Read Online The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L. Sayers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dorothy L. Sayers
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couldnt stand it and went out of the room in disgust, and Mrs Harrison cried, and her husband said the most insulting and unjustifiable things, ending up with: Of course, if you want to make a public exhibition of yourself you can. Do exactly as you like as though anybody could, when they had been spoken to like that about it. So that was the end of trying to do something to please ones husband! It was a most miserable ending to the day we had all looked forward to with so much hope and pleasure.
For once Mrs Harrison has taken a firm line with him and refuses to speak to him. It is a very uncomfortable situation for me, and I am feeling very unwell. All my insomnia has come back, and so has the uncontrollable longing for shrimps. It is very tiresome and disappointing.
Mr Lathom has been perfectly sweet about it all. He went in to see Mr Harrison when the uproar had calmed down a little, and finding it impossible to move him, gave way gracefully. I was determined to do my best to make it up to him, so I went up and said how sorry I was, and added that I insisted that he should do exactly as he liked with my own portrait. He could show it anywhere he chose, I said, even if he liked to call it Portrait of a Middle-aged Spinster. He laughed, and said he wouldnt think of calling it anything of the sort, and he certainly wouldnt show it if I would rather he didnt, and I said I was determined he should show it, whatever it turned out like. So he said, very well, that was a bargain, then. So we have begun the sittings. I am rather nervous about the result, because as you know, I always photograph very badly. But then a photograph cannot show the animation of the face as a portrait can, and people have so often told me that my animation is what gives character and interest to my looks. I hope it will be a good likeness perhaps you will say that if it is it wont be an attractive picture, but Mr Lathom seems very keen on it, so perhaps it will turn out better than you, with your sisterly prejudice, might expect.
I am very tired with keeping the pose I sat for two hours this morning and again in the afternoon so I hope I may get some rest tonight.
The scarf will be finished tomorrow, if I can get the right shade of silk for the fringe.Your affectionate sister, Aggie
John Munting to Elizabeth Drake
15a, Whittington Terrace 1.12.28
Beloved Bungie,
Here we are again! Back home and full of beans and fit to face anything, even Lathoms and Milsoms.
By the way, Ive got to take back what I said about Lathom. Ill forgive him anything for being such a bloody fine painter. My God, he has made a fine thing of Mrs Harrison old Halkett would grunt in his funny gruff way and say, Its a masterpiece. He wants to send it to the Academy (where it would probably be the picture of the year, if the Committee didnt hang themselves in their own wires under the shock of seeing a decent bit of painting for once) only, of course, those imbecile women have made a hash of it and put Harrisons back up. Blether, blether blether rushing at the poor man with chatter about newspaper sensations and standing under my portrait on opening day, blah! blah! before the poor man had finished reeling under the impact. Row, of course. I told Lathom not to be a silly ass, and to go and apologise quietly to Harrison afterwards and tell him there wasnt any slightest intention of showing it against his wishes. If he uses a little tact, the old boy will take it for granted three months hence that the thing is going to be shown and imagine he suggested it himself. Ive got Harrison fairly well sized up, but his wife is a silly egoist, and Lathom has no practical sense at all as regards human relationships. Anyway, I hope the thing will be there, because Id like you to see it. Its really first-rate. And revealing, my God! only Mrs H. doesnt see that, and I dont think Lathom realises it either.
Ive had a letter from
For once Mrs Harrison has taken a firm line with him and refuses to speak to him. It is a very uncomfortable situation for me, and I am feeling very unwell. All my insomnia has come back, and so has the uncontrollable longing for shrimps. It is very tiresome and disappointing.
Mr Lathom has been perfectly sweet about it all. He went in to see Mr Harrison when the uproar had calmed down a little, and finding it impossible to move him, gave way gracefully. I was determined to do my best to make it up to him, so I went up and said how sorry I was, and added that I insisted that he should do exactly as he liked with my own portrait. He could show it anywhere he chose, I said, even if he liked to call it Portrait of a Middle-aged Spinster. He laughed, and said he wouldnt think of calling it anything of the sort, and he certainly wouldnt show it if I would rather he didnt, and I said I was determined he should show it, whatever it turned out like. So he said, very well, that was a bargain, then. So we have begun the sittings. I am rather nervous about the result, because as you know, I always photograph very badly. But then a photograph cannot show the animation of the face as a portrait can, and people have so often told me that my animation is what gives character and interest to my looks. I hope it will be a good likeness perhaps you will say that if it is it wont be an attractive picture, but Mr Lathom seems very keen on it, so perhaps it will turn out better than you, with your sisterly prejudice, might expect.
I am very tired with keeping the pose I sat for two hours this morning and again in the afternoon so I hope I may get some rest tonight.
The scarf will be finished tomorrow, if I can get the right shade of silk for the fringe.Your affectionate sister, Aggie
John Munting to Elizabeth Drake
15a, Whittington Terrace 1.12.28
Beloved Bungie,
Here we are again! Back home and full of beans and fit to face anything, even Lathoms and Milsoms.
By the way, Ive got to take back what I said about Lathom. Ill forgive him anything for being such a bloody fine painter. My God, he has made a fine thing of Mrs Harrison old Halkett would grunt in his funny gruff way and say, Its a masterpiece. He wants to send it to the Academy (where it would probably be the picture of the year, if the Committee didnt hang themselves in their own wires under the shock of seeing a decent bit of painting for once) only, of course, those imbecile women have made a hash of it and put Harrisons back up. Blether, blether blether rushing at the poor man with chatter about newspaper sensations and standing under my portrait on opening day, blah! blah! before the poor man had finished reeling under the impact. Row, of course. I told Lathom not to be a silly ass, and to go and apologise quietly to Harrison afterwards and tell him there wasnt any slightest intention of showing it against his wishes. If he uses a little tact, the old boy will take it for granted three months hence that the thing is going to be shown and imagine he suggested it himself. Ive got Harrison fairly well sized up, but his wife is a silly egoist, and Lathom has no practical sense at all as regards human relationships. Anyway, I hope the thing will be there, because Id like you to see it. Its really first-rate. And revealing, my God! only Mrs H. doesnt see that, and I dont think Lathom realises it either.
Ive had a letter from
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