A Cup of Tea By Katherine Mansfild

Rosemary Fell was not exactly beautiful. She was young, brilliant, extremely modern, well dressed and amazingly well read in the newest of the new books. Rosemary had been married two years, and her husband was very fond of her. They were rich, really rich, not just comfortably well – off, so if Rosemary wanted to shop, she would go to Paris as you and I would go to Boston Street. One winter afternoon she went into a small shop to look at the little box which the shop man had been keeping for her. He had shown it nobody as yet so that she might be the first to see it

Outside rain was falling, there was a cold, bitter taste in the air, and the newly lighted lamps looked sad… At that very moment a young girl, thin, dark, appeared at Rosemarys elbow and a voice, like a sigh, breathed: Madam, may I speak to you a moment? Speak to me? Rosemary turned. She saw a little creature, no older than herself who shivered as though she had just come out of the water. Madam, came the voice, would you let me have the price of a cup of tea? A cup of tea? There was something simple, sincere in that voice: it couldnt be the voice of beggar. Then have you no money at all? asked Rosemary. None, madam, came the answer. How unusual! Rosemary looked at the girl closer. And suddenly it seemed to her such an adventure.

And she heard herself saying afterwards to the amazement of her friends: I simply took her home with me. And she stepped forward and said to the girl beside her: Come home to tea with me. And really the effect of that slight meal was amazing. When the tea – table was carried away, a new girl, a light creature with dark lips and deep eyes lay back in the big chair. At that moment the door – handle turned. Rosemary, can I come in? It was Philip, her husband. Of course. He came in. Oh, Im so sorry, he said, as if apologizing, and stopped and stared. Its quite all right, said Rosemary, smiling. This is my friend, Miss - Smith, madam, said the figure in the chair. Smith, said Rosemary. We are going to have a little talk. Philip smiled his charming smile. As a matter of fact, he said I wanted you to come into library for a moment. Will Miss Smith excuse us? The big eyes were raised to him, but Rosemary answered for her: Of course she will, and they went out of the room together. And she heard herself saying afterwards to the amazement of her friends: I simply took her home with me. And she stepped forward and said to the girl beside her: Come home to tea with me. And really the effect of that slight meal was amazing. When the tea – table was carried away, a new girl, a light creature with dark lips and deep eyes lay back in the big chair. At that moment the door – handle turned. Rosemary, can I come in? It was Philip, her husband. Of course. He came in. Oh, Im so sorry, he said, as if apologizing, and stopped and stared. Its quite all right, said Rosemary, smiling. This is my friend, Miss - Smith, madam, said the figure in the chair. Smith, said Rosemary. We are going to have a little talk. Philip smiled his charming smile. As a matter of fact, he said I wanted you to come into library for a moment. Will Miss Smith excuse us? The big eyes were raised to him, but Rosemary answered for her: Of course she will, and they went out of the room together.

I say, said Philip, when they were alone. Explain, who is she? What does it all mean? Rosemary, laughing, leaned against the door and said: I picked her up in the street. Really. She asked me for the price of a cup of tea and I brought her home with me. Congratulations! Philip sounded as though he were joking. But what on earth are you going to do with her? Be nice to her, said Rosemary. But, said Philip slowly, and he cut the end of a cigar. shes so extremely pretty. She cant be more than twenty. Pretty? Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. Do you think so? I – I hadnt thought about it. Good Lord! Philip took a match. She is absolutely lovely. Look again, my child. But let me know if Miss Smith is going to dine with us!

Rosemary went out of the library, but not back to her bedroom. She went to her writing – room and sat down at her desk. Pretty! Absolutely lovely! Her heart beat like a heavy bell. She opened a drawer, took out five pound notes, looked at them, put two back, and holding the three in her hand, went back to her bedroom.

Half an hour later Philip was still in the library, when Rosemary came in. I only wanted to tell you, said she, and she leaned against he door again, Miss Smith wont dine with us tonight. Rosemary came over and sat down on his knee. She insisted on going, she said, so I gave the poor little thing a present of money. I couldnt keep her against her will, could I? she added softly. There was a pose. Then Rosemary said dreamily: I saw a wonderful little box today. It cost twenty – eight guineas. Can I have it? You can, little wasteful one said he You know I cant deny you anything. But that was not really what Rosemary wanted to say. Philip, she whispered, am I pretty?