Sun And Candlelight Part 44

garden.

It was beautiful and peaceful there; she felt better after a while and

went in search of Mrs McCrea.

"Isn't Al back?

' she asked when they had settled the meals for the day.

"He'll be here before lunch," declared Mrs McCrea.

She volunteered no further information, so presently Alethea took the

dogs for their walk while she pondered over the situation between herself and Sarre.

Well, it was hardly that.

Sarre wasn't an easy man to quarrel with, he just stood there looking

horribly calm; it was like hitting her head against a feather bolster. It was still damp from the rain in the park although it was a glorious morning; mindful of muddy paws, she took the dogs round the little steeg which led to the garages and the back garden gate and went into the house through the kitchen, drying the dogs on the way.

"T'll bring up the coffee presently," Mrs McCrea told her.

"Nel's busy upstairs.

' "T'll come down for it," offered Alethea.

"It's only me to have it--my teacher doesn't come this morning.

' "T'll bring it all the same, ma'am," said the housekeeper in much the

same sort of voice that Mrs Bustle used when she disapproved of something Alethea wanted to do, so that she took herself out of the kitchen, the dogs running ahead of her.

As soon as she opened the service door they began to bark.

Sarre was in the hall, sitting on one of the marble-topped wall tables; they rushed at him and he fended them off gently as he got up.

"Hullo," said Alethea, and then searched around for something else to

say.

To plunge into an apology for the previous evening seemed a little premature, besides, she had no idea what she would say.

"Have you forgotten something?

' she asked brightly.

"No, I find myself with a couple of hours to spare.

Shall we have coffee in the garden?

' She had the absurd notion that he was laughing at her.

"Yes, why not?

It's a lovely day.

I've just taken the dogs.

' What a silly remark, she thought vexedly, and turned with relief as

the front door opened and Al stood back to admit someone.

"Granny!

' screamed Alethea, and hurled herself at her elderly relative.

"Yes, dear," said Mrs Thomas, straightening her hat.

"It is I. Sarre sent Al to fetch me--just for a couple of days, you

know.

' "Sarre," Alethea had turned to look at him, 'how kind of you!

I can't begin to thank you.

Mrs McCrea said Al had a day off.

' "Well, so it were, as one might say," said Al cheerfully.

"Keep it dark, says the guv; so off I creeps at first daylight an' 'ere

we are, all safe and sound.

' "Oh, All' Alethea smiled at him because she was too excited to say

more.

"Sarre, you never said a word.

' He only smiled and spoke to Mrs Thomas.

"Shall we have coffee in the garden first, then Alethea can take you to

your room.

' Sarre went back to his rooms shortly afterwards.

He had patients to see, he told them, and a hospital round in the

afternoon, so he wouldn't be home until the evening.

"You can have a good gossip," he told them, looking hard at Alethea.

But when later her grandmother asked her if she were happy, she found

she couldn't talk about it very easily.

She described her life, dwelling on the luxury in which she lived, she skimmed over the children, who had appeared at lunch and behaved like angels, but she had a little more to say about Nanny but nothing about Sarre.

When she had finished her grandmother sat back in her chair.

"Yes, dear, and now supposing you tell me all about it.

' Alethea dissolved into tears, something she hadn't meant to do.

"Oh, Granny, I'm so hopelessly in love with him and there's this awful

Anna.

' She talked about Anna at some length and her grandmother listened

carefully, tutt-tutted at the end and remarked dryly: "You're his wife, my dear.

' Alethea agreed unhappily.

"Yes, I know, but there are the children.