Part 45 (1/2)

' She explained about them too.

”They hate me,” she declared, 'and I've tried so hard.

Granny; they're darlings and they're Sarre's, so I love them.

' ”Love is a great deal stronger than anything else,” p.r.o.nounced Mrs

Thomas.

”Just bear that in mind, child.

' The visit lasted two days, no longer because Mrs Thomas said that she

couldn't leave Mrs Bustle for longer than that, but Alethea crammed a

good deal into it.

She took Mrs Thomas on a sightseeing tour in her Colt, conducted her round the house, accompanied her shopping, and made sure that she saw as much of Sarre and the children as possible.

The children liked the old lady and she liked them, and when Mrs Thomas suggested that they might like to spend a few weeks with her later on, they were wildly enthusiastic.

Just as enthusiastic as Sarre was about having both his

grandmother-in-law and Mrs Bustle over for Christmas.

And on the last evening of Mrs Thomas's visit, they had guests for dinner, Wien and and Irene and Anna.

Sarre had suggested her casually, with his eyes on Alethea, who instantly said: ”Oh, yes, of course we must have Anna,” and volunteered a good deal of information about her, just as though she hadn't already done so.

Sarre had smiled a little and contributed nothing to Alethea's eulogy.

He had treated her with unfailing courtesy since their unhappy conversation about Anna and even if Alethea had wanted to bring the matter up it would have been difficult.

Arrogant man, thought Alethea crossly.

Just like him to decide that no more would be said on either side, without giving her a chance to utter a word.

She wore a new dress that evening; the colour of honey, quite beautiful and wildly expensive.

But at the end of the evening, when the house was quiet and she had time to think, she came to the conclusion that she might just as well have worn an old sack and she was still seething inwardly from Anna's playful: ”Why, Alethea, you're getting plump.

' She had replied suitably and, she hoped, with suitable lightness, furious to see Sarre's lips twitch.

It had helped a little when her grandmother remarked that it was a good thing, because she had always been too thin.

”Such a big girl,” she told the a.s.sembled company.

”T don't hold with bean poles.

' Sarre had agreed with her and everyone had laughed, and Alethea had felt like the fat woman at a fair.

She had, she considered, behaved beautifully, even when Anna had kissed Sarre in greeting and again when she left; better than little Irene who had looked worried and embarra.s.sed.

Alethea got up from the window seat where she had been sitting and kicked a fallen cus.h.i.+on quite viciously round the room; it relieved her feelings enormously.

And she wasn't getting fat; she took a good look at herself in the bathroom looking gla.s.s to make sure.

She felt lost and lonely after her grandmother went home, especially as Sarre went to Amsterdam on the same day.

Probably, he told her, he would have to spend the night.

She had looked at him blankly and asked stupidly: ”Must you stay

away?

' and when he had said quietly that he thought it might be better to drive back to Groningen in the very early . morning, she had cried much too loudly: ”Of course you'll have Anna with you.

' His face, usually so placid, had shown anger, but all he said suavely

was: ”No, but when you make remarks like that, Alethea, I'm tempted to do so.

' He had left the house then and she had mooned around until Mrs McCrea

had asked her if she would mind going to the grocers' for her.

There was still an hour left till lunch and the children's return from

school; she gathered together her smattering of Dutch and went upstairs to talk to Nanny.