Free School for Love by Olivia Manning

more.’
    Miss Bohun made no comment on this exchange. She cut off a meat sliver for each of the three remaining plates, then rang the bell and told Maria to take the joint away.
    ‘We have meat only once a week,’ she said to the table as the plates were passed, ‘so we must make it stretch. And we must think of the servants. Both the Lesznos and Maria are allowed their share. It pays to treat one’s servants well.’
    ‘Indeed yes,’ said Frau Wagner with feeling.
    ‘Also I make a point of never buying on the black market.’
    ‘
Never?
How then do you live?’ Frau Wagner’s surprise had in it admiration.
    ‘One can always make up with potatoes.’ Miss Bohun pushed the dish towards her.
    ‘Ah, your English boiled potatoes,’ Frau Wagner exclaimed with delight. She put on her plate two potatoes that seemed to be made of soap. ‘How clever a housewife you must be! My employer, Dr Zimmerman, buys meat every day (except, of course, Friday, when we have fish). He sees to the matter himself, personally; and
always
on the black market.’
    ‘I’ve no doubt. Even some English Government officials are remiss enough to encourage the black market. I buy nothing; except sometimes eggs. When they’re plentiful, they are cheaper on the black market – so it’s different.’
    ‘That is true,’ agreed Frau Wagner enthusiastically.
    ‘I don’t like boiled potatoes,’ Felix suddenly announced. ‘I like chips.’
    Miss Bohun looked at him sharply and said:
    ‘Chips take too much cooking-oil.’ She had been eating at a great pace; now, the second course finished, she rose, holding her gloves in her hand. ‘You must excuse me. Felix will act as host. Here is the bell, Felix; ring it when you are ready.’ She rebound her head in her scarf. As she put on the sheepskin coat, Frau Wagner, who had been watching her with glittering eyes, exclaimed wildly: ‘What a lovely coat!’
    This seemed to Felix most blatant flattery, but for some reason it made Miss Bohun unbend. She passed a hand over the dirty skin, then turned up a corner to look at the shaggy inside hair and said complacently: ‘It’s all right. It keeps me warm. But I’m afraid these coats are very common.’
    ‘Oh,’ breathed Frau Wagner, ‘last year they were common, yes. But not
this
year.’
    ‘Well, I must be off. I’ll say “good-night” Frau Wagner, you’ll be gone before I get back.’
    As the door closed after Miss Bohun, Frau Wagner covered her mouth with her hand and laughed silently, Mr Jewel seemed to be trying not to laugh. Felix looked at the plates – all empty, except for a solitary cold potato which Frau Wagner and Mr Jewel refused in turn. He rang the bell. Maria brought in small plates, three dates on each. She took from the dresser some brass finger-bowls and filled them with water.
    ‘Very nice,’ she announced and, smiling round at them, she went.
    When Frau Wagner and Felix had each eaten their dates, Mr Jewel offered them Miss Bohun’s share, but neither wanted them.
    ‘It’s too late for dates,’ said Felix, ‘they’re slimy and too sweet.’
    ‘Ah, Felix, you are a connoisseur!’ said Frau Wagner. ‘You know what is good.’
    Felix smiled uncomfortably. He did not think Frau Wagner was laughing at him; he would have felt happier if she had been.
    ‘Tell me,’ she said to Mr Jewel, ‘where has our hostess gone so quickly?’
    ‘Don’t you know? She’s gone to see the other Wise Virgins.’
    Frau Wagner gave a hoot of laughter and Felix laughed too, but he flushed slightly, still discomforted, scarcely knowing why. For moments, when there was a gleam of humour about her, Felix had thought Frau Wagner ‘greatfun’, but all the time he could not help feeling in her the quality that Miss Bohun did not like. Like the lion in the puzzle picture, once seen it was difficult to see anything else.
    Mr Jewel seemed to feel Felix’s discomfort. He rubbed his hands together between his knees and grinned at Felix.