1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 1: Call Zone Media book Club book Club, book Club book Club. Hello, 2 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to Coole Zone Media book Club, The Only Podcast, 3 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 1: the Only book Club. Really don't have to do the reading, 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: because I do it for you. I'm your host, Margaret Kildroy, 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: and every week I bring you stories, stories that I 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: think you might enjoy or that tell us something about 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: the world or the history of this stuff. I don't 8 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: know the stories that I like. And this week I 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: have this is going to be surprising to you. I 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,519 Speaker 1: have a story that I like. It is called A 11 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 1: Cup of Tea by Catherine Mansfield. And if you're unfamiliar 12 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: with Katherine Mansfield, some folks, although in this case the 13 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: people who try and preserve her legacy, refer to her 14 00:00:55,960 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: as basically transforming the way that short stories are written 15 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: the English language. And I think there's some truth to that. 16 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: She was absolutely a prolific short story writer. She wrote 17 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: kind of turn of the century. She died young at 18 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: thirty four, tuberculosis. That'll surprise nobody. And she was bisexual, 19 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: and she I don't know, she had a really interesting life, 20 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: like at one point she married a guy and then 21 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:29,000 Speaker 1: left him that night, like they literally never consummated the marriage, 22 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: but she was always sick and kind of getting shipped 23 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 1: around Europe in order to try and be healthy or whatever. 24 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: And she's you know, had rich parents, although at one 25 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: point they cut her out of the will for I 26 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:44,960 Speaker 1: think her rampant lesbianism and really proven the whole point 27 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: that people have known about lesbians for a really long time, 28 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: including lesbians. So I like the story a bunch. It's 29 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: a nice, cozy winter story in a way. She wrote 30 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: this in nineteen twenty two, where it came out in 31 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty two, which was the year before she died. 32 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 1: She lived from eighteen eighty eight to nineteen twenty three. 33 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: She was born in New Zealand, but spent most of 34 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 1: her adult life in London and various places around Western Europe. 35 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: But also she fell in with like Russian mystics near 36 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: the end of her life, which is neat but it 37 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: was like partly because she traveled around basically trying to 38 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: find a cure way to deal with tuberculosis. She's like 39 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: kind of an interesting, almost archetypical writer for the time, 40 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: and she's just a really good writer, just very like 41 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: specific and clear. I was a big fan of Chekhov 42 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: and also was a big fan of Oscar Wilde, which 43 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:46,279 Speaker 1: makes some sense anyway. A Cup of Tea by Catherine Mansfield, 44 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty two. Rosemary Fell was not exactly beautiful. No, 45 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: you couldn't have called her beautiful pretty well if you 46 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: took her to peace, But why be so cruel as 47 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: to take anyone to pieces? She was young, brilliant, extremely modern, 48 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: exquisitely well dressed, amazingly well read in the newest of 49 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: the new books, and her parties were the most delicious 50 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: mixture of the really important people and artists, quaint creatures, 51 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: discoveries of hers, some of them too terrifying for words, 52 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: but others quite presentable and amusing. Rosemary had been married 53 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: two years. She had a duck of a boy, no, 54 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: not Peter Michael, and her husband absolutely adored her. They 55 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: were rich, really rich, not just comfortably well off, which 56 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: is odious and stuffy and sounds like one's grandparents. But 57 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: if Rosemary wanted to shop, she would go to Paris, 58 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: as you and I would go to Bond Street if 59 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: she wanted to buy flowers. The car pulled up, but 60 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: that perfect shop in Regent Street, and Rosemary inside the 61 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: shop just gazed in her dazzled rather exotic way, and said, 62 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: I want those, and those and those. Give me four 63 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: bunches of those, and that jar of roses. Yes, I'll 64 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: have all the roses in the jar. No, not lilac. 65 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: I hate lilac. It's got no shape. The attendant bowed 66 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: and put the lilac out of sight, as though this 67 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: was only too true. Lilac was dreadfully shapeless. 