overlaid by another of Moira and her large bare breasts. It wasn't the first time he had seen her breasts. He had watched her feeding the babies as they had come each year; at least, the first four. But the last two, he recalled, she had seemed to feed when he was out of the room.
And of course he had only seen the operation during a comparatively short period while he was home for the holidays. But tonight he had seen her stripped bare almost to the waist. Then, his father in a nightshirt
... he had looked ridiculous. Did all men look ridiculous in nightshirts? Did he look ridiculous in a nightshirt?
When he married Frances he wouldn't wear such a stupid garment; he wouldn't wear anything. His hands swung down from the rails and he turned on to his side and buried his face in the pillow.
The day before Christmas Eve he went into Fellburn in answer to Pattie's letter. She had asked him to call; she had a little present for him. She also said she was missing him. They had met a few times since she had left home, once in her in-law's house, other times in the town; but this was the first time he had been to her house. And it came as a shock to him.
It was a small house, one of a long terrace. It had a blue-painted front door, two rooms downstairs and two rooms up. The stairs to the upper rooms led out of the living-room. The second room downstairs was a kitchen, with an open black range; and it held a white-topped table, four kitchen chairs and a dresser. There were two other doors, one leading to a scullery, the other into a back yard, where there was a coalhouse and an outdoor dry lavatory, so called.
On opening the door to him her face lit up and she held out both hands, saying, `Welcome to our humble abode. Oh, come in, come in, Dan. It's so good to see you. How are you? John won't be long; it's nearly dinner time.
Come in here.` 131
He squeezed past her in the narrow passage so she could close the door; then she led him into what was their sitting-room. A fire was burning brightly in the grate. There was a chintz-covered couch and two easy chairs, a very ordinary looking sideboard, and a glass cabinet holding what he took to be, at first glance, cups and trophies of some kind.
Òh, I am glad to see you. How are you?`
Òh, all right.`
`Just all right?`
`That's it, just all right. But you look blooming.`
Ì feel blooming, Dan. This`--she spread her hands wide--`must be past a surprise and a kind of shock to you. But I can tell you something: I've never been so happy in my life, and I want it to go on.`
Ì'm so glad for you, Pattie. I ... I thought you might miss the house, and space, if nothing else.`
`You know something, Dan? I grew to hate that house as much as I did him. How is he faring, by the way?`
Ì wouldn't really know, Pattie: we don't speak.`
`No?` Her eyebrows were raised. `How d'you get on ... I mean ... well--?`
Òh, Moira's the go-between.`
`How long has this been going on?`
`Months; in fact, since the night you showed me the diaries. I made up my mind I wasn't going to say anything but he went for me because I had used the trap, and it all boiled out, and I nearly throttled him. I would have, too, I think, if Moira and Maggie Ann hadn't pulled me off him.Àt that moment they heard the back door being opened, and she said, `Here's John now.Ànd when Daniel heard his stiff-necked, as he had always imagined, plain and unattractive sister call,
`We're in here, dear,` the look on her face almost made him envious.
John Watson was a man of middle height. He was fifteen years older than Pattie, but had an almost boyish youthfulness about him, and his handshake was firm. Ìt's good to see you again, Daniel,` he said.
`How are you?`
Àll right, thank you. How are 133 you?`
`Never better, Daniel.` Then bending towards Daniel the while putting his arm about Pattie's waist and pulling her against his side, he added, Às I can't thank her father, I can thank you for having such a splendid
And of course he had only seen the operation during a comparatively short period while he was home for the holidays. But tonight he had seen her stripped bare almost to the waist. Then, his father in a nightshirt
... he had looked ridiculous. Did all men look ridiculous in nightshirts? Did he look ridiculous in a nightshirt?
When he married Frances he wouldn't wear such a stupid garment; he wouldn't wear anything. His hands swung down from the rails and he turned on to his side and buried his face in the pillow.
The day before Christmas Eve he went into Fellburn in answer to Pattie's letter. She had asked him to call; she had a little present for him. She also said she was missing him. They had met a few times since she had left home, once in her in-law's house, other times in the town; but this was the first time he had been to her house. And it came as a shock to him.
It was a small house, one of a long terrace. It had a blue-painted front door, two rooms downstairs and two rooms up. The stairs to the upper rooms led out of the living-room. The second room downstairs was a kitchen, with an open black range; and it held a white-topped table, four kitchen chairs and a dresser. There were two other doors, one leading to a scullery, the other into a back yard, where there was a coalhouse and an outdoor dry lavatory, so called.
On opening the door to him her face lit up and she held out both hands, saying, `Welcome to our humble abode. Oh, come in, come in, Dan. It's so good to see you. How are you? John won't be long; it's nearly dinner time.
Come in here.` 131
He squeezed past her in the narrow passage so she could close the door; then she led him into what was their sitting-room. A fire was burning brightly in the grate. There was a chintz-covered couch and two easy chairs, a very ordinary looking sideboard, and a glass cabinet holding what he took to be, at first glance, cups and trophies of some kind.
Òh, I am glad to see you. How are you?`
Òh, all right.`
`Just all right?`
`That's it, just all right. But you look blooming.`
Ì feel blooming, Dan. This`--she spread her hands wide--`must be past a surprise and a kind of shock to you. But I can tell you something: I've never been so happy in my life, and I want it to go on.`
Ì'm so glad for you, Pattie. I ... I thought you might miss the house, and space, if nothing else.`
`You know something, Dan? I grew to hate that house as much as I did him. How is he faring, by the way?`
Ì wouldn't really know, Pattie: we don't speak.`
`No?` Her eyebrows were raised. `How d'you get on ... I mean ... well--?`
Òh, Moira's the go-between.`
`How long has this been going on?`
`Months; in fact, since the night you showed me the diaries. I made up my mind I wasn't going to say anything but he went for me because I had used the trap, and it all boiled out, and I nearly throttled him. I would have, too, I think, if Moira and Maggie Ann hadn't pulled me off him.Àt that moment they heard the back door being opened, and she said, `Here's John now.Ànd when Daniel heard his stiff-necked, as he had always imagined, plain and unattractive sister call,
`We're in here, dear,` the look on her face almost made him envious.
John Watson was a man of middle height. He was fifteen years older than Pattie, but had an almost boyish youthfulness about him, and his handshake was firm. Ìt's good to see you again, Daniel,` he said.
`How are you?`
Àll right, thank you. How are 133 you?`
`Never better, Daniel.` Then bending towards Daniel the while putting his arm about Pattie's waist and pulling her against his side, he added, Às I can't thank her father, I can thank you for having such a splendid
Similar Books
