Read The Bird’s Nest for Free Online Page B

combination. But of course,” he went on mournfully, “as it turned out, we could have saved ourselves a trip.”
    â€œIt
is
a shame,” Aunt Morgen said.
    â€œSo of
course
we
had
to take the black one,” Mrs. Arrow said, and shrugged, to show how helpless they had been.
    Mr. Arrow touched his wife on the shoulder. “All water under the bridge,” he said. “How about a little music? Elizabeth’s head all right?”
    â€œFine,” said Elizabeth.
    â€œWell, then,” said Mr. Arrow, moving with speed toward the piano. “Ruth? Care to play along?” As his wife rose and came toward the piano, Mr. Arrow turned to Aunt Morgen. “Which shall it be? Mandalay?”
    â€œLovely,” said Aunt Morgen, settling herself into her chair and reaching without formality for the sherry decanter. “Mandalay would be perfectly grand.”
    Elizabeth opened her eyes then because instead of the sound of the piano playing the introduction to “The Road to Mandalay,” there was a silence, and then Mr. Arrow said, “Well, really.” He closed the music on the piano and said to Elizabeth, “I’m sorry. I
asked
if your head was all right. Really,” he said to Mrs. Arrow.
    â€œHe did, you know, Elizabeth,” Mrs. Arrow said. “I’m sure no one wants to
make
you listen.”
    â€œI beg your pardon?” Elizabeth said, perplexed. “I
want
to hear Mr. Arrow sing.”
    â€œWell, if it was a joke,” Aunt Morgen said, “it was in extremely poor taste, Elizabeth.”
    â€œI don’t understand,” Elizabeth said.
    â€œIt’s all forgotten now, anyway,” Mr. Arrow said peaceably. “We’ll go ahead, then.”
    Elizabeth, waiting again, again heard only silence and opened her eyes to find them all looking at her.
“Elizabeth,”
Aunt Morgen was saying, chokingly and half-rising from her chair,
“Elizabeth.”
    â€œNever mind, Morgen, really,” Mrs. Arrow said. She got up from the piano bench, her hands shaking and her mouth tight. “I’m certainly
surprised,
” Mrs. Arrow said.
    Mr. Arrow, not looking at Elizabeth, folded the music slowly and put it with some care onto the other music on the back of the piano. After a minute he looked around the room, smiling his faint smile. “Let’s not have our nice evening spoiled, ladies,” he said. “Sherry, Morgen?”
    â€œI have never
been
so humiliated,” Aunt Morgen said. “I can’t understand it at
all.
I do apologize, Vergil, I honestly do. All I can say is—”
    â€œPlease don’t mind it,” Mrs. Arrow said. She put her hand gently on Aunt Morgen’s arm. “Let’s forget all about it.”
    â€œElizabeth?” Aunt Morgen said.
    â€œWhat?” said Elizabeth.
    â€œâ€”feel all right?”
    â€œWhat?” said Elizabeth.
    â€œShe ought to lie down or something,” Mr. Arrow said.
    â€œI had no idea—” Mrs. Arrow said.
    â€œShe’s taken eight glasses of sherry, by
my
count,” Aunt Morgen said grimly. “Where she ought to be is home in bed; I never saw her drink
any
thing before.”
    â€œBut just sweet sherry—”
    â€œâ€”see a doctor,” said Mrs. Arrow wisely. “Can’t be too careful.”
    â€œElizabeth,” Aunt Morgen said sharply, “put down your cards and get up and put on your coat. We’re going home.”
    â€œMust you?” Mrs. Arrow asked. “I don’t really think she needs to go
home.
”
    Aunt Morgen laughed. “Three rubbers of bridge is about
my
limit,” she said. “And Elizabeth has to get up in the morning.”
    â€œWell, it’s been lovely to have you,” Mrs. Arrow said.
    â€œCome again soon,” Mr. Arrow said.
    â€œWe’ve enjoyed it
so
much,” Aunt Morgen said.
    â€œThank you for a very nice time,” Elizabeth