Read Online A Garden of Trees by Nicholas Mosley - Free Book Online Page A

doesn’t want to.”
    â€œWe’ll stay,” Freddie said. “We’ll have some lettuces.” He stood obstinately while Annabelle cut him some ham, and I felt rather sorry for him. Peter was still laughing, and Hilton Weekes was holding a book up, saying, “I say, has anybody read this?” and no one was taking any notice of him.
    There was a silence. Freddie was chewing his ham. Then—“Annabelle has become very superior, hasn’t she?” he said speaking to no one in particular.
    â€œOh yes,” Peter said, “she’s become religious.”
    â€œOh religious,” Freddie said. He looked at Marius and then at me. I suddenly realized that I was copying Marius, although I could not do it as he did. He was leaning on the back of a chair and I was propped against the piano, but I felt a fool when Freddie looked at me. Marius was smiling faintly at the carpet, but he did not look a fool. “Do you mean to say she goes to church?” Freddie said, watching Marius.
    â€œNo,” Peter said: “the Church comes to her.” He began laughing again, and Annabelle put a hand in front of her eyes like someone very tired. Then Peter saw her, suddenly, and he stopped laughing, so that the noise between them died.
    â€œOh,” Freddie said. Hilton Weekes coughed nervously; he was looking for somewhere to deposit his book. The girl was by the door, a powder puff in her hand, holding it arrested in front of her nose like a handkerchief. She looked as if she were about to sneeze. Then she said “Oh do let’s go, please,” in a kind of despair.
    â€œWe certainly don’t seem to be very welcome here,” Freddie said.
    Peter looked miserably at Annabelle, who still had her hand in front of her eyes. Then he went up to Freddie. “But you are welcome,” he said, “really; won’t you stay and have a drink?”
    â€œWe’ll go,” Freddie said.
    â€œBut I think you’re terribly nice,” Peter said. “Really Freddie, I am sure I can find you a drink. Do stay.”
    â€œNo,” Freddie said.
    â€œI was joking,” Peter said. “I am always joking.” He looked very sad and quite sincere. “You should know that I am joking.” Then he turned to the girl. “I think you’re terribly nice too,” he said. “Can’t you show us what you’ve got in that lovely bag?”
    â€œOh just one or two things,” said the girl, happy now, starting to struggle with the clips.
    â€œDo let’s see.”
    â€œCome on,” Freddie said, swearing furiously from the passage.
    â€œJust the few things that I always carry about with me . . . ” She was like a child showing off a new toy.
    â€œHow exciting!” Peter said.
    Freddie seized the girl and dragged her into the passage. Now that Peter had become friendly he was determined to go. I supposed he thought it was a joke. I did not blame him. Hilton Weekes followed them quickly. On the landing the bag burst, scattering a few dainty objects on the floor. The girl and Hilton Weekes knelt to pick them up, and Peter was hovering round saying, “That’s a nice one, that really is: I’ve never seen one like that before;” and Freddie was looking as if he was going to burst too. At length they gathered themselves together and went. We could hear Peter’s voice following them pleasantly down the passage.
    We waited uneasily. Then Peter returned. He went straight to Annabelle. “I am so sorry,” he said. “So sorry, sweet Annabelle.” She took her hand from her eyes and smiled. “You were quite funny,” she said.
    â€œI am an ass and a pig,” he said, “and I am going to pour ashes on my head.” He went into the bathroom.
    â€œLet’s go for a walk,” Marius said.
    â€œYes,” Annabelle said.
    Peter joined us. His hair was neatly brushed. We set out. In the