A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield

A Cup of TeaBy Katherine Mansfield rosemary Fell was non on the dot charming. No, you couldnt assume c solelyed her beautiful. middling? Well, if you took her to pieces nevertheless why be so deplorable as to take any one(a) to pieces? She was young, brilliant, extremely modem, exquisitely tumefy dressed, amazingly well read in the cleanest of the new books, and her parties were the most delicious mixture of the rattling important people and artists quaint cr run downures, discoveries of hers, some of them too terrifying for words, only when other(a)s quite presen tack together over and amusing. rosemary had been married two years. She had a immerge of a boy.No, not Peter Michael. And her husband absolutely adored her. They were rich, very rich, not unspoiled comfortably well off, which is odious and stuffy and sounds alike(p) ones grandparents. still if rosemary precious to break she would go toParisas you and I would go toBond Street. If she wanted to buy flowe rs, the motor elevator gondola pulled up at that perfect shop in Regent Street, and Rosemary inside the shop just gazed in her dazzled, rather exotic way, and verbalize I want those and those and those. Give me four bunches of those. And that jar of roses. Yes, Ill dedicate altogether the roses in the jar. No, no lilac.I hate lilac. Its got no shape. The attendant bowed and coiffure the lilac place of sight, as though this was only too real lilac was dreadfully shapeless. Give me those stumpy flyspeck tulips. Those red and smock ones. And she was followed to the car by a thin shop-lady friend staggering under an ample white paper armful that watched like a baby in grand clothes. One winter laternoon she had been buying some social function in a little antique shop inCurzon Street. It was a shop she liked. For one subject, one usually had it to oneself. And then the man who kept it was laughably fond of serving her.He beamed whenever she came in. He clasped his han ds he was so gratify he could scarcely speak. Flattery, of course. All the same, there was something You see, madam, he would explain in his low respectful tones, I love my things. I would rather not part with them than sell them to someone who does not appreciate them, who has not that charming determineing which is so rare And, breathing deeply, he unrolled a lilli catch outian square of blue velvet and pressed it on the glass paying back with his pale finger-tips. To-day it was a little box. He had been keeping it for her. He had shown it to zilch as yet.An exquisite little enamel box with a candy so fine it pay heeded as though it had been baked in skitter. On the lid a minute creature stood under a flowery tree, and a more(prenominal)(prenominal) minute creature still had her arms turn his neck. Her hat, really no rangyger than a geranium petal, hung from a branch it had potassium ribbons. And there was a pink cloud like a on the watch cherub floating above th eir heads. Rosemary took her hands out of her long gloves. She perpetually took off her gloves to examine such things. Yes, she liked it very much. She loved it it was a great duck. She must take a shit it.And, turning the creamy box, opening and conclusion it, she couldnt help noticing how charming her hands were against the blue velvet. The shopman, in some souse cavern of his mind, may have dared to think so too. For he took a pencil, leant over the counter, and his pale, bloodless fingers crept timidly towards those rosy, flashing ones, as he murmured mildly If I may venture to point out to madam, the flowers on the little ladys bodice. Charming Rosemary admired the flowers. But what was the set? For a second the shopman did not seem to hear. Then a murmur reached her. xxviii guineas, madam. Twenty-eight guineas. Rosemary gave no sign. She laid the little box smooth she tied her gloves again. Twenty-eight guineas. Even if one is rich She looked vague. She stared at a break tea-kettle like a plump hen above the shopmans head, and her voice was languorous as she answered Well, keep it for me will you? Ill But the shopman had already bowed as though keeping it for her was all any human being could ask. He would be willing, of course, to keep it for her for ever. The discreet portal shut with a click. She was after-school(prenominal) on the step, gazing at the winter afternoon.Rain was falling, and with the rain it seemed the dark came too, spinning down like ashes. in that respect was a cold bitter taste in the air, and the new-lighted lamps looked sad. Sad were the lights in the houses opposite. Dimly they burned as if regretting something. And people go by, hidden under their hateful umbrellas. Rosemary felt a unidentified pang. She pressed her muff against her breast she wished she had the little box, too, to cling to. Of course the car was there. Shed only to cross the pavement. But still she waited. thither are moments, wretched mom ents in life, when one emerges from shelter and looks out, and its awful.One oughtnt to give way to them. One ought to go home and have an extra-special tea. But at the very instant of persuasion that, a young girl, thin, dark, shadowy where had she come from? was standing at Rosemarys jostle and a voice like a sigh, almost like a sob, breathed Madam, may I speak to you a moment? blab to me? Rosemary turned. She saw a little battered creature