68 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:36,120 Speaker 2: Give me those stumpy little tulips, those red and white ones. 69 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: And she was followed to the car by a thin 70 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: shop girl, staggering under an immense white paper armful that 71 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 2: looked like a baby in long clothes. One winter afternoon, 72 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 2: she had been buying something in a little antique shop 73 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 2: in Curzon Street. 74 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: It was a shop she liked. For one thing, one 75 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: usually had it to one's self, and then the man 76 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: who kept it was ridiculously fond of serving her. He 77 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: beamed whenever she came in. He clasped his hands. He 78 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: was so gratified he could scarcely speak flattery. Of course, 79 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: all the same, there was something you see, madame, he 80 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: would explain, in his low, respectful tones. I love my things. 81 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: I would rather not part with them than sell them 82 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: to someone who does not appreciate them, who is not 83 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 1: that fine feeling which is so rare. And breathing deeply, 84 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,159 Speaker 1: he unrolled a tiny square of blue velvet and pressed 85 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: it on the glass counter with his pale finger tips. 86 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: To day, it was a little box. He had been 87 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 1: keeping it for her. He had shown it to nobody 88 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 1: as yet, an exquisite little enamel box, with a glaze 89 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: so fine it looked as though it had been baked 90 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: in cream. On the lid, a minute creature stood under 91 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 1: a flowery tree, and a more minute creature still had 92 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: her arms around his neck, her hat really no bigger 93 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: than a geranium petal, hung from a branch. It had 94 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: green ribbons, and there was a pink cloud, like a 95 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: watchful cherub floating above their heads. Rosemary took her hands 96 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: out of her long gloves. She always took off her 97 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: gloves to examine such things. Yes, she liked it very much, 98 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 1: She loved it. It was a great duck. She must 99 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: have it. And turning the creamy box, opening and shutting it, 100 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,960 Speaker 1: she couldn't help noticing how charming her hands were against 101 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: the blue velvet. The shopman, in some dim cavern of 102 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,720 Speaker 1: his mind, may have dared to think so, too, for 103 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 1: he took a pencil leant over the counter, and his pale, 104 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: bloodless fingers crept timidly towards those rosy, flashing ones, as 105 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 1: he murmured gently, if I may venture to point out 106 00:06:56,000 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: to Madame the flowers on the little lady's bodice charming. 107 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: Rosemary admired the flowers, but what was the price for 108 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,280 Speaker 1: a moment the shopman did not seem to hear. Then 109 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:14,440 Speaker 1: a murmur reached her. Twenty eight guineas, Madame, twenty eight guineas. 110 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: Rosemary gave no sign. She laid the little box down. 111 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: She buttoned her gloves again, twenty eight guineas, even if 112 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: one is rich, She looked vague. She stared at a 113 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: plump tea kettle like a plump hen above the shopman's head, 114 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: and her voice was dreamy as she answered, well keep 115 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: it for me, will you? I'll The shopman had already bowed, 116 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: as though keeping it for her was all any human 117 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: could ask. He would be willing, of course, to keep 118 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: it for her forever. The discreet door shut with a click. 119 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: She was outside on the step, gazing at the winter 120 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: afternoon rain was falling, and with the rain, it seemed 121 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: like the dark came too, spinning down like ashes. There 122 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: was a cold, bitter taste in the air, and the 123 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: new lighted lamps looked sad. Sad were the lights in 124 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: the houses opposite Dimly they burned, as if regretting something, 125 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 1: and people hurried by hidden under their hateful umbrellas. Rosemary 126 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: felt a strange pang. She pressed her muff to her breast. 127 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: She wished she had the little box too to cling to. 128 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: Of course, the car was there, she'd only to cross 129 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: the pavement, but still she waited. There are moments, horrible 130 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,800 Speaker 1: moments in life, when one emerges from shelter and looks 131 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 1: out and it's awful. One oughtn't to give way to them. 132 00:08:41,160 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: One ought to go home and have an extra special tea. 133 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: But at the very instant of thinking that, a young girl, thin, dark, shadowy, 134 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: where had she come from? Was standing at Rosemary's elbow, 135 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: and a voice like a sigh, almost like a sob 136 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: breathed madame, may I speak to you a moment? Speak 137 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: to me? Rosemary turned. She saw a little battered creature 138 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,439 Speaker 1: with enormous eyes, someone quite young, no older than herself, 139 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: who clutched at her coat collar with redened hands, and 140 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: shivered as though she had just come out of the water. 