XXXIV
“LITTLE Puss, of course you will not touch the Canary. But there are other birds on the bough.”
Lady Violet did not use these exact words, but that was Mame’s astute interpretation of the light in her eye and the smile on her face. What she did say was: “Your dancing last night with my brother was admired. People were asking who you were.” But more, far more, was implied by the point and the humour with which she made those statements.
It was the morning after the Clanborough House ball. Mame, at ease in an armchair after a late breakfast, had a pleasant feeling of success. She had passed a fairly stiff examination with flying colours. Her sponsor was proud of her. She had looked well, carried herself well, danced beautifully. Even Aunt Emily, who wassocritical, had spoken of her “as an unaffected little thing.”
“It is just on the cards that she may invite you to Scotland for a fortnight at the end of August. There’s great fun at Dunkeldie every year. And any amount of competition to get there. But in the meantime, if one may offer a hint, you’ll see that nobody spikes yourguns. Some of your American friends are out on the warpath.”
“No friends of mine. Spiteful cats, mainly, and I don’t seem to mind letting some of them know it.”
“Well, I don’t think I would if I were you. They can do you more harm than you can do them.”
Mame saw the truth of that. “But they don’t love me, these birds. And I’d just like to shoot them all on sight.”
Lady Violet laughed at the fierceness. But she well understood her feelings. Certain distinguished members of the American colony were giving trouble. Du Rance was a name unknown in Chicago. It was unknown in Washington. It was unknown in New York.
“Make hay while the sun shines, my dear.” That was the sum of Lady Violet’s wisdom. It was a great stroke of luck being in with Aunt Emily. She was one of the few people who still really counted. But Pressure was being brought to bear. Miss Du Rance had not been presented. Her credentials had not been verified. Doubt had even been cast upon the wealth of Poppa.
The woman of the world let fall a hint that severalpartiswere about, who in their way were not unattractive.
“You kinda think I ought to put myself in solid.” Mame had a touch of that crude force which some people found so engaging and other people didn’t.
“No saying when the luck may change. One cannever quite depend on Aunt Emily. She might be got at. Our friend Mrs. Creber Newsum is out for blood. I don’t know what you’ve done to the lady, but from what one hears she’s got quite an edge on her tomahawk.”
“That old squaw!” said the contemptuous Mame. “I’m not afraid of her.”
Lady Violet was inclined to reprove. Her experience was that it never did to underrate one’s foes. If people were not well disposed towards one, it paid as a rule to be afraid of them.
Mame, nevertheless, was not afraid of Mrs. Creber Newsum.
“She carries weight now her husband has got his diplomatic leg up. And she’s in with the Childwicks.”
“Who are the Childwicks, any old way?” asked Mame injudiciously. She realised her break the instant she had been guilty of it.
The Childwicks were all right. Lady Violet made that statement with a perceptible change of voice. “Gwendolen Childwick is as good as engaged to Bill, you know. Strictly between ourselves, mother is a bit surprised the announcement hasn’t been made already.”
“A regular mother’s boy, is he?” Mame audaciously observed.
“What mother says goes—with Bill. And he knows that she quite approves of Gwendolen.”
“Don’theapprove of her?” Mame was still more audacious.
Bill’s sister laughed coolly. “Dear Gwendolen isvery nice and she is an heiress. And Pop and Mommer Childwick were well known at Washington long before they came over here.”
“The right kind of American, I guess.”
Mame’s naïveté met with further reproof. “One only speaks, my child, of the wrong kind of American. The right kind is left to speak for itself. And the moment it speaks for itself it becomes the wrong kind—if I make myself clear?”
“You do and you don’t,” said the candid Mame. “But to come down to cases, I’ve got to keep my eyes skinned for the Childwick push.”
“Among others. They are not your friends, exactly. I don’t know why. And they have the ear of Aunt Emily, who, please don’t forget, as far as the funny old English village of Mayfair is concerned, is the nearest card you hold at the moment to the ace of trumps. You may pick up others later, but my advice is to hold on at present with both paws to Aunt Emily.”
Mame saw the force of that. “Do you think I ought to get a new dress for this party next month?”
“The heliotrope will do quite well. Gwympe has made it beautifully.”
“And only charged half price, as we are giving her that write-up. So I can blow myself off to another if you think I ought to have one.”
That was not at all necessary. It would be hard to improve on the heliotrope. But one further word of caution. Mame must be wise about Gwendolen. As far as Clanborough House was concerned she had itin her to be dangerous. “So, as I say,” the mentor concluded, “I hope you’ll be wise about her.”
“I will,” Mame faithfully promised.
“And don’t forget there are others.” The face of the mentor was full of mystic meaning.
“I won’t,” promised Mame.