Part 11 (1/2)
”It sounds like Jerrold, doesn't it?” said Adeline. ”Absurd children.
Thank goodness they don't any of them know what they're talking about.... And here's tea.”
Indoors the music stopped suddenly and Colin came out, ready.
”What's Jerrold doing?” he said.
It was, as Eliot remarked, a positive obsession.
iv
Tea was over. Adeline and Anne sat out together on the terrace. The others had gone. Adeline looked at her watch.
”What time is it?” said Anne.
”Twenty past five.”
Anne started up. ”And I'm going to ride with Jerrold at half-past.”
”Are you? I thought you were going to stay with me.”
Anne turned. ”Do you want me to, Auntie?”
”What do you think?”
”If you really want me to, of _course_ I'll stay. Jerry won't mind.”
”You darling... And I used to think you were never going to like me. Do you remember?”
”I remember I was a perfect little beast to you.”
”You were. But you do love me a bit now, don't you?”
”What do you _think_?”
Anne leaned over her, covering her, supporting herself by the arms of the garden chair. She brought her face close down, not kissing her, but looking into her eyes and smiling, teasing in her turn.
”You love me,” said Adeline; ”but you'd cut me into little bits if it would please Jerrold.”
Anne drew back suddenly, straightened herself and turned away.
”Run off, you monkey, or you'll keep him waiting. I don't want you ...
Wait ... Where's Uncle Robert?”
”Down at the farm.”
”Bother his old farm. Well--you might ask that father of yours to come and amuse me.”
”I'll go and get him now. Are you sure you don't want me?”