Free Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham Page A

slow
way among the people, trying to quiet their horses, often unable to go forward
at all. She steered the blind man past them and then wrenched her arm free. He
tried to catch her fingers but failed, and she pushed her way ahead.
    As she got opposite the Guildhall another great
press of people came down the street from the west, , shouting and singing and
carrying someone, precariously on a chair. She was, just able to slip into the
arched entrance of the Crown. They seemed about to go right past, but some
stopped, and a man stood on another's shoulders to try to reach the blue and
gold flag just above them. He had caught at a corner, when a dozen or more men
rushed past Demelza out of the hotel,sent the climber flying off the other
man's shoulders and in a minute a fight was in progress. Someone threw a brick,
and Demelza retreated farther into the yard and tried to tidy herself. Then she
went in.
    How to dress for her purpose had been a
difficult decision and unsatisfying when made. She wanted to look her best, but
could not have faced the streets in evening things. So the result was a
compromise which sapped some of her dearly needed 'confidence.
    " Yes'm?" An impudent page boy was
standing before her. She saw by his eyes that he had not quite placed her in
the social scale.
    "Is Sir John Trevaunance staying
here?" " Not's I know, mum."
    "I think he's here now. He told me he'd be
here this' evening.' A rash claim.
    "I can't say, mum. They're dining. There's
guests." " Still dining?"
    " Should be over soon'm. They started in at
five."
    I'll wait," she said. "Do you leave me
know so soon as they're finished."
    She sat down in the lobby of the hotel, trying
to appear unconcerned and at ease. Outside the noise was worse, and she
wondered how she would get back. She tried not to, be nervous. Waiters were
scurrying backwards and forwards from a room on her left. She did not want to
be found sitting here like a beggar waiting for alms. She beckoned one of the
waiters.
    "- Is there a withdrawing room where I may
wait for Sir John Trevaunance in greater comfort than here?"
    " Er yes, madam. Top o' the stairs. Can I
get you a refreshment while you wait?"
    A brilliant idea. "Thank you," she
said. "Would you bring me some port."
     
    This was not the election dinner, which would be
on Monday, but a preliminary gallop, as Sir Hugh Bodrugan called it. And, since
there were a few women present, the evening was on a discreeter level than
Monday's would be. A few of the weaker-brethren were tipsy; but most carried it
off in good style.
    At the head of the table were Sir John
Trevaunance and his brother Unwin. Between them was Caroline Penvenen, and on
Sir John's left was Mrs. Gilbert Daniell, with whom the other three were
staying. Beyond her was Michael Chenhalls, the other candidate, and next came
Miss Ternary, the mayor - their mayor Humphrey Michell, and Sir Hugh Bodrugan.
Among the other guests were notables of the town and district, wool merchants
and civic, officials.
    When the ladies left them the men sat over their
port for half, an hour before pulling in their sprawling legs and standing
about in yawning, chatting groups amid the debris of the meal. The noise at the
front of the hotel was not noticeable in the long dining room, but when they
got upstairs the shouts and the cheers and the scuffling and the laughter were
plain enough. As Unwin mounted the stairs beside his elder brother, 'Caroline
Penvenen came towards him carrying her tiny dog. Her face was a study in
charming petulance.
    "Horace is upset by the noise, she said,
drawing her long fingers over the silky head and ears. "He is of a nervous
disposition and inclined to fret when frightened."
    "Horace is a very lucky dog to have so much
affection centred on him," said Unwin.
    I shouldn't have brought him, only felt he would
be lonely with old Mr. Daniell for company. I feel sure he would have found it
quite desolate to sit in that dismal drawing room all the evening,