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er matey people are at the start； bad blood crops up when they get down to detail。 Mind you； I don't mind saying there have been times in the last two years when I thought you were treating Celia a bit rough。 It's hard to tell with one's own sister； but I've always thought her a jolly attractive girl； the sort of girl any chap would be glad to have … artistic； too； just down your street。 But I must admit you're a good picker。 I've always had a soft spot for Julia。 Anyway； as things have turned out everyone seems satisfied。 Robin's been mad about Celia for a year or more。 D'you know him？'
'Vaguely。 A half…baked； pimply youth as I remember him。'
'Oh； I wouldn't quite say that。 He's rather young； of course； but the great thing is that Johnjohn and Caroline adore him。 You've got two grand kids there； Charles。 Remember me to Julia； wish her all the best for old times' sake。'
'So you're being divorced；' said my father。 'Isn't that rather unnecessary； after you've been happy together all these years？'
'We weren't particularly happy； you know。'
'Weren't you？ Were you not？ I distinctly remember last Christmas seeing you together and thinking how happy you looked； and wondering why。 You'll find it very disturbing； you know； starting off again。 How old are you … thirty…four？ That's no age to be starting。 You ought to be settling down。 Have you made any plans？'
'Yes。 I'm marrying again as soon as the divorce is through。'
'Well； I do call that a lot of nonsense。 I can understand a man； wishing he hadn't married and trying to get out of it … though I never felt anything of the kind myself … but to get rid of one wife and take up with another immediately； is beyond all reason。 Celia was always perfectly civil to me。 I had quite a liking for her； in a way。 If you couldn't be happy with her； why on earth should you expect to be happy with anyone else？ Take my advice； my dear boy； and give up the whole idea。'
'Why bring Julia and me into this？' asked Rex。 'If Celia wants to marry again； well and good； let her。 That's your business and hers。 But I should have thought Julia and I were quite happy as we are。 You can't say I've been difficult。 Lots of chaps would have cut up nasty。 I hope I'm a man of the world。 I've had my own fish to fry； too。 But a divorce is a different thing altogether； I've never known a divorce do anyone any good。'
'That's your affair and Julia's。'
'Oh； Julia's set on it。 What I hoped was； you might be able to talk her round。 I've tried to keep out of the way as much as I could； if I've been around too much； just tell me； I shan't mind。 But there's too much going on altogether at the moment； what with Bridey wanting me to clear out of the house； it's disturbing； and I've got a lot on my mind。'
Rex's public life was approaching a climacteric。 Things had not gone as smoothly with him as he had planned。 I knew nothing of finance； but I heard it said that his dealings were badly looked on by orthodox Conservatives； even his good qualities of geniality and impetuosity counted against him； for his parties at Brideshead got talked about。 There was always too much about him in the papers； he was one with the Press lords and their sad…eyed； smiling hangers…on； in his speeches he said the sort of thing which 'made a story' in Fleet Street； and that did him no good with his party chiefs； only war could put Rex's fortunes right and carry him into power。 A divorce would do him no great harm； it was rather that with a big bank running he could not look up from the table。
'If Julia insists on a divorce； I suppose she must have it；' he said。 'But she couldn't have chosen a worse time。 Tell her to hang on a bit； Charles； there's a good fellow。'
'Bridey's widow said： 〃So you're divorcing one divorced man and marrying another。 It sounds rather plicated； but my dear〃 … she called me 〃my dear〃 about twenty times … 〃I've usually found every Catholic family has one lapsed member； and it's often the nicest。〃 '
Julia had just returned from a luncheon party given by Lady Rossmon in honour of Brideshead's engagement。
'What's she like？'
'Majestic and voluptuous； mon； of course； husky voice； big mouth； small eyes； dyed hair … I'll tell you one thing； she's lied to Bridey about her age。 She's a good forty…five。 I don't see her providing an heir。 Bridey can't take his eyes off her。 He was gloating on her in the most revolting way all through luncheon。'
'Friendly？'
'Goodness； yes； in a condescending way。 You see； I imagine she's been used to bossing things rather in naval circles； with flag…lieutenants trotting round and young officers on…the…make sucking up to her。 Well； she clearly couldn't do a great deal of bossing at Aunt Fanny's； so it put her rather at ease to have me there as the black sheep。 She concentrated on me in fact； asked my advice about shops and things； said； rather pointedly； she hoped to see me often in London。 I think Bridey's scruples only extend to her sleeping under the same roof with me。 Apparently I can do her no serious harm in a hat…shop or hairdresser's or lunching at the Ritz。 The scruples are all on Bridey's part； anyway； the widow is madly tough。'
'Does she boss him？'
'Not yet； much。 He's in an amorous stupor； poor beast； and doesn't quite know where he is。 She's just a good…hearted woman who wants a good home for her children and isn't going to let anything get in her way。 She's playing up the religious stuff at the moment for all it's worth。 I daresay she'll go easier when she's settled。'
The divorces were much talked of among our friends； even in that summer of general alarm there were still corners where private affairs manded first attention。 My wife was able to make it understood that the business was at the same time a matter of congratulation for her and reproach for me； that she had behaved wonderfully； had stood it longer than anyone but she would have done。 Robin was seven years younger and a little immature for his age； they whispered in their private corners； but he was absolutely devoted to poor Celia； and really she deserved it after all she had been through。 As for Julia and me； that was an old story