The Story of Brideshead Revisited

XII

Two years later the situation is much the same. Charles has now started to paint portraits, particularly of Julia. They have been together nearly all the time and are still very much in love. Julia fears that something will happen to prevent their marriage - there are already signs of the coming war. They must plan to get their divorces as quickly as possible.

Bridey joins them for dinner and asks unexpected questions about family jewels and heirlooms. Then he tells them the reason - he is engaged to be married to a widow named Beryl Muspratt. Julia is delighted and wonders why he has not brought her so they can meet her. Bridey calmly informs them that he could not invite Beryl to be the guest of people living so openly in sin. Julia runs out of the room and to the fountain in near-hysteria. Charles joins her there and listens in bewilderment as all her hidden sorrows, fears and desires come pouring out. It is clear that she is deeply aware of a state of being separated from God.

When she recovers she calmly rejoins Bridey and discusses the future. Bridey will want to move into Brideshead on his marriage and so Rex will have to move out. Charles is unsettled and astounded by the evening, and tries to assure Julia that her fears are all rubbish. She admits that all she can do now, and all she wants to do, is to put her life in order in a human way, and that is why she is desperate to marry him and have his child. They go out to the fountain again, but Charles’s comments show that he has not engaged at all with her distress, and in anger she cuts his face with two lashes of a switch she was idly peeling the bark off. She is immediately sorry but cannot explain her actions.

The next day Rex and his associates arrive and again discuss politics. This time the theme is facing up to Germany, for this is the period of the Munich Agreement.