the torch like that.”
Elizabeth stumbled slightly on the uneven stones and was glad of Susan ’ s firm grasp. They reached a little flagged platform and Elizabeth could see a stone balustrade faintly outlined by the reflected light thrown upwards by the river. Susan let go of Elizabeth ’ s arm and shone her torch down on the water. Elizabeth stared in fascination at the surging flood, that gave an impression of tremendous unleashed power waiting for some signal to burst into rebellion against man ’ s puny restraint. Susan moved back from the railing and brushed against Elizabeth. She could feel that the child was quivering, but whether with cold or excitement or fear she couldn ’ t tell.
“Come on, Susan. Let ’ s get into the house and somewhere near a fire,” she urged.
“Yes, let ’ s. I don ’ t want to see the river any more. It frightens me sometimes and yet I love it as well. Does that make sense?”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Of course it does. Love isn ’ t all light, and hate all dark, you know, but a mixture.”
“Is that why they say love is akin to hate? I never knew before.” Susan ’ s voice went up in her surprise. “Mind the step. Just a sec while I turn on the light.”
Elizabeth followed her into the passage. “Is Robin back yet?” she asked.
Susan turned and looked at her. “Did you want to see him as well as me ... as much as me, I m ean ? ”
Elizabeth gave her a warm smile. “Of course not. I was only asking a polite question. Your father said he was out with some of his friends.”
Susan did a little dance. “I know, and Daddy was wild, although he tried not to show it. Funny how he and Robin are always striking sparks off one another. I think they try too hard to consider the other and the result is a near clash every time. What would you like to drink? Daddy said to ask you.”
“I ’ d like a cup of tea more than anything.” Elizabeth slipped out of her coat and crouched down on a low stool in front of the library fire.
“I ’ ll make you a pot of tea and me a mug of chocolate. Daddy said to tell you to help yourself to any of the books you liked. I won ’ t be long. Will you be all right?”
Elizabeth nodded and smiled. “Yes, thanks. I ’ ll be warm in a minute.”
The fire began to blaze up in response to her nudges with the poker, and once the edge was off her chilliness she began to explore the bookshelves. She was delighted to find several of her own favorites among the surprisingly wide selection of titles. She wondered if perhaps the collection had been begun by William Gregory ’ s father.
Susan came back with a tea-tray and set it on the floor in front of the fire, then found herself a cushion to curl up on.
“Found anything you like? Shall I pour your tea now or do you prefer hospital brew, Miss Graham?” Susan perched there like a brightly colored bird, the flicker of the flames lighting up the glorious red of her hair.
Elizabeth turned and gazed thoughtfully at her. “Not too strong, please, and milk and sugar. Most of the authors that I do know I ’ ve read. Any suggestions ? ”
Susan splashed a little tea into an empty cup and studied its color. “I think this is strong enough. There ’ s one I ’ ve been reading. I think it ’ s called No Echo from the Sky ... a test pilot wrote it after he retired and it ’ s the nearest thing to singing prose. Oh, I don ’ t know how to explain it, but you can see and feel what he ’ s talking about even if you ’ ve never flown. It ’ s as if he ’ s polished every word and then listened to its song before he ’ s left it in. I ’ ll get it for you after. It ’ s up in my room.”
Elizabeth came and settled on the low stool in front of the fire. “Do you go to day school, then?” she asked.
Susan sugared Elizabeth ’ s tea. “You can have more if that ’ s not sweet enough.” She passed the cup. “Yes. I go to Shenston Grammar School for Girls. You see, Robin had to go
Elizabeth stumbled slightly on the uneven stones and was glad of Susan ’ s firm grasp. They reached a little flagged platform and Elizabeth could see a stone balustrade faintly outlined by the reflected light thrown upwards by the river. Susan let go of Elizabeth ’ s arm and shone her torch down on the water. Elizabeth stared in fascination at the surging flood, that gave an impression of tremendous unleashed power waiting for some signal to burst into rebellion against man ’ s puny restraint. Susan moved back from the railing and brushed against Elizabeth. She could feel that the child was quivering, but whether with cold or excitement or fear she couldn ’ t tell.
“Come on, Susan. Let ’ s get into the house and somewhere near a fire,” she urged.
“Yes, let ’ s. I don ’ t want to see the river any more. It frightens me sometimes and yet I love it as well. Does that make sense?”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Of course it does. Love isn ’ t all light, and hate all dark, you know, but a mixture.”
“Is that why they say love is akin to hate? I never knew before.” Susan ’ s voice went up in her surprise. “Mind the step. Just a sec while I turn on the light.”
Elizabeth followed her into the passage. “Is Robin back yet?” she asked.
Susan turned and looked at her. “Did you want to see him as well as me ... as much as me, I m ean ? ”
Elizabeth gave her a warm smile. “Of course not. I was only asking a polite question. Your father said he was out with some of his friends.”
Susan did a little dance. “I know, and Daddy was wild, although he tried not to show it. Funny how he and Robin are always striking sparks off one another. I think they try too hard to consider the other and the result is a near clash every time. What would you like to drink? Daddy said to ask you.”
“I ’ d like a cup of tea more than anything.” Elizabeth slipped out of her coat and crouched down on a low stool in front of the library fire.
“I ’ ll make you a pot of tea and me a mug of chocolate. Daddy said to tell you to help yourself to any of the books you liked. I won ’ t be long. Will you be all right?”
Elizabeth nodded and smiled. “Yes, thanks. I ’ ll be warm in a minute.”
The fire began to blaze up in response to her nudges with the poker, and once the edge was off her chilliness she began to explore the bookshelves. She was delighted to find several of her own favorites among the surprisingly wide selection of titles. She wondered if perhaps the collection had been begun by William Gregory ’ s father.
Susan came back with a tea-tray and set it on the floor in front of the fire, then found herself a cushion to curl up on.
“Found anything you like? Shall I pour your tea now or do you prefer hospital brew, Miss Graham?” Susan perched there like a brightly colored bird, the flicker of the flames lighting up the glorious red of her hair.
Elizabeth turned and gazed thoughtfully at her. “Not too strong, please, and milk and sugar. Most of the authors that I do know I ’ ve read. Any suggestions ? ”
Susan splashed a little tea into an empty cup and studied its color. “I think this is strong enough. There ’ s one I ’ ve been reading. I think it ’ s called No Echo from the Sky ... a test pilot wrote it after he retired and it ’ s the nearest thing to singing prose. Oh, I don ’ t know how to explain it, but you can see and feel what he ’ s talking about even if you ’ ve never flown. It ’ s as if he ’ s polished every word and then listened to its song before he ’ s left it in. I ’ ll get it for you after. It ’ s up in my room.”
Elizabeth came and settled on the low stool in front of the fire. “Do you go to day school, then?” she asked.
Susan sugared Elizabeth ’ s tea. “You can have more if that ’ s not sweet enough.” She passed the cup. “Yes. I go to Shenston Grammar School for Girls. You see, Robin had to go
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