Mavis Gallant - The Selected Stories of Mavis Gallant

“We can always use another person on a farm — another man, that is,” said Frank.

“I wouldn’t be much use to you, I’m afraid,” said Walter.

“No. Well, I meant to say … We shall have to pack up soon. I think next week.”

“We shall miss you,” said Walter. “Angelo will be shattered.”

“We’re going to drive the Citroën up to Paris,” said Frank, suddenly lively, “and turn it in to Cook’s there. We may never have a chance to do that trip again. Wonderful for the kids.” He went off on one of his favorite topics — motors and mileage — and was diverted from whatever request he had been prodded by Eve to make. Walter was thankful it had been so easy.

Unloved, neglected, the hamster chewed newspaper in its cage. The cage hung from the kitchen ceiling, and rocked with every draft. Angelo remembered to feed the hamster, but as far as the children were concerned it might have been dead. William of Orange claimed them now; he threw up hair balls and string, and behaved as if he were poisoned. Angelo covered his coat with olive oil and pushed mashed garlic down his throat. He grew worse; Angelo found him on the steps one morning, dying, unable to move his legs. He sat with the cat on his knees and roared, as William of Orange had howled on the train in his basket. The cat was dying of old age. Walter assured everyone it was nothing more serious than that. “He came with the house,” he repeated again and again. “He must be the equivalent of a hundred and two.”

Angelo’s grief terrified the children. Walter was frightened as well, but only because too much was taking place. The charming boy against the baroque wall had become this uncontrolled, bellowing adolescent. The sight of his niece’s delicate ear, the lamps reflected in his nephew’s eyes, his sister’s disapproval of him on the beach, his brother-in-law’s soulless exposition of his personal disaster — each was an event. Any would have been a stone to mark the season. Any would have been enough. He wanted nothing more distressing than a spoiled dinner, nothing more lively than a drive along the shore. He thought, In three days, four at the most, they will disappear. William of Orange is old and dying, but everything else will be as before. Angelo will be amusing and young. Mrs. Wiggott will invite me to dine. The telephone will ring.

The children recovered quickly, for they saw that William of Orange was wretched but not quite dead. They were prepared to leave him and go to the beach as usual, but Angelo said he would stay with the cat. The children were sorry for Angelo now. Johnny sat next to Angelo on the step, frowning in a grown-up way, rubbing his brown knees. “Tell me one thing,” he said to Angelo from under his sun hat. “Is William of Orange your father or something like that?” That night the little boy wet his bed, and Walter had a new horror. It was the sight of a bedsheet with a great stain flapping on the line.

Fortunately for Walter, the family could no longer put off going away. “There is so much to do,” said Eve. “We got the Citroën delivered, but we didn’t do a thing about the children’s schools. I wonder if the trunks have got to London? I expect there hasn’t been time. I hope they get there before the cold weather. All the children’s clothes are in them.”

“You are preposterous parents,” Walter said. “I suppose you know that.”

“We are, aren’t we?” said Eve cheerfully. “You don’t understand how much one has to do . If only we could leave the children somewhere, even for a week, while we look at schools and everything.”

“You had your children because you wanted them,” said Walter. “I suppose.”

“Yes, we did,” said Frank. It was the only time Walter ever saw his easy manner outdistanced. “We wanted them. So let’s hear no more about leaving them. Even for a week.”

Only one rainy day marred the holiday, and as it was the last day, it scarcely counted. It was over — the breather between South Africa and England, between home for the children and a new home for Eve. They crowded into the sitting room, waiting for lunch. They had delayed leaving since early that morning, expecting, in their scatterbrained way, that the sky would clear. The room smelled of musty paper and of mice. Walter suddenly remembered what it was like in winter here, and how Angelo was often bored. His undisciplined relations began pulling books off the shelves and leaving them anywhere.

“Are all these yours?” Mary asked him. “Are they old?”

“These shelves hold every book I have ever bought or had given me since I was born,” said Walter. And the children looked again at the dark green and dark wine covers.

“I know Kim,” said Mary, and she opened it and began to read in a monotonous voice, “ ‘He sat, in defiance of municipal orders, astride the gun Zam-Zammeh on her brick platform opposite the old Ajaibgher.’ ”

“I can still see him,” said Eve. “I can see Kim.”

“I can’t see him as I saw him,” said Walter.

“Never could bear Kipling, personally,” Frank said. “He’s at the bottom of all the trouble we’re having now. You only have to read something like ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ to understand that.”

“Why is the gun ‘her’?” Mary asked.

“Because in an English education it’s the only thing allowed to be female,” said Frank. “That and boats.” He hadn’t wanted the change; that was plain. For Eve’s sake, Walter hoped it was a change for the good.

“This book is all scribbled in,” Mary complained. She began to turn at random, reading the neat hand that had been Walter’s at twelve: “ ‘Shows foresight,’ ” she read. “ ‘Local color. More color. Building up the color. Does not wish to let women interfere with his career.’ That’s underlined, Uncle Walter,” she said, breaking off. “ ‘A deceiver. Kim’s strong will — or white blood? Generous renunciation. Sympathetic. Shows off. Sly. Easily imposed on. Devout. Persistent. Enterprising.’ ”

“That will do,” said Frank. “ ‘Shows off’ is the chief expression where you’re concerned.”

“Those notes were how Kipling was introduced to me, and I used them when I was teaching Angelo,” said Walter. “Angelo doesn’t like Kipling, either. You can keep the book, if you want it.”

“Thank you very much,” said Mary automatically. She placed the book more or less where it had been, as if she recognized that this was a bogus gesture.

“Thank you, darling Walter,” said Eve, and she picked up the book and stroked the cover, dirtying her hand. “Johnny will love it, later on.”

Walter’s first dinner invitation of the autumn season arrived by post eight days after the Osborns had gone. In the same mail were three letters, each addressed by his sister. Eve thanked him for his great kindness; he would never know what it had meant, the holiday it had been. They were in a hotel, and it was a great change from the south. In a P.S. she said they were moving to the new farm soon. The children were their great worry. She went on about schools. The postscript was longer than the body of the letter.

The other two envelopes, although addressed by Eve, contained letters from Mary and Johnny. The boy spelled difficult words correctly, simple words hopelessly, and got his own name wrong.

“Dear Uncle Walter,” he wrote. “Thank you for letting us stay at your house.” A row of dots led out to the margin, where he had added, “and for Kim.” The text of the letter went on, “It was the most exciting, and enjoyable time I have ever had. Please tell Angelo on the way back we were fined for overtaking in a village, but we got safley out of France. I hope the hamster is well and happy. Tell Angelo there are two very small kittens down in the kitchin of the hotel where we now rent two rooms. They are sweat, white, snowballs, also there is a huge golden labridore, he is very stuppid. Love from Johny.”