Part 27 (1/2)

And after that the remaining days flew by.

Sarre was away from home for a good deal of the day and they didn't dine alone; either the children joined them for a special treat or Wien and, or on the last night of all, Anna, making a rather uneasy party of three.

She had apologised for dining with them, but as she had pointed out to Alethea, there were one or two questions which had to be settled before Sarre went to Hamburg and there hadn't been time at the hospital.

So the conversation was largely in her hands and his, and although Alethea was included as often as possible, she couldn't help but feel rather out of it.

But Sarre had made up for it afterwards; they were to go on the following evening and he would have to operate as usual in the morning and see his patients in the afternoon.

”So we shan't see much of each other tomorrow,” he told her, taking her hands in his.

”I've enjoyed every moment of being with you, my dear.

It only remains for you to tell me if you still want to marry me.

' ”Well, I do.

' He smiled and kissed her, briefly and coolly as though it didn't matter much.

”Good.

And I'm sure the children are delighted with you, just as everyone else is.

' ”They're all absolutely super,” she told him warmly.

Wild horses wouldn't have made her tell him about the horror of finding

one ofSarel's white rats in her bed the night before.

She had seen the covers moving and had almost died of fright before she dared to pull them slowly down and disclose the small animal.

And even though it had been late she had nerved herself to pick it up

and carry it all the way upstairs to Sarel's room.

The light was still on, for the door wasn't quite shut; she had knocked

gently and gone in to find the boy with his eyes closed, but not, she had been sure, asleep.

She had touched him lightly on a bony shoulder and somehow or other

managed to sound as though carrying rats around the house late at night was commonplace to her.

*I found him in my room,” she told him.

”He's frightened out of his life, poor little beast I expect someone left a door open.

Where would you like me to put him?

' The blue eyes regarded her with surprise and something like respect.

”T'll have him.

' Sarel had got out of bed and taken the creature in his hand, and

Alethea had shuddered strongly as it crept into his pyjama sleeve.

”Don't you mind rats?

' asked Sarel.

”Well, they're not my favourite pet,” she had answered cheerfully, 'but

he's rather nice, isn't he?

What's his name?

' ”Caesar.

' Sarel had scowled suddenly and turned his back on her.

”Thank you for bringing him back.

Goodnight.

' Alethea had said goodnight in a normal voice and gone back to her room.

CHAPTER SIX.