141 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: Madame stammered the voice, would you let me have the 142 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: price of a cup of tea? A cup of tea? 143 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: There was something simple sincere in that voice. It wasn't 144 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 1: in the least the voice of a beggar. Then you 145 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: have no money at all, asked Rosemary, None, madame, came 146 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: the answer. But fortunately for her and for you, some 147 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,480 Speaker 1: of the products and services that we advertise on this 148 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: show don't cost you anything because some of them are 149 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: like podcasts and stuff like that. So if only this 150 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:57,959 Speaker 1: beggar had had access to the advertisements available, she might 151 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: have had more podcasts to listen to. Anyway, Peer's ads 152 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: and we're back. How extraordinary? Rosemary peered through the dusk, 153 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,559 Speaker 1: and the girl gazed back at her. How more than extraordinary? 154 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 1: And suddenly it seemed to Rosemary such an adventure. It 155 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: was like something out of a novel by Dociesky, This 156 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: meeting in the dusk. Supposing she took the girl home, 157 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: Supposing she did do one of those things she was 158 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 1: always reading about or seeing on the stage, what would happen? 159 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: It would be thrilling, and she heard herself saying afterwards, 160 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: to the amazement of her friends, I simply took her 161 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: home with me. As she stepped forward and said to 162 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: that dim person beside her, come home to tea with me, 163 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,160 Speaker 1: the girl drew back, startled. She even stopped shivering for 164 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: a moment. Rosemary put out a hand and touched her arm. 165 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: I mean it, she said, smiling, and she felt how 166 00:11:10,320 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: simple and kind her smile was. Why won't you do 167 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:18,479 Speaker 1: come home with me now in my car and have tea. 168 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: You you don't mean it, madame, said the girl, and 169 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:26,679 Speaker 1: there was pain in her voice. But I do, cried Rosemary. 170 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: I want you to to please me. Come along. The 171 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: girl put her fingers to her lips and her eyes 172 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: devoured Rosemary. You're you're not taking me to the police station, 173 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,959 Speaker 1: she stammered. The police station, Rosemary laughed out, Why should 174 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: I be so cool? No, I only want to make 175 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:49,960 Speaker 1: you warm and to hear anything you care to tell me. 176 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:55,439 Speaker 1: Hungry people are easily led. The footman held the door 177 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: of the car open, and a moment later they were 178 00:11:58,120 --> 00:12:02,480 Speaker 1: skimming through the dusk. There, said Rosemary. She had a 179 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: feeling of triumph as she slipped her hand through the 180 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,679 Speaker 1: velvet strap. She could have said, now I've got you 181 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: as she gazed at the little captive she had nedded, 182 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: But of course she meant it kindly, oh more than kindly. 183 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: She was going to prove to this girl that wonderful 184 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: things did happen in life, that fairy godmothers were real, 185 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,199 Speaker 1: that rich people had hearts, and that women were sisters. 186 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: She turned impulsively, saying, don't be frightened. After all, why 187 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: shouldn't you come back with me? Were both women? If 188 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: I'm the more fortunate, you ought to expect, But happily 189 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: at that moment, for she didn't know how that sentence 190 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,959 Speaker 1: was going to end. The car stopped, the bell was rung, 191 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,439 Speaker 1: the door opened, and with a charming, protecting, almost embracing movement, 192 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: Rosemary drew the other into the hall. Warmth, softness, light, 193 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: a sweet scent, all those things so familiar to her 194 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,440 Speaker 1: that she never even thought about them. She watched that 195 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: other receive. It was fascinating. She was like the little 196 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: rich girl in her nursery, with all the cupboards to open, 197 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:16,199 Speaker 1: all the boxes to unpack. Come come upstairs, said Rosemary, 198 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:19,520 Speaker 1: longing to begin to be generous, come up to my room. 199 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: And besides, she wanted to spare this poor little thing 200 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,280 