Jumping Jenny by Anthony Berkeley Read Free Book Online

considerably in the process; but from the wailing outcry she raised when Ronald refused to maltreat her any more, it was clear that she had prodigiously enjoyed this singular amusement.
    “And she the mother of a fine wee son,” said Nicolson disgustedly.
    Roger, the only person in the room who had watched the performance with any real interest, nodded gently. “It’s typical, of course, and significant too.”
    “Significant of what?”
    “Of everything that has happened to that young woman so far—and of anything that might happen to her in the future.”
II
    “Well, well,” said Dr. Chalmers. “Time we were going home, I suppose?”
    “You always want to go home as soon as I’m beginning to enjoy myself,” said his wife bitterly.
    “I’ve got to do a day’s work tomorrow, my dear. It’s nearly half-past one.”
    “Not just yet,” Mrs. Chalmers pleaded. “Frank and Jean aren’t going yet, are you Frank?”
    “Would you like to stay on a bit, darling?” Dr. Mitchell asked his wife.
    “Yes, rather. I’m enjoying it.”
    “Sure you’re not tired?” Dr. Mitchell asked anxiously.
    “Not a bit.”
    “Well, we shall stay on for a bit, Lucy.”
    “There you are, Philip. Frank and Jean aren’t going yet, and he’s got to do a day’s work tomorrow. We can stop for a bit too. You know Ronald’s parties go on till about four.”
    “Sorry, dear,” said Dr. Chalmers with the utmost heartiness. “Frank may be able to stand late hours, I can’t. Run and get your cloak on, there’s a good girl.”
    Roger turned away, marvelling. He did not know much about marriage, but he did know that such firmness in husbands is rare. Ena Stratton ought to have married Dr. Chalmers. He might have been able to keep her in order.
    Ronald came running up the stairs. “Phil, you’re wanted on the telephone.”
    “Hurray!” exclaimed Mrs. Chalmers callously, arresting her reluctant progress downstairs. “I hope it’s a call, and I hope it keeps him out for hours .”
    “Loathsome woman,” laughed Dr. Chalmers, unperturbed, and went downstairs.
    As things turned out, it was a call. “I shall be about an hour,” said Dr. Chalmers. “Good,” said Mrs. Chalmers. The party then resumed its course. A little group was sitting at one end of the ballroom in amicable converse—Mrs. Lefroy, Ronald and David Stratton, Roger, and Nicolson. To them entered Ena Stratton.
    “David, I’m bored. Let’s go home.” The David Strattons lived in a small house not five hundred yards away from the gates of Ronald’s drive.
    “Nonsense, Ena. You don’t want to go home yet,” said Ronald. “You’ll spoil the party.”
    “I can’t help that. I’m bored.”
    “Sit down, my dear, and don’t be rude to your kind brother-in-law,” said David.
    “I won’t sit down. And he isn’t kind: he wouldn’t do an Apache dance with me till I made him. Come on, David. Let’s go.”
    “But I don’t want to go yet.”
    “But I do. Well, give me the key, if you won’t come. I tell you, I’m bored.”
    Roger wondered if everyone else was feeling as uncomfortable as this exchange was making him. He caught Mrs. Lefroy’s eye and they smiled, surreptitiously and ruefully.
    David Stratton could not recognise an opportunity when he saw one. Instead of handing the key over, thankfully, he attempted to persuade his wife to stay.
    “Don’t be an ass, David,” said Ronald. “Give her the key if she really wants to go.”
    “I do,” said Ena.
    “All right, then, if you really want to. Here it is.”
    Ena took the key and balanced it on the palm of her hand.
    “I don’t think I will go after all. Let’s do something amusing.”
    “Ena!” shouted Ronald.
    “What?”
    “Good night.”
    “But I’m not going.”
    “ Yes, you are. You wanted to, and you shall. Besides, you’re bored.”
    “Only because I’m tired of dancing. I shouldn’t be if only we could do something amusing.”
    “Well, we’re not going to do anything