with vast eyes, someone quite young, no older than herself, who clutched at her coat-collar with reddened hands, and shivered as though she had just come out of the water. M-madam, stammered the voice. Would you allow me have the price of a cupful of tea?A cup of tea? There was something simple, sincere in that voice it wasnt in the least the voice of a beggar. Then have you no money at all? asked Rosemary. None, madam, came the answer. How some Rosemary peered through and through the dusk and the girl gazed back at her. How more t han extraordinary And suddenly it seemed to Rosemary such an adventure. It was like something out of a novel by Dostoevsky, this meeting in the dusk. Supposing she took the girl home? Supposing she did do one of those things she was ceaselessly reading active or seeing on the stage, what would happen? It would be thrilling.And she heard herself swearing afterwards to the amazement of her friends I simply took her home with me, as she stepped beforehand and give tongue to to that dim psyche beside her Come home to tea with me. The girl drew back startled. She scour stopped shivering for a moment. Rosemary regularise out a hand and touched her arm. I cerebrate it, she verbalize, smiling. And she felt how simple and affable her smile was. Why wont you? Do. Come home with me at one time in my car and have tea. You you dont mean it, madam, said the girl, and there was pain in her voice. But I do, cried Rosemary. I want you to. To please me. Come along.The girl put her fin gers to her lips and her eyes devoured Rosemary. Youre youre not taking me to the police berth? she stammered. The police station Rosemary laughed out. Why should I be so cruel? No, I only want to make you warm and to hear anything you care to make out me. Hungry people are easily led. The footman held the door of the car open, and a moment later they were skimming through the dusk. There said Rosemary. She had a feeling of triumph as she slipped her hand through the velvet strap. She could have said, Now Ive got you, as she gazed at the little captive she had netted.But of course she meant it buildly. Oh, more than kindly. She was going to prove to this girl that wonderful things did happen in life, that milksop godmothers were real, that rich people had hearts, and that women were sisters. She turned impulsively, saying. Dont be frightened. After all, why shouldnt you come back with me? Were both women. If Im the more fortunate, you ought to expect But happily at tha t moment, for she didnt know how the sentence was going to end, the car stopped. The bell was rung, the door opened, and with a charming, protecting, almost embracing movement, Rosemary drew the other into the hall.Warmth, softness, light, a sugariness scent, all those things so familiar to her she never even idea about them, she watched that other receive. It was fascinating. She was like the rich little girl in her nursery with all the cupboards to open, all the boxes to unpack. Come, come up steps, said Rosemary, longing to begin to be generous. Come up to my room. And, besides, she wanted to spare this execrable little thing from being stared at by the servants she decided as they mounted the stairs she would not even ring to Jeanne, but take off her things by herself. The great things were to be naturalAnd There cried Rosemary again, as they reached her beautiful big bedroom with the curtains drawn, the fire leaping on her wonderful ornament furniture, her gold cushions an d the primrose and blue rugs. The girl stood just inside the door she seemed dazed. But Rosemary didnt mind that. Come and sit down, she cried, dragging her big chair up to the fire, m this comfy chair. Come and get warm. You look so dreadfully cold. I darent, madam, said the girl, and she edged backwards. Oh, please, Rosemary ran forward you mustnt be frightened, you mustnt, really.Sit down, when Ive interpreted off my things we shall go into the next room and have tea and be cozy. Why are you afraid? And gently she fractional pushed the thin figure into its deep cradle. . But there was no answer. The girl stayed just as she had been put, with her hands by her sides and her mouth slightly open. To be quite sincere, she looked rather stupid. But Rosemary wouldnt acknowledge it. She leant over her, saying Wont you take off your hat? Your pretty hair is all wet. And one is so much more comfortable without a hat, isnt one? There was a whisper that sounded like Very good, adam, an d the crushed hat was taken off. And let me help you off with your coat, too, said Rosemary. The girl stood up. But she held on to the chair with one hand and let Rosemary pull. It was quite an effort. The other scarcely helped her at all. She seemed to stagger like a child, and the thought came and went through Rosemarys mind, that if people wanted helping they must respond a little, just a little, otherwise it became very difficult indeed. And what was she to do with the coat now? She left it on the floor, and the hat too.She was just going to take a cigarette off the mantelpiece when the girl said quickly, but so lightly and strangely Im very sorry, madam, but Im going to faint. I shall go off, madam, if I dont have something. Good heavens, how thoughtless I am Rosemary rushed to the bell. Tea Tea at once And some brandy forthwith The maid was gone again, but the girl almost cried out No, I dont want no brandy. * I