Speaker 1: from being stared at by the servants. She decided as 201 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 1: they mounted the stairs she would not even ring for Jeanie, 202 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 1: but instead take off her things by herself. The great 203 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: thing was to be natural. And there cried Rosemary again 204 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,840 Speaker 1: as they reached her beautiful, big bedroom, with a curtains drawn, 205 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:44,839 Speaker 1: the fire leaping on her wonderful lack of furniture, her 206 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: gold cushions and the primrose and blue rugs. The girl 207 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: stood just inside the door. She seemed dazed, but Rosemary 208 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:57,439 Speaker 1: didn't mind that. Come and sit down, she cried, dragging 209 00:13:57,440 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 1: her big chair up to the fire in this comfy 210 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: Come and get warm. You look so dreadfully cold. I daren't, madam, 211 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: said the girl as she edged backwards. Oh please, Rosemary 212 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 1: ran forward. You mustn't be frightened. You mustn't really sit down. 213 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: And when I've taken off my things, we shall go 214 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: into the next room and have tea and be cozy. 215 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: Why are you afraid? And gently she half pushed the 216 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: thin figure into its deep cradle, but there was no answer. 217 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: The girl stayed just as she had been put with 218 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,960 Speaker 1: her hands by her sides and her mouth slightly open 219 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: to be quite sincere. She looked rather stupid, but Rosemary 220 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: wouldn't acknowledge it. She leant over her, saying, won't you 221 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: take off your hat? Your pretty hair is all wet, 222 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: and one is so much more comfortable without a hat, 223 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: isn't one? There was a whisper that sounded like very good, madam, 224 00:14:54,840 --> 00:14:58,000 Speaker 1: and the crushed hat was taken off. Let me help 225 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: you with your coat, too, said Rosemary. The girl stood up, 226 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: but she held on to the chair with one hand 227 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: and let Rosemary pull It was quite an effort. The 228 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: other scarcely helped her at all. She seemed to stagger 229 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 1: like a child. And the thought came and went through 230 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 1: Rosemary's mind that if people wanted helping, they must respond 231 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: a little, just a little, otherwise it became very difficult. Indeed, 232 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: and what was she to do with the coat now? 233 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: She left it on the floor and the hat to 234 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: She was just going to take a cigarette off the 235 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 1: mantelpiece when the girl said, quickly, but so lightly and strangely, 236 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,760 Speaker 1: I'm very sorry, madame, but I'm going to faint. I 237 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: shall go off, Madame, if I don't have something good. Heavens, 238 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: how thoughtless I am. Rosemary rushed to the bell tea 239 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: tea at once and some brandy. Immediately the maid was 240 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: gone again. But the girl almost cried out, No, I 241 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: don't want no brandy. I never drink brand it's a 242 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: cup of tea. I want madame, And she burst into tears. 243 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: But do you know what I think she really wanted. 244 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: I think she really wanted to live in the modern world, 245 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: A magical, cornycopia of products and services that could await 246 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: even the most humble. Fucking God, damn it, whatever your's it, 247 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: and we're back. It was a terrible and fascinating moment. 248 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: Rosemary knelt beside her chair. Don't cry, poor little things, 249 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: she said, don't cry, and she gave the other her 250 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: lace handkerchief. She really was touched beyond words. She put 251 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: her arm around those thin bird like shoulders. Now at last, 252 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: the other forgot to be shy, forgot everything except that 253 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: they were both women, and gasped out, I can't go 254 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 1: no longer like this. I can't bear it. I shall 255 00:17:08,520 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: do away with myself. I can't bear no more. You 256 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: shan't have to. I'll look after you. Don't cry anymore. 257 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: Don't you see what a good thing it was that 258 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,199 Speaker 1: you met me. We'll have tea and you'll tell me 259 00:17:22,280 --> 00:17:27,439 Speaker 1: everything and I shall arrange something. I promise. Do stop crying. 