Free The Red And The Green by Iris Murdoch Page A

Andrew,’ said Barnabas. ‘We meet at last, though not in the happiest circumstances. Think of all that excellent whiskey gone bang. Oughtn’t we all to go down on our knees and lick the carpet.’
    â€˜Barney, will you please see me to the tram?’ said Frances suddenly. Her voice sounded strained, as if she were about to burst into tears.
    â€˜Why, my dear, of course—’
    Andrew said, ‘But, Frances—’
    â€˜No, don’t you come, Andrew. You stay here. I’ve got something special I want to say to Barney. Thank you so much, Aunt Kathleen. I’ve so much enjoyed myself.’
    Frances had already seized her umbrella and her boa and was leading Barnabas away along the landing. Kathleen murmured something with her head still well down among the glass. Laboriously she was picking up tiny glittering splinters between her fingers.
    Pat went back into the drawing-room and joined Cathal, who was standing stern-eyed at the window. Together, like a grim tribunal, they looked disapprovingly down upon their stepfather as he disappeared down the street arm-in-arm with Frances, sheltering under her umbrella in the light rain. He contrived to look jaunty. Pat detested jauntiness.
    Andrew Chase-White, looking distracted, came running back into the room. The brothers ignored him. He seemed to run about for a little while like a dog. Then he returned to Kathleen and tried to help her with the glass, but the task appeared to be completed. He came back again and started to look for his raincoat. Pat wandered from the window and took up the George Moore novel. Andrew got as far as the door and then suddenly came back and stood before his cousin.
    â€˜Pat—’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Oh—sorry—nothing—’
    â€˜Goodbye, then.’
    Looking wretched, Andrew left the room, colliding with Kathleen, who was returning with the tea tray. Murmuring thanks, he made for the stairs.
    Kathleen, watched by her sons, began slowly to stack up the tea things. Pat noticed that she was crying. Big tears welled from her eyes and fell from her cheeks on to the tray. She always stooped double over any task she performed. Pat could not fathom his mother’s frequent and unconcealed tears, but he felt them as an aggression upon himself and averted his eyes. These exhibitions displeased him without troubling him deeply. He found women obscure and mysterious but not interesting. Kathleen left the room.
    â€˜Ah well,’ said Cathal. ‘“Up the long ladder and down the short rope, to hell with King Billy and long live the Pope.” What did he want, I wonder?’
    â€˜He wanted to apologize. He would have done so if you hadn’t been here.’
    â€˜Well, let him go. We don’t mind him. He’s nothing. Are you going to belt me?’
    â€˜I’ll let you off this time.’
    â€˜Pat—’
    â€˜Yes?’
    Cathal came up behind his brother and gently put his arms round his waist. ‘When is it to be?’
    â€˜I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
    â€˜You do so.’
    â€˜I do not.’

Chapter Four
    Over and over, like a mighty sea,
Comes the love of JESUS, rolling over me!
    Several hundred youthful voices pealed it forth enthusiastically as Andrew and his mother went with quickened step and stiffened gait past the big marquee. A large red banner above it read Children’s Special Service Mission, and Saved by the Blood of the Lamb. Neither Andrew nor his mother referred to the phenomenon. They were on their way to visit Aunt Millicent. ‘You really must fix things up properly with Frances, after all it’s up to you,’ said Hilda, as they began to pass out of range.
    Once I was blind, now I can see,
    Once I was bound, but now I am free,
    And that’s how I KNOW there’s a Saviour for me —
    OH such a Saviour!
    Andrew reflected, as the horrible sounds died away, that in Ireland