one says it’s wrong to drink it. By the way, how are the
preparations for Simon’s party coming on?’
‘Very well. I’m just about to send out the invitations. That
reminds me. Your brother, Alec- what’s his latest address
in London?’
‘I can’t remember,’ replied Nancy. ‘He changes flats so often
-whenever he can’t pay his rent. He’s not a very good actor,
and I think he’s finding it difficult to get work in the theatre. In
fact, he’s never been successful at anything. You don’t know
how lucky you are,Bee.’
‘What do you mean?’ said Bee in a puzzled voice.
‘I don’t mean just you, Bee. I mean the Ashby family. The
men in your family are all sensible, good men. Look at my
family – most of them in the last fifty years have been stupid,
mad, or bad. You don’t have anyone like that. The Ashbys are
very, very lucky.’
‘There was my cousin, Walter,’ said Bee.
‘Oh, but he wasn’t bad. He drank too much, and he was
rather silly, but he wasn’t bad. All the bad ones around here
seem to have been Ledinghams,and Alec is the most recent of
them. But don’t let’s talk about him. I’ve been thinking of Bill