today, when on the rare occasion an employee accompanies a guest here, he is

likely to be some newcomer who has little to say about anything other than

Association Football, and who prefers to pass the evening not by the fire of the

servants' hall, but drinking at the Ploughman's Arms - or indeed, as seems

increasingly likely nowadays, at the Star Inn.

 

I mentioned a moment ago Mr Graham, the valet-butler to Sir James Chambers. In

fact, some two months ago, I was most happy to learn that Sir James was to visit

Darlington Hall. I looked forward to the visit not only because visitors from

Lord Darlington's days are most rare now - Mr Farraday's circle, naturally,

being quite different from his lordship's - but also because I presumed Mr

Graham would accompany Sir James as of old, and I would thus be able to get his

opinion on this question of bantering. I was, then, both surprised and

disappointed to discover a day before the visit that Sir James would be coming

alone. Furthermore, during Sir James's subsequent stay, I gathered that Mr

Graham was no longer in Sir James's employ; indeed that Sir James no longer

employed any full-time' staff at all. I would like to .have discovered what had

become of Mr Graham, for although we had not known each other well, I would say

we had got on on those occasions we had met. As it was, however, no suitable

opportunity arose for me to gain such information. I must say, I was rather

disappointed, for I would like to have discussed the bantering question with

him.

 

However, let me return to my original thread.