never drink brandy. Its a cup of tea I want, madam. And she burst into tears. It was a terrible and fascinating moment.Rosemary knelt beside her chair. Dont cry, poor little thing, she said. Dont cry. And she gave the other her lace handkerchief. She really was touched beyond words. She put her arm round those thin, bird-like shoulders. Now at last the other forgot to be shy, forgot everything except that they were both women, and gasped out I cant go on no longer like this. I cant bear it. I cant bear it. I shall do away with myself. I cant bear no more. You shant have to. Ill look after you. Dont cry any more. Dont you see what a good thing it was that you met me? Well have tea and youll tell me everything. And I shall arrange something. I promise. Do stop crying.Its so exhausting. Please The other did stop just in time for Rosemary to get up before the tea came. She had the table placed between them. She plied the poor little creature with everything, all the sandwiches, all the bread and butter, and every time her cup was empty she fi lled it with tea, cream and sugar. People always said sugar was so nourishing. As for herself she didnt eat she smoked and looked away tactfully so that the other should not be shy. And really the effect of that slight meal was marvelous. When the tea-table was carried away a new being, a light, frail creature with tangled air, dark lips, deep, lighted eyes, arrange back in the big chair in a kind of sweet languor, looking at the blaze. Rosemary lit a pert cigarette it was time to begin. And when did you have your last meal? she asked softly. But at that moment the door-handle turned. Rosemary, may I come in? It was Philip. Of course. He came in. Oh, Im so sorry, he said, and stopped and stared. Its quite all right, said Rosemary, smiling.This is my friend, Miss _ smith, madam, said the languid figure, who was strangely still and unafraid. Smith, said Rosemary. We are going to have a little talk. Oh yes, said Philip. Quite, and his eye caught sight of the coat and hat on the f loor. He came over to the fire and turned his back to it. Its a beastly afternoon, he said curiously, still looking at that low-spirited figure, looking at its hands and boots, and then at Rosemary again. Yes, isnt it? said Rosemary enthusiastically. Vile. Philip smiled his charming smile. As a matter of fact, said he, I wanted you to come into the library for a moment. Would you? Will Miss Smith excuse us? The big eyes were raised to him, but Rosemary answered for her Of course she will. And they went out of the room together. I say, said Philip, when they were alone. Explain. Who is she? What does it all mean? Rosemary, laughing, leaned against the door and said I picked her up inCurzon Street. Really. Shes a real pick-up. She asked me for the price of a cup of tea, and I brought her home withme. But what on earth are you going to do with her? cried Philip. Be skilful to her, said Rosemary quickly. Be frightfully nice to her. cheek after her. I dont know how. We havent ta lked yet. But show her treat her make her feel - My darling girl, said Philip, youre quite mad, you know.It simply cant be do. I knew youd say that, retorted Rosemary. Why not? I want to. Isnt that a reason? And besides, ones always reading about these things. I decided - But, said Philip slowly, and he golf stroke the end of a cigar, shes so astonishingly pretty. Pretty? Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. Do you think so? I I hadnt thought about it. Good Lord Philip struck a match. Shes absolutely lovely. Look again, my child. I was bowled over when I came into your room just now. However I think youre making a ghastly mistake. Sorry, darling, if Im crude and all that.But let me know if Miss Smith is going to dine with us in time for me to look up The Milliners Gazette. You absurd creature said Rosemary, and she went out of the library, but not back to her bedroom. She went to her writing-room and sat down at her desk. Pretty Absolutely lovely Bowled over Her h eart beat like a heavy bell. Pretty Lovely She drew her check-book towards her. But no, checks would be no use, of course. She opened a drawer and took out five pound notes, looked at them, put two back, and holding the three squeezed in her hand, she went back to her bedroom.Half an minute of arc later Philip was still in the library, when Rosemary came in. I only wanted to tell you, said she, and she leaned against the door again and looked at him with her dazzled exotic gaze, Miss Smith wont dine with us to-night. Philip put down the paper. Oh, whats happened? antecedent engagement? Rosemary came over and sat down on his knee. She insisted on going, said she, so I gave the poor little thing a present of money. I couldnt keep her against her will, could I? she added softly. Rosemary had just done her hair, darkened her eyes a little and put on her pearls.She put up her hands and touched Philips cheeks. Do you like me? said she, and her tone, sweet, husky, tumultuous him. I like you awfully, he said, and he held her tighter. Kiss me. There was a pause. Then Rosemary said dreamily I saw a fascinating little box to-day. It cost twenty-eight guineas. May I have it? Philip jumped her on his knee. You may, little wasteful one, said he. But that was not really what Rosemary wanted to say. Philip, she whispered, and she pressed his head against her bosom, am I pretty?