Read Online No Enemy but Time by Evelyn Anthony - Free Book Online Page A

He was drunk and irritated. He wanted to pick a row. It’s not just the Paddies who like a fight, she thought bitterly. My father’s never sworn at my mother in a public place in his life.
    â€˜Oh, shut up, James,’ Claudia called from her seat across the room. ‘Not everyone wants to get tight, you know.’
    She wasn’t even embarrassed. Eileen couldn’t believe it. Philip got up. ‘I’m afraid we must go. I’ve a very early start in the morning. I’ve got to see the men and then go up to Dublin. It’s been a lovely evening. Come along, darling, we must say goodnight.’
    She thanked Claudia Hamilton. ‘It’s been lovely,’ she echoed. ‘A great party. Thank you so much.’
    â€˜So sweet of you to come. I’ll ring you up, we must have lunch one day soon. ’Night, Philip darling. Let’s all get together over Christmas. It’ll be such fun.’
    He helped put the wrap over her shoulders and she was silent on the short drive home. She felt degraded and diminished without being able to isolate a single snub except that one word, Paddies. But didn’t that say it all? Didn’t it put the viewpoint of these people towards the Irish? The real Irish.
    â€˜It wasn’t too bad, was it?’ Philip asked her when they got home.
    She didn’t want to hurt him. She didn’t want to disappoint his hopes that she would integrate and enjoy being with his friends. She loved him too much to tell him the truth. ‘It was nice,’ she said. ‘I was a bit shy of them. But they were all very nice to me. Philip, what’s this talk about a war?’
    â€˜Don’t bother your head about it,’ he dismissed it lightly. The men had talked of nothing else when they were alone. ‘How’s the headache, by the way? You’re not getting a cold are you, darling? Stay in bed tomorrow if you think one’s coming. I’ll be out all day, you can stay cuddled up till I get back.’
    â€˜I’ll see,’ she said. She hoped he wouldn’t make love that night. She felt too cold and empty-hearted to respond. ‘I have a little headache,’ she admitted, and that was the third lie she had told him that night.
    Over at Half House the party was going strong. Whiskeys and brandies were poured and drunk, cigars pierced and lit, some not too steadily. There was a lot of laughter. James Hamilton had passed from aggressiveness to fuddled good nature, calling everyone his best friend, pressing more drinks upon them. Claudia called for champagne and someone else suggested they put on some records and dance in the hall. And naturally they gave their opinions on the new Mrs Arbuthnot.
    â€˜I think she’s quite sweet,’ Claudia said. ‘A bit gauche, but really rather nice.’
    â€˜Damned pretty girl,’ several of the men agreed.
    â€˜I don’t think she’s nice at all,’ Maggie announced.
    Claudia spoke up. ‘I heard you say something about Paddies. Whatever made you do that?’
    â€˜Because she had the bloody cheek to say no one should fight for England if there’s a war,’ Maggie said. ‘We all know she’s bog Irish, but she should keep those sort of remarks to herself. I wasn’t going to stand for it anyway. We were all very friendly and nice and you made a big effort, Claudia darling, but I don’t think it was appreciated one bit. Personally I thought she was hostile and chippy. I love Philip, he’s a dear, but I’m not having her in the house.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, Maggie, you can’t take that attitude.’ The woman whose title had baffled Eileen waved her hand at the other girl dismissively. She felt that Maggie Gibbs had gone too far. Of course the girl was gauche and tactless, but that was no reason to be unkind. ‘You can’t say things like that,’ she repeated. ‘The Arbuthnots have been here for