Part 41 (1/2)

His: ”Yes, my dear?

' was quite unsurprised.

”Sarre, my little dancing lady I found her.

You did it, didn't you?

You never got her mended?

' ”Yes, I did.

There's an old instrument maker who sees to my instruments and is an

expert in repairing the irreparable.

He spent the day on her.

' She blinked back tears.

”Oh, Sarre, how can I ever thank you?

You don't know.

after my carelessness.

that you should have bothered.

' He was leaning against a tallboy, his hands in his pockets, staring at her.

He said deliberately: ”You can show it to the children now.

' She said a little breathlessly: ”Yes, of course they'll love it.

' She edged towards the door.

”Well, thank you again, Sarre.

I really did mind about her being broken.

' He left the tallboy and came towards her.

”Yes, I know that.

' He took the musical box from her and set it down.

”T find it quite encouraging.

' He swept her close and kissed her hard, put the toy back into her hand, and opened the door.

”Sleep well,” he said.

Alethea got ready for bed, wondering what he had meant.

Why should he find it encouraging that she had minded?

And he had kissed her.

he'd kissed her before, of course, but this time it hadn't been a cool

peck on one cheek.

Perhaps he had felt sorry for her.

She wound the musical box and sat listening to its tinkling tune; she

would have to play it for the children in the morning and not betray

her feelings for one second, but there was no one to watch her now, no