jeffrey leaned back contentedly after finishing the plate of cream tarts ernestine had whipped up for him.
“those were delightful, my dear, “ he assured ernestine.
“thank you.”
“tell me, does charles never suspect you are making these wonderful confections? surely, they must leave some trace, in the air, or on the kitchen counter, or somewhere?”
“oh, i am sure he does. but either he does not care - that is the most likely explanation - or he just assumes i eat them all myself.”
“ah. and that you do not save any for him, does that not bother him?”
“no, he is more of a cheeseburger and onion ring person.”
“how disgusting. a strange fellow, charles. i wonder how he lives with himself, or how he continues to jog along.”
”the same way he always has. but enough about charles, what about you? how are you getting along in the great world since i last saw you?”
“oh, splendidly, splendidly. rising like a glob of burning lava in a volcano. no one has a bad word to say to me.”
ernestine laughed. “a bad word to you? how about anything bad about you?”
“well, one never knows about that. i have not heard anything, that is the best one can hope for, eh?”
“and have you been able to turn all this splendid rising and good words to any solid account?”
“why,” jeffrey replied carefully, “one has to observe certain proprieties, and not strike too quickly in these matters. let one’s good fortune be so taken for granted that trading on it is not even noticed. i am sure you understand.”
“of course, of course. and how is your charming wife?”
“moving from triumph to triumph.”
“good. we wouldn’t want her to miss out on the fun.”
“yes,” jeffrey sighed. “everything would be perfect, if only the diplomatic situation were not quite so volatile.”
“not so volatile? but don’t you want it to be volatile? have you not made your whole career by being always a member of the war party?”
“of course, but always within limits.”
“well, whatever. that is enough of that. i didn’t think you came here to talk shop.” ernestine leaned back and looked around the room. “come now, relax. is there anything else i can get you?”
“a plate of jelly tarts would be nice. and some more of this delightful tea to wash it down.”
“coming right up.”
ernestine got up from the sofa. as she did, the doorbell rang.
whoever can that be, she wondered.
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