260 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,320 Speaker 1: It's exhausting. Please. The other did stop just in time 261 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:35,399 Speaker 1: for Rosemary to get up. Before the tea came, she 262 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,639 Speaker 1: had the table placed between them. She plied the poor 263 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:42,200 Speaker 1: little creature with everything, all the sandwiches, all the bread 264 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 1: and butter, and every time her cup was empty she 265 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:49,080 Speaker 1: filled it with tea, cream and sugar. People always said 266 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: sugar was so nourishing. As for herself, she didn't eat. 267 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: She smoked and looked away tactfully, so the other should 268 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: not be shy. And really the effect of that slight 269 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,920 Speaker 1: meal was marvelous. When the tea table was carried away, 270 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: a new bean, A light, frail creature with tangled hair, 271 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:10,920 Speaker 1: dark lips, deep lighted eyes, lay back in the big 272 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: chair and a kind of sweet languor. Looking at the blaze. 273 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: Rosemary lit a fresh cigarette. It was time to begin, 274 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 1: And when did you have your last meal? She asked softly. 275 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: But at that moment the door handle turned, Rosemary, may 276 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: I come in? It was Philip okay, just a note 277 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:33,840 Speaker 1: here from me. I was really confused by this at 278 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 1: the beginning, because at the beginning says like her husband 279 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,600 Speaker 1: was not a Peter but a Michael, and her husband 280 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: is named Philip, and the Peter and Michael thing is 281 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,480 Speaker 1: just some Bible shit that I don't get that maybe 282 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: you do. So anyway, it was Philip. It's the husband, 283 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: of course. He came in. Oh, I'm so sorry, he said, 284 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: and stopped and stared. It's quite all right, said Rosemary, smiling. 285 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: This is my friend, miss Smith, madam, said the languid figure, 286 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: who is strangely still and unafraid. Smith said Rosemary. We 287 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: are going to have a little talk. Oh, yes, said 288 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: Philip quite and his eye caught sight of the coat 289 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,199 Speaker 1: and hat on the floor. He came over to the 290 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 1: fire and turned his back to it. It's a beastly afternoon, 291 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: he said, curiously, still looking at the listless figure, looking 292 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 1: at its hands and boots, and then at Rosemary again. Yes, 293 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: isn't it, said Rosemary, enthusiastically Vile. Philip smiled his charming smile. 294 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 1: As a matter of fact, said he I wanted you 295 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: to come into the library for a moment. Would you will, 296 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: miss Smith, excuse us. The big eyes were raised to him, 297 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 1: but Rosemary answered for her, of course she will, and 298 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: they went out of the room together. I say, said Philip. 299 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: When they were alone, Explain who is she? What does 300 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: it all mean? Rosemary, laughing, leaned against the door and said, 301 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: I picked her up in Curzon Street. Really, she's a 302 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,439 Speaker 1: real pickup. She asked me for the price of a 303 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: cup of tea, and I brought her home with me. 304 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: But what on earth are you going to do with her? 305 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: Cried Philip. Be nice to her, Rosemary said quickly, Be 306 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 1: frightfully nice to her, look after her. I don't know how. 307 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:25,960 Speaker 1: We haven't talked yet, but show her, treat her, make 308 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 1: her feel my darling girl, said Philip. You're quite mad. 309 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,800 Speaker 1: You know. It simply can't be done. I knew you'd 310 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: say that, retorted Rosemary, why not? I want to? Isn't 311 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,959 Speaker 1: that a reason? And besides, one's always reading about these things, 312 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: I decided, but said Philip slowly, as he cut the 313 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: end of a cigar. She's so astonishingly pretty pretty. Rosemary 314 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: was so surprised that she blushed. Do you think so? 315 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: I hadn't thought about it, Good Lord, Philip struck a match. 316 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 1: He's absolutely lovely. Look again, my child, I was bold 317 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: over when I came into your room just now. However, 318 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: I think you're making a ghastly mistake. Sorry, darling if 319 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,919 Speaker 1: I'm crude in all of that, but let me know 320 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 1: if miss Smith is going to dine with us in 321 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: time for me to look up the Milliner's gazette. You 322 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: absurd creature, said Rosemary, and she went out of the library, 323 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: but not back to her bedroom. She went to her 324 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: writing room and sat down at her desk, pretty absolutely lovely, 325 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: bowled over her heart beat like a heavy bell. Pretty lovely. 326 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: She drew her check book towards her, but no checks 327 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: would be no use, of course. She opened a drawer 328 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,120 Speaker 1: and took out five pound notes, looked at them, put 329 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: two back, and holding the three squeezed in her hand, 330 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: she went back to her bedroom. Half an hour later, 331 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:53,719 Speaker 1: Philip was still in the library when Rosemary came in. 332 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: I only wanted to tell you, said she as she 333 00:21:57,840 --> 00:22:00,359 Speaker 1: leaned against the door again and looked at him with 334 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: her dazzled exotic gaze. Miss Smith won't dine with us tonight. 