“I don't,” said Kenneth, on whom such inexpert criticism of his work made no impression at all. “And don't go putting your foot into it by sacking Mesurier.”
“Well, all right,” agreed Roger. “Only I won't have him at my party.”
Mention of the party made Kenneth at once point out to him that his home-coming was no occasion for rejoicing for anyone but himself. He said that he had no intention of being present, but in the end he was present, not as a result of any persuasion on Roger's part, but because Violet had coaxed him into it. She was unusually kind to him throughout the evening, and paid so little heed to Roger that he became quite good-humoured after a while, and even enlisted Roger's support in an argument with Violet on the question of whether or not it was indecent to attend a public dance within a fortnight of Arnold's death. As this discussion was started in the restaurant which was attached to the flats, and conducted with a total disregard for whoever might overhear, a good many shocked glances were cast at the Verekers' table, and one stickler for the proprieties spent the rest of the evening composing a letter of complaint to the landlord.
As might be expected, Violet was firm in refusing to countenance the bare notion of appearing at the ball, which was to take place three days later. She said that there was such a thing as respect to the dead, to which Kenneth replied that he had no more respect for Arnold dead than he had had for Arnold alive. “Besides, I paid thirty bob for the tickets, and I'm going to use them,” he added.
“You could sell them,” Violet pointed out. “Don't you agree with me that he ought to, Mr Carrington?”
“Yes, on the whole, I think I do,” replied Giles. “You're not going are you, Tony?”
“No,” said Antonia. “Because Rudolph can't manage that night.”
“If Violet won't come, I'll take you, Tony,” said Kenneth, glancing provocatively at his betrothed. “And if you won't, I'll take Leslie!”
“I've already told you, darling, I'm not going with you,” Violet said. “We should be bound to meet any number of people we know, and what they would think I daren't imagine. Tony can please herself, but I hope she has too much sense, let alone proper feeling, to go near the ball.”
“After this short speech, they all cheered,” said Kenneth instantly. “Will you come, Tony?”