Part 51 (2/2)

' The children rushed to get her coffee and toast and she watched his

mouth curve in a faint smile although he didn't say anything, only

presently he excused himself with the information that he would be home for lunch and perhaps they could have a little talk then.

Alethea agreed happily; her day was perfect, or almost so.

Nothing would be perfect of course unless Sarre loved her, and as he wasn't likely to do that she would have to make the best of a bad job, but to have the children's affection was something.

and Nanny.

She felt as though she had conquered Mount Everest.

Her state of euphoria lasted until lunchtime when Sarre came home,

inspected her cuts and bruises, p.r.o.nounced them satisfactory and then, over lunch, informed her that he had her tickets.

”My tickets?

' Alethea gaped at him.

She had quite forgotten all about his suggestion that she should go to England; indeed, she hadn't really taken it seriously, only agreed with it out of pique.

She said now, a piece of toast poised halfway to her mouth: ”You weren't serious?

' He nodded.

”By boat--you prefer that, don't you?

' ”But Sarre, I can't go--I simply can't--you must see that.

The children you, know.

They-want me.

' She smiled suddenly at the mere thought.

Somehow it made her relations.h.i.+p with him much closer now that his children had accepted her.

”But I want you to go, Alethea.

' He smiled at her, but she could see the arrogance in his face, she saw the tiredness there too.

He looked much older, she discovered with a shock; it must have scared him badly when the children had disappeared, although he hadn't shown it.

”Why?

' she asked him baldly.

”Need we go into that?

I think we both know the reason.

I know that the children are important, but this is even more so--how

could you ever be completely happy?

' He stared at her.

”I'm right, am I not?

You aren't happy, even though the children have admitted at last that

they're fond of you.

' She had put the toast down and was staring at her plate.

”No, I'm not,” she mumbled, 'but I don't want to go.

And even if I went.

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