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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
fur department； was usually a few paces ahead of the others； coming
back to them now and then if they lingered for a moment at some
attractive counter； with the nervous solicitude of a parent rook
encouraging its young ones on their first flying expedition。
〃It's Suzanne's birthday on Wednesday next；〃 confided Eleanor to
Bertram Kneyght at a moment when Suzanne had left them unusually far
behind； 〃my birthday comes the day before； so we are both on the look…
out for something to give each other。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Bertram。 〃Now； perhaps you can advise me on that very
point。 I want to give Suzanne something； and I haven't the least idea
what she wants。〃
〃She's rather a problem；〃 said Eleanor。 〃She seems to have
everything one can think of； lucky girl。 A fan is always useful； she'll be
going to a lot of dances at Davos this winter。 Yes； I should think a fan
would please her more than anything。 After our birthdays are over
we inspect each other's muster of presents； and I always feel dreadfully
humble。 She gets such nice things； and I never have anything worth
showing。 You see； none of my relations or any of the people who give
me presents are at all well off； so I can't expect them to do anything
more than just remember the day with some little trifle。 Two years ago
an uncle on my mother's side of the family； who had come into a small
legacy； promised me a silver…fox stole for my birthday。 I can't tell
you how excited I was about it； how I pictured myself showing it off to
all my friends and enemies。 Then just at that moment his wife died； and；
of course； poor man； he could not be expected to think of birthday
presents at such a time。 He has lived abroad ever since； and I never got
my fur。 Do you know； to this day I can scarcely look at a silver…fox pelt
in a shop window or round anyone's neck without feeling ready to burst
into tears。 I suppose if I hadn't had the prospect of getting one I
shouldn't feel that way。 Look； there is the fan counter； on your left； you
can easily slip away in the crowd。 Get her as nice a one as you can see
… she is such a dear； dear girl。〃
〃Hullo； I thought I had lost you；〃 said Suzanne； making her way
through an obstructive knot of shoppers。 〃Where is Bertram？〃
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〃I got separated from him long ago。 I thought he was on ahead
with you；〃 said Eleanor。 〃We shall never find him in this crush。〃
Which turned out to be a true prediction。
〃All our trouble and forethought thrown away；〃 said Suzanne sulkily；
when they had pushed their way fruitlessly through half a dozen
departments。
〃I can't think why you didn't grab him by the arm；〃 said Eleanor； 〃I
would have if I'd known him longer； but I'd only just been introduced。
It's nearly four now； we'd better have tea。〃
Some days later Suzanne rang Eleanor up on the telephone。
〃Thank you very much for the photograph frame。 It was just what I
wanted。 Very good of you。 I say； do you know what that Kneyght
person has given me？ Just what you said he would … a wretched fan。
What？ Oh yes； quite a good enough fan in its way； but still 。 。 。〃
〃You must come and see what he's given me；〃 came in Eleanor's
voice over the 'phone。
〃You！ Why should he give you anything？〃
〃Your cousin appears to be one of those rare people of wealth who
take a pleasure in giving good presents；〃 came the reply。
〃I wondered why he was so anxious to know where she lived；〃
snapped Suzanne to herself as she rang off。
A cloud has arisen between the friendships of the two young women；
as far as Eleanor is concerned the cloud has a silver…fox lining。
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BEASTS AND SUPER…BEASTS
THE PHILANTHROPIST AND
THE HAPPY CAT
JOCANTHA BESSBURY was in the mood to be serenely and
graciously happy。 Her world was a pleasant place； and it was wearing
one of its pleasantest aspects。 Gregory had managed to get home for a
hurried lunch and a smoke afterwards in the little snuggery； the lunch
had been a good one； and there was just time to do justice to the coffee
and cigarettes。 Both were excellent in their way； and Gregory was； in
his way； an excellent husband。 Jocantha rather suspected herself of
making him a very charming wife； and more than suspected herself of
having a first…rate dressmaker。
〃I don't suppose a more thoroughly contented personality is to be
found in all Chelsea；〃 observed Jocantha in allusion to herself； 〃except
perhaps Attab；〃 she continued； glancing towards the large tabby…marked
cat that lay in considerable ease in a corner of the divan。 〃He lies there；
purring and dreaming； shifting his limbs now and then in an ecstasy of
cushioned comfort。 He seems the incarnation of everything soft and
silky and velvety； without a sharp edge in his composition； a dreamer
whose philosophy is sleep and let sleep； and then； as evening draws on；
he goes out into the garden with a red glint in his eyes and slays a
drowsy sparrow。〃
〃As every pair of sparrows hatches out ten or more young ones in the
year； while their food supply remains stationary； it is just as well that the
Attabs of the community should have that idea of how to pass an
amusing afternoon；〃 said Gregory。 Having delivered himself of this
sage comment he lit another cigarette； bade Jocantha a playfully
affectionate good…bye； and departed into the outer world。
〃Remember； dinner's a wee bit earlier to…night； as we're going to the
Haymarket；〃 she called after him。
Left to herself； Jocantha continued the process of looking at her life
with placid； introspective eyes。 If she had not everything she wanted in
this world； at least she was very well pleased with what she had got。
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She was very well pleased； for instance； with the snuggery； which
contrived somehow to be cosy and dainty and expensive all at once。
The porcelain was rare and beautiful； the Chinese enamels took on
wonderful tints in the firelight； the rugs and hangings led the eye through
sumptuous harmonies of colouring。 It was a room in which one might
have suitably entertained an ambassador or an archbishop； but it was
also a room in which one could cut out pictures for a scrap…book without
feeling that one was scandalising the deities of the place with one's litter。
And as with the snuggery； so with the rest of the house； and as with the
house； so with the other departments of Jocantha's life； she really had
good reason for being one of the most contented women in Chelsea。
From being in a mood of simmering satisfaction with her lot she
passed to the phase of being generously commiserating for those
thousands around her whose lives and circumstances were dull； cheap；
pleasureless； and empty。 Work girls； shop assistants and so forth； the
class that have neither the happy…go…lucky freedom of the poor nor the
leisured freedom