The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

“We do not require a large place,” said Mr. Mortimer.
“We shall be quite a small party. Bennett and myself,
Wilhelmina, Bream ….”
“Don’t forget,” said Billie, “that you have promised
to invite Jane Hubbard down there.”
“Ah, yes. Wilhelmina’s friend, Miss Hubbard. She is
coming. That will be all, except young Hignett himself.”
“Hignett!” cried Mr. Bennett.
“Mr. Hignett!” exclaimed Billie.
<strong>The</strong>re was an almost imperceptible pause before Mr.
Mortimer spoke again, and for an instant the demon
of embarrassment hovered, unseen but present, above
the dinner table. Mr. Bennett looked sternly at Billie;
Billie turned a shade pinker and gazed at the tablecloth;
Bream started nervously. Even Mr. Mortimer
seemed robbed for a moment of his legal calm.
“I forgot to tell you that,” he said. “Yes, one of the
stipulations—to which I personally was perfectly willing
to agree—was that Eustace Hignett was to remain
on the premises during our tenancy. Such a clause in
P. G. Wodehouse
101
the agreement was, I am quite aware, unusual, and,
had the circumstances been other than they were, I
would have had a good deal to say about it. But we
wanted the place, and we couldn’t get it except by
agreeing, so I agreed. I’m sure you will think that I
acted rightly, Bennett, considering the peculiar circumstances.”
“Well,” said Mr. Bennett reluctantly, “I certainly did
want that house ….”
“And we couldn’t have had it otherwise,” said Mr.
Mortimer, “so that is all there is to it.”
“Well, it need make no difference to you,” said Sir
Mallaby. “I am sure you will find my nephew Eustace
most unobtrusive. He may even be an entertaining
companion. I believe he has a nice singing voice. With
that and the juggling of our friend here and my sister’s
late husband’s orchestrion, you will have no difficulty
in amusing yourselves during the evenings. You remember
the orchestrion, Sam?” said Sir Mallaby, on whom
his son’s silence had been weighing rather heavily for
some time.