Read Online Merry Go Round by W. Somerset Maugham - Free Book Online Page A

The world is wide and there is room even for us. I love you more than ever I did, and I will try to be a good and faithful son to you.'
    He rang the bell, and the door was opened by the butler he had known for years.
    'Can I see her ladyship at once, Miller?' he said.
    'Yes, sir. Her ladyship is still at luncheon. Will you go into the dining-room.'
    Basil stepped forward, but caught sight of several hats on the hall-table.
    'Is anyone here?' he asked with surprise.
    But before the butler could answer there was a shout of laughter from the adjoining room. Basil started as though he had been struck.
    'Is her ladyship giving a party?'
    'Yes, sir.'
    Basil stared at the butler with dismay, unable to understand; he wished to question him, but was ashamed. It seemed too monstrous to be true. The very presence of that servant seemed an outrage, for he too had given evidence at the hateful trial. How could his mother bear the sight of that unctuous, servile visage? Miller, seeing the horror in the young man's eyes and the pallor of his cheek, looked away with a vague discomfort.
    'Will you tell her ladyship that I am here, and should like to speak to her? I'll go into the morning-room. I suppose no one will come there?'
    Basil waited for a quarter of an hour before he heard the dining-room door open, and several people, talking loudly and laughing, walk upstairs. Then his mother's voice rang out, clear and confident as ever it had been:
    'You must all make yourselves comfy. I've got to see somebody, and I forbid anyone to go till I come back.'
    In a moment Lady Vizard appeared, a smile still on her lips, and the suspicion which Basil during that interval had vainly combated now was changed to naked certainty. Not at all downcast was she nor abashed, but alert as ever, neither less stately nor less proud than when last he saw her. He expected to find his mother in sackcloth and ashes, but behold! she wore a gown by Paquin, the flaunting audacity of which only she could have endured. Very dark, with great flashing eyes and magnificent hair, she had the extravagant flamboyance, the opulence of colour of some royal gipsy. Her height was unusual, her figure splendid, and holding herself admirably, she walked with the majesty of an Eastern queen.
    'How nice of you to come, dear boy!' she cried, with a smile showing her beautiful teeth. 'I suppose you want to congratulate me on my victory. But why on earth didn't you come into the dining-room? It was so amusing. And you really should begin to décrasser yourself a little.' She put forward her cheek for Basil to kiss (this was surely as much as could be expected from a fond though fashionable mother), but he stepped back. Even his lips grew pale.
    'Why didn't you tell me that this action was coming on?' he asked hoarsely.
    Lady Vizard gave a little laugh, and from a box on the table took a cigarette.
    'Voyons, mon cher, I really didn't think it was your business.'
    Lighting a cigarette, she blew into the air two neat smoke-rings, and watched her son with somewhat contemptuous amusement.
    'I didn't expect to find you giving a party today.'
    'They insisted on coming, and I had to do something to celebrate my triumph.' She laughed lightly. 'Mon Dieu! you don't know what a narrow shave it was. Did you read my cross-examination? It was that which saved me.'
    'Saved you from what?' cried Basil sternly, two lines of anger appearing between his brows. 'Has it saved you from shameful dishonour? Yes, I read every word. At first I couldn't believe it was true.'
    'Et après?' asked Lady Vizard calmly.
    'But it was true; there were a dozen people to prove it. Oh God, how could you! I admired you more than anyone else in the world. ... I thought of your shame, and I came here because I wanted to help you. Don't you understand the horrible disgrace of it? Oh, mother, mother, you can't go on like this! Heaven knows I don't want to blame you. Come away with me, and let us go to Italy and start afresh....'
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