The Hollow

Edward's tendency to live exclusively in the past, and to accept the present dubiously as something as yet untested, had delayed his recognition of Midge as a wage-earning adult.

It was on that evening at The Hollow when he had come in cold and shivering from that strange upsetting clash with Henrietta and when Midge had knelt to build up the fire, that he had been first aware of a Midge who was not an affectionate child but a woman.

It had been an upsetting vision-he had felt for a moment that he had lost something-something that was a precious part of Ainswick.

And he had said impulsively, speaking out of that suddenly aroused feeling, "I wish I saw you more often. Midge my dear…"

Standing outside in the moonlight, speaking to a Henrietta who was no longer, suddenly, the familiar Henrietta he had loved for so long-he had known sudden panic.

And he had come in to a further disturbance of the set pattern which was his life. Little Midge was also a part of Ainswick-and this was no longer Little Midge-but a courageous and sad-eyed adult whom he did not know.

Ever since then he had been troubled in his mind, and had indulged in a good deal of self-reproach for the unthinking way in which he had never bothered about Midge's happiness or comfort. The idea of her uncongenial job at Madame Alfrege's had worried him more and more, and he had determined at last to see for himself just what this dress shop of hers was like.

Edward peered suspiciously into the show window at a little black dress with a narrow gold belt, some rakish-looking, skimpy jumper suits, and an evening gown of rather tawdry coloured lace.

Edward knew nothing about women's clothes except by instinct but had a shrewd idea that all these exhibits were somehow of a meretricious order. No, he thought, this place was not worthy of her. Someone-Lady Angkatell, perhaps-must do something about it.

Overcoming his shyness with an effort, Edward straightened his slightly stooping shoulders and walked in.

He was instantly paralyzed with embarrassment.

Two platinum blonde little minxes with shrill voices were examining dresses in a show-case, with a dark saleswoman in attendance.

At the back of the shop a small woman with a thick nose, henna-red hair and a disagreeable voice was arguing with a stout and bewildered customer over some alterations to an evening gown. From an adjacent cubicle a woman's fretful voice was raised.

"Frightful-perfectly frightful-can't you bring me anything decent to try?"

In response he heard the soft murmur of

Midge's voice-a deferential persuasive voice:

"This wine model is really very smart.

And I think it would suit you. If you'd just slip it on-"

"I'm not going to waste my time trying on things that I can see are no good. Do take a little trouble. I've told you I don't want reds. If you'd just listen to what you are told-"

The colour surged up into Edward's neck.

He hoped Midge would throw the dress in the odious woman's face. Instead she murmured:

"I'll have another look. You wouldn't care for green, I suppose. Madam? Or this peach?"

"Dreadful-perfectly dreadful! No, I won't see anything more. Sheer waste of time-"

But now Madame Alfrege, detaching herself from the stout customer, had come down to Edward, and was looking at him inquiringly.

He pulled himself together.

"Is-could I speak-is Miss Hardcastle here?"

Madame Alfrege's eyebrows went up-but she took in the Savile Row cut of Edward's clothes, and she produced a smile whose graciousness was rather more unpleasant than her bad temper would have been.

From inside the cubicle the fretful voice rose sharply:

"Do be careful! How clumsy you are.

You've torn my hair net."

And Midge, her voice unsteady:

"I'm very sorry. Madam."

"Stupid clumsiness." (The voice disappeared, muffled.) "No, I'll do it myself. My belt, please."

"Miss Hardcastle will be free in a minute," said Madame Alfrege. Her smile was now a leer.

A sandy-haired, bad-tempered-looking woman emerged from the cubicle, carrying several parcels, and went out into the street.

Midge, in a severe black dress, opened the door for her. She looked pale and unhappy.

"I've come to take you out to lunch," said Edward without preamble.

Midge gave a harried glance up at the clock.

"I don't get off until quarter past one," she began.

It was ten past one.

Madame Alfrege said graciously:

"You can go off now if you like. Miss Hardcastle, as your friend has called for you."

Midge murmured, "Oh, thank you, Madame

Alfrege," and to Edward, "I'll be ready in a minute," and disappeared into the back of the shop.

Edward, who had winced under the impact of Madame Alfrege's heavy emphasis on friend, stood helplessly waiting. \ Madame Alfrege was just about to enter into arch conversation with him when the door opened and an opulent-looking woman with a Pekingese came in and Madame Alfrege's business instincts took her forward to the newcomer.

Midge reappeared with her coat on and, taking her by the elbow, Edward steered her out of the shop into the street.