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rother and his wife who had till that moment expected to find themselves； within a matter of days； in absolute mand； were without a roof； the deeds of conveyance； engrossed and ready for signing； were rolled up； tied； and put away in one of the black tin boxes in Lincoln's Inn。 It was bitter for Mrs Muspratt； she was not an ambitious woman； something very much less grand than Brideshead would have contented her heartily； but she did aspire to find some shelter for her children over Christmas。 The house at Falmouth was stripped and up for sale； moreover； Mrs Muspratt had taken leave of the place with some justifiably rather large talk of her new establishment； they could not return there。 She was obliged in a hurry to move her furniture from Lady Marchmain's room to a disused coach…house and to take a furnished villa at Torquay。 She was not； as I have said； a woman of high ambition； but； having had her expectations so much raised； it was disconcerting to be brought so low so suddenly。 In the village the working party who had been preparing the decorations for the bridal entry； began unpacking the Bs on the bunting and substitutin Ms； obliterating the Earl's points and stencilling balls and strawberry leaves on the painted； coronets； in preparation for Lord Marchmain's return。
News of his intentions came first to the solicitors； then to Cordelia； then to Julia and me； in a rapid succession of contradictory cables。 Lord Marchmain would arrive in time for the wedding； he would arrive after the wedding； having seen Lord and Lady Brideshead on their way through Paris； he would see them in Rome。 He was not well enough to travel at all； he was just starting； he had unhappy memories of winter at Brideshead and would not e until spring was well advanced and the heating apparatus overhauled； he was ing alone； he was bringing his Italian household； he wished his return to be unannounced and to lead a life of plete seclusion； he would give a ball。 At last a date in January was chosen which proved to be the correct one。
Plender preceded him by some days； there was a difficulty here。 Plender was not an original member of the Brideshead household； he had been Lord Marchmain's servant in the yeomanry； and had only once met Wilcox on the painful occasion of the removal of his master's luggage when it was decided not to return from the war； then Plender had been valet； as； officially； he still was； but he had； in the past years introduced a kind of suffragan； a Swiss body…servant； to attend to the wardrobe and also； when occasion arose； lend a hand with less dignified tasks about the house； and had in effect bee majordomo of that fluctuating and mobile household； sometimes he even referred to himself on the telephone as 'the secretary'。 There was an acre of thin ice between him and Wilcox。
Fortunately the two men took a liking to one another； and the thing was solved in a series of three…cornered discussions with Cordelia。 Plender and Wilcox became joint grooms of the chambers； like 'Blues' and Life Guards with equal precedence； Plender having as his particular province his Lordship's own apartments and Wilcox a sphere of influence in the public rooms； the senior footman was given a black coat and promoted butler； the non…descript Swiss； on arrival； was to have plain clothes and full valet's status there was a general increase in wages to meet the new dignities； and all were content。
Julia and I； who had left Brideshead a month before； thinking we should not return； moved back for the reception。 When the day came； Cordelia went to the station and we remained to greet him at home。 It was a bleak and gusty day。 Cottages and lodges were decorated； plans for a bonfire that night and for the village silver band to play on the terrace； were put down； but the house flag； that had not flown for twenty…five years； was hoisted over the pediment； and flapped sharply against the leaden sky。 Whatever harsh voices might be bawling into the microphones of central Europe； and whatever lathes spinning in the armament factories； the return of Lord Marchmain was a matter of first importance in his own neighbourhood。
He was due at three o'clock。 Julia and I waited in the drawing…room until Wilcox； who had arranged with the stationmaster to be kept informed； announced 'the train is signalled'； and a minute later； 'the train is in； his Lordship is on the way。' Then we went to the front portico and waited there with the upper servants。 Soon the Rolls appeared at the turn in the drive； followed at some distance by the two vans。 It drew up； first Cordelia got out； then Cara； there was a pause； a rug was handed to the chauffeur； a stick to the footman； then a leg was cautiously thrust forward。 Plender was by now at the car door； another servant … the Swiss valet … had emerged from a van； together they lifted Lord Marchmain out and set him on his feet； he felt for his stick； grasped it； and stood for a minute collecting his strength for the few low steps which led to the front door。
Julia gave a little sigh of surprise and touched my hand。 We had seen him nine months ago at Monte Carlo； when he had been an upright and stately figure； little changed from when I first met him in Venice。 Now he was an old man。 Plender had told us his master had been unwell lately： he had not prepared us for this。
Lord Marchmain stood bowed and shrunken； weighed down by his great…coat； a white muffler fluttering untidily at his throat； a cloth cap pulled low on his forehead； his face white and lined； his nose coloured by the cold； the tears which gathered in his eyes came not from emotion but from the east wind； he breathed heavily。 Cara tucked in the end of his muffler and whispered something to him。 He raised a gloved hand … a schoolboy's glove of grey wool … and made a small； weary gesture of greeting to the group at the door； then； very slowly； with his eyes on the ground before him； he made his way into the house。
They took off his coat and cap and muffler and the kind of leather jerkin which he wore under them； thus stripped he seemed more than ever wasted but more elegant； he had cast the shabbiness of extreme fatigue。 Cara straightened his tie； he wiped his eyes with …a bandanna handkerchief and shuffled with his stick to the hall fire。
There was a little heraldic chair by the chimney…piece； one of a set which stood against the walls； a little； inhospitable； flat…seated thing； a mere excuse for the elaborate armorial painting on its back； on which； perhaps； no one； not even a weary footman； had ever sat since it was made； there Lord Marchmain sat and wiped his eyes。
'It's the cold；' he said。 'I'd forgotten how cold it is in England。 Quite bowled me over。'
'Can I get you anything； my lord？'
'Nothing； thank you。 Cara； where are those confounded pills？'
'Alex； the doctor said not more than three times a day。'
'Damn the doctor。 I feel quite bowled over。'
Cara produced a blue bottle from her bag and Lord March main took a pill。 Whatever was in it； seemed to revive him。 He remained seated； his long legs stuck out before him； his cane between them； his chin on its ivory handle； but he began to take notice of us all； to gr