t it more usual for the only
grandson to have the watch? And then dear Cyril was so appreciative,
and a gold watch meant so much to a young man. Benny, in all
probability, had quite got out of the habit of watches; men so seldom
wore waistcoats in those hot climates. Whereas Cyril in London wore
them from year’s end to year’s end. And it would be so nice for her and
Constantia, when he came to tea, to know it was there. “I see you’ve
got on grandfather’s watch, Cyril.” It would be somehow so
satisfactory.
Dear boy! What a blow his sweet, sympathetic little note had been! Of
course they quite understood; but it was most unfortunate.
“It would have been such a point, having him,” said Josephine.
“And he would have enjoyed it so,” said Constantia, not thinking what
she was saying.
However, as soon as he got back he was coming to tea with his aunties.
Cyril to tea was one of their rare treats.
“Now, Cyril, you mustn’t be frightened of our cakes. Your Auntie Con
and I bought them at Buszard’s this morning. We know what a man’s
appetite is. So don’t be ashamed of making a good tea.”
Josephine cut recklessly into the rich dark cake that stood for her
winter gloves or the soling and heeling of Constantia’s only
respectable shoes. But Cyril was most unmanlike in appetite.
“I say, Aunt Josephine, I simply can’t. I’ve only just had lunch, you
know.”
“Oh, Cyril, that can’t be true! It’s after four,” cried Josephine.
Constantia sat with her knife poised over the chocolate-roll.
“It is, all the same,” said Cyril. “I had to meet a man at Victoria,
and he kept me hanging about till... there was only time to get lunch
and to come on here. And he gave me—phew”—Cyril put his hand to his
forehead—“a terrific blow-out,” he said.
It was disappointing—to-day of all days. But still he couldn’t be
expected to know.
“But you’ll have a meringue, won’t you, Cyril?” said Aunt Josephine.
“These meringues were bought specially for you. Your dear father was so
fond of them. We were sure you are, too.”
“I _am_, Aunt Josephine,” cried Cyril ardently. “Do you mind if I take
half to begin with?”
“Not at all, dear boy; but we mustn’t let you off with that.”
“Is your dear father still so fond of meringues?” asked Auntie Con
gently. She winced faintly as she broke through the shell of hers.
“Well, I don’t quite know, Auntie Con,” said Cyril breezily.
At that they both looked up.
“Don’t know?” almost snapped Josephine. “Don’t know a thing like that
about your own father, Cyril?”
“Surely,” said Auntie Con softly.
Cyril tried to laugh it off. “Oh, well,” he said, “it’s such a long
time since—” He faltered. He stopped. Their faces were too much for
him.
“Even _so_,” said Josephine.
And Auntie Con looked.
Cyril put down his teacup. “Wait a bit,” he cried. “Wait a bit, Aunt
Josephine. What am I thinking of?”
He looked up. They were beginning to brighten. Cyril slapped his knee.
“Of course,” he said, “it was meringues. How could I have forgotten?
Yes, Aunt Josephine, you’re perfectly right. Father’s most frightfully
keen on meringues.”
They didn’t only beam. Aunt Josephine went scarlet with pleasure;
Auntie Con gave a deep, deep sigh.
“And now, Cyril, you must come and see father,” said Josephine. “He
knows you were coming to-day.”
“Right,” said Cyril, very firmly and heartily. He got up from his
chair; suddenly he glanced at the clock.
“I say, Auntie Con, isn’t your clock a bit slow? I’ve got to meet a man
at—at Paddington just after five. I’m afraid I shan’t be able to stay
very long with grandfather.”
“Oh, he won’t expect you to stay _very_ long!” said Aunt Josephine.
Constantia was still gazing at the clock. She couldn’t make up her mind
if it was fast or slow. It was one or the other, she felt almost
certain of that. At any rate, it had been.
Cyril still lingered. “Aren’t you coming along, Auntie Con?”
“Of course,” said Josephine, “we shall all go. Come on, Con.”