extra leave of absence to extend her stay for a week so as to visit them. “We thought it might make a nice change for you to keep Henry company while I amaway. You have never seen our new house,” Doris wrote.
“No, because this is the first time you have asked me to visit you since Mother died and you moved,” said Janet, “It’s as plain as a pikestaff you want me just to cook and clean while you’re not there. How do they know I want a nice change? I don’t, as a matter of fact. Pretty sure of me, too, Doris is, gives me times of trains and bus connections, not going to get the car out for me, no fear. Still, blood is thicker than water and I shall go, I suppose.”
She duly gave Mrs Sanderson her spare key, packed her small neat suitcase, and set off on the day and at the hour suggested by Doris, who opened the door to her.
“Quite a walk from the bus stop,” observed Janet, “further than the other house.”
“The Avenue’s a much better neighbourhood,” said Doris. “We owe it to Henry’s promotion — you knew of that, of course?”
“Of course,” said Janet. “A bit overdue, wasn’t it?”
Doris eyed her sister-in-law sharply. She was a tall rather imposing woman, still handsome, with regular features and large brown protruding eyes behind her spectacles, but her face was lined and Janet thought she looked distinctly older than when she had last seen her.
“Where’s Henry?” she enquired.
“He’s washing down the car,” said Doris, “it’s a new one and he’s very careful of it. I expect you got a cup of tea on the journey.”
“No,” said Janet, “there was no opportunity.”
“Oh, well, it’s a bit late now, isn’t it, and we have supper early. Come into the lounge.”
The lounge was a long narrow room with windows at both ends. It struck Janet as cold, for it was one of those days when rain is in the offing and there is too much wind about. If she had been at home she would have switched her fire full on. The pale grey walls, empty of pictures,and the dark green covers and curtains gave her the shivers.
“I’m glad I stood out against Doris and got pink for mine,” she thought. Then Henry appeared. He had the same small tight mouth as his sister and the same sharp black eyes, but his face was pale with a long chin and, whereas her hair was still black and thick, his was grey and brushed in careful thin strands across his head.
‘“And he’s three years younger than I am,” said Janet to herself with satisfaction. He began to tell her about the new car in which she was not interested. Supper, when it came, consisted of a cheese soufflé that didn’t allow of second helpings, salad and fruit.
“We find a light supper much healthier and I know you have trouble with your digestion,” said Doris. “We don’t take coffee in the evenings, we find it keeps us awake, but I can make some for you if you like.”
“I’d like a cup of tea,” said Janet. Doris did not move for a moment.
Henry said, “I’ll make it dear, you’ve had a heavy day.”
They spent the rest of the evening looking at the television news and then at a travel film of wild life at Spitsbergen, until Janet, who was getting colder and colder, said she would like to go to bed.
“Oh,” said Doris, “I don’t usually switch on the heater so early, so I’m afraid there’s no hot water yet, but I’ll heat a jug from the kitchen for you.”
Janet took a long while to warm up in bed and even then she did not sleep well. The room smelt musty and unused and she had not opened the window because it was now raining outside, and moreover she had reached the age when a strange bed took getting used to. Also she was hungry. But she slept at last, and then of course did not wake when she should have done and was late down for breakfast. The coffee was tepid and the toast had gone limp and she had disapproving looks from Doris who said:
“Henry has had to leave, I’m afraid, I would have
“No, because this is the first time you have asked me to visit you since Mother died and you moved,” said Janet, “It’s as plain as a pikestaff you want me just to cook and clean while you’re not there. How do they know I want a nice change? I don’t, as a matter of fact. Pretty sure of me, too, Doris is, gives me times of trains and bus connections, not going to get the car out for me, no fear. Still, blood is thicker than water and I shall go, I suppose.”
She duly gave Mrs Sanderson her spare key, packed her small neat suitcase, and set off on the day and at the hour suggested by Doris, who opened the door to her.
“Quite a walk from the bus stop,” observed Janet, “further than the other house.”
“The Avenue’s a much better neighbourhood,” said Doris. “We owe it to Henry’s promotion — you knew of that, of course?”
“Of course,” said Janet. “A bit overdue, wasn’t it?”
Doris eyed her sister-in-law sharply. She was a tall rather imposing woman, still handsome, with regular features and large brown protruding eyes behind her spectacles, but her face was lined and Janet thought she looked distinctly older than when she had last seen her.
“Where’s Henry?” she enquired.
“He’s washing down the car,” said Doris, “it’s a new one and he’s very careful of it. I expect you got a cup of tea on the journey.”
“No,” said Janet, “there was no opportunity.”
“Oh, well, it’s a bit late now, isn’t it, and we have supper early. Come into the lounge.”
The lounge was a long narrow room with windows at both ends. It struck Janet as cold, for it was one of those days when rain is in the offing and there is too much wind about. If she had been at home she would have switched her fire full on. The pale grey walls, empty of pictures,and the dark green covers and curtains gave her the shivers.
“I’m glad I stood out against Doris and got pink for mine,” she thought. Then Henry appeared. He had the same small tight mouth as his sister and the same sharp black eyes, but his face was pale with a long chin and, whereas her hair was still black and thick, his was grey and brushed in careful thin strands across his head.
‘“And he’s three years younger than I am,” said Janet to herself with satisfaction. He began to tell her about the new car in which she was not interested. Supper, when it came, consisted of a cheese soufflé that didn’t allow of second helpings, salad and fruit.
“We find a light supper much healthier and I know you have trouble with your digestion,” said Doris. “We don’t take coffee in the evenings, we find it keeps us awake, but I can make some for you if you like.”
“I’d like a cup of tea,” said Janet. Doris did not move for a moment.
Henry said, “I’ll make it dear, you’ve had a heavy day.”
They spent the rest of the evening looking at the television news and then at a travel film of wild life at Spitsbergen, until Janet, who was getting colder and colder, said she would like to go to bed.
“Oh,” said Doris, “I don’t usually switch on the heater so early, so I’m afraid there’s no hot water yet, but I’ll heat a jug from the kitchen for you.”
Janet took a long while to warm up in bed and even then she did not sleep well. The room smelt musty and unused and she had not opened the window because it was now raining outside, and moreover she had reached the age when a strange bed took getting used to. Also she was hungry. But she slept at last, and then of course did not wake when she should have done and was late down for breakfast. The coffee was tepid and the toast had gone limp and she had disapproving looks from Doris who said:
“Henry has had to leave, I’m afraid, I would have
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