335 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: Philip put down the paper. Oh, what's happened previous engagement. 336 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,720 Speaker 1: Rosemary came over and sat down on his knee. She 337 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: insisted on going, said she, So I gave the poor 338 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 1: little thing a present of money. I couldn't keep her 339 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: against her will, could I? She added softly. Rosemary had 340 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,800 Speaker 1: just done her hair, darkened her eyes a little, and 341 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: put on her pearls. She put up her hands and 342 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: touched Philip's cheeks. Do you like me? Said she, and 343 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:37,960 Speaker 1: her tone sweet husky, troubled him. I like you awfully, 344 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: he said, and he held her tighter, kiss me. There 345 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: was a pause. Then Rosemary said dreamily, I saw a 346 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: fascinating little box today. It cost twenty eight guineas. May 347 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: I have it? Philip jumped her on his knee. You may, 348 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: little wasteful one, said he. But that was not really 349 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:02,320 Speaker 1: what Rosemary wanted to say. She whispered, and she pressed 350 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 1: his head against her bosom. Am I pretty the end? Okay? 351 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:15,200 Speaker 1: I like that story? And yeah, her prose is immaculate, 352 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,680 Speaker 1: just from a craft point of view. She picks these 353 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: very specific images with which to describe everything, and it's 354 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: just very very clear, and I really appreciate that. But 355 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,119 Speaker 1: also like, yeah, I fucking got her ass about like 356 00:23:31,440 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: rich people. But then it's like, okay, so it's obviously 357 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:36,320 Speaker 1: a critique of like rich women, right, and it was 358 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 1: written by someone who's you know, raised up her class. 359 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 1: I suspect not quite at this level, but like sort 360 00:23:40,880 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 1: of moved within this level. I also read that this 361 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: whole thing was like a thinly veiled piece about her 362 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,640 Speaker 1: own cousin, who's a woman novelist whose name I don't 363 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: remember was Elizabeth Something who I hadn't heard of, and 364 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: I apologized for that. But more than anything, I think 365 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,919 Speaker 1: about how like she's talking about at the beginning, She's like, well, 366 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: aren't we both sisters despite the fact that we were 367 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: born in these different places. Aren't we all women? Don't 368 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,679 Speaker 1: we have this like bond of sisterhood. Aren't we essentially 369 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: oppressed together? Right? Don't we have something in common? And 370 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:21,880 Speaker 1: how patriarchy plays women against each other to defeat rich 371 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,959 Speaker 1: women from actually having solidarity of poor women from actually 372 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:28,879 Speaker 1: identifying with them, and uses femininity and not the feminity 373 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,159 Speaker 1: is inherently bad, but obviously, like you know, is using 374 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: appeals to femininity and appeals to like you know, basically, 375 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: the husband's like, oh, I know, how to get rid 376 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,280 Speaker 1: of this person. I'm just gonna call her pretty, and 377 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: that's going to basically like, you know, my wife will 378 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 1: throw her out at that point, and you know, and 379 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: he's like so completely condescending, like you know, like sit 380 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 1: on my knee and I'm going to bounce you on 381 00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 1: my knee. He literally bounces her on his knee. It's 382 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,199 Speaker 1: so good. When I asked Hazel what they wanted to 383 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: say about this piece, they said, quote, yum yum, yum, 384 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: yum yum, absolutely delicious. So there's your little winter story 385 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: for you. About nice little shopping story. That's what this 386 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: story is about. The story is really about how great 387 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: that box was, and really she just would have been 388 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,880 Speaker 1: happier if she'd bought that box in the first place. Anyway, 389 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: take care of each other and we'll see you next 390 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: week for another cool Zone Media book club. It Could 391 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: Happen here as a production of cool Zone Media. For 392 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: more podcasts from cool Zone Media, visit our website Coolzonemedia 393 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,600 Speaker 1: dot com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, 394 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can 395 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: find sources where It Could Happen here. Updated monthly at coolzonemedia, 396 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: dot com, slash sources, Thanks for listening.