They met Bertie outside the hall. He had been taller than Hugh for a year or two now. He was a solemn boy, hardworking and well behaved: he did not get into trouble at school the way Hugh had. He had a lot of Rabinowicz ancestry, and he reminded Hugh of Maisie's brother Dan.
He kissed his mother and shook Hugh's hand. "There's a bit of a ruckus," he said. "We haven't enough copies of the school song and the lower fourth are writing it out like billy-o. I must go and whip them faster. I'll meet you after the speeches." He hurried off. Hugh watched him fondly, thinking nostalgically how important school seemed until you left.
They met Toby next. The small boys no longer had to wear top hats and frock coats: Toby was dressed in a straw boater and a short jacket. "Bertie says I can have tea with you in his study after speeches, if you don't mind. Is it all right?"
"Of course." Hugh laughed.
"Thanks, Father!" Toby ran off again.
In the school hall they were surprised to meet Ben Greenbourne, looking older and rather frail. Maisie, blunt as ever, said: "Hello, what are you doing here?"
"My grandson is head boy," he replied gruffly. "I've come to hear his speech."
Hugh was startled. Bertie was not Greenbourne's grandson, and the old man knew it. Was he softening in his old age?
"Sit down by me," Greenbourne commanded. Hugh looked at Maisie. She shrugged and sat down, and Hugh followed suit.
"I hear you two are married," Greenbourne said.
"Last month," Hugh said. "My first wife didn't contest the divorce." Nora was living with a whisky salesman and it had taken Hugh's hired detective less than a week to get proof of adultery.
"I don't approve of divorce," Greenbourne said crisply. Then he sighed. "But I'm too old to tell people what to do. The century is almost over. The future belongs to you. I wish you the best."
Hugh took Maisie's hand and squeezed it.
Greenbourne addressed Maisie. "Will you send the boy to university?"
"I can't afford it," Maisie said. "It's been hard paying the school fees."
"I'd be glad to pay," Greenbourne said.
Maisie was surprised. "It's kind of you," she said.
"I should have been kinder years ago," he replied. "I always put you down as a fortune-hunter. It was one of my mistakes. If you were only after money you wouldn't have married young Pilaster here. I was wrong about you."
"You did me no harm," Maisie said.
"I was too harsh, all the same. I don't have many regrets, but that's one of them."
