A Visit with Mrs de Ath

Meanwhile upstairs, Lady Bumbridge was playing hostess to a Mrs Percy de Ath. They sat by the french doors, slightly open to catch the cool breeze, and giggled into their hands, like shy school girls. Lady Bumbridge’s blue-grey eyes always came to life in the company of her best friend. She passed a small plate of eccles cakes to her friend and said “Mercy dear, you must visit the new hairdressing salon Hair Hitler. It is very modern, they are even crimping hair, can you believe that?!”, Lady Bumbridge, let out a raucous laugh and Mrs de Ath, looked puzzled, as under her gingery wig she was quite bald. They munched the eccles cakes in silence.

Mrs de Ath, brushed the crumbs from her non-existent lips, and asked “hasn’t Lord Bumbridge done anything about his condition yet?”. Lady Bumbridge, of course, was rather reluctant to go into much detail but replied “my husband seems to find suffering enjoyable, he has had this priapism for well over 2 months now, and is very reluctant to see Dr van Koed, I really do not understand why!”. “Can’t you make the appointment for him?” offered Mrs de Ath, feigning a look of sympathy. “That wouldn’t be of any use, he would simply pop off to the Institutional Club instead, he is such a rebel”.