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Authors: Winston Graham
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that
impression, not emphasise it Ignoring. Ross's look, he said it would profit
them both if Captain Poldark would spend the week end thinking this over, and
also in casting back in his memory for any new recollection that would help.
After all, he said, rubbing his blue chin, no one but the prisoner could, know
all the facts.
One condition of Ross's consent to Demelza's
presence in the town was that she should make no attempt whatever to see him in
gaol. In fact she was not altogether loth, for she would not then have to
account for her movements. Only to Verity need she make excuses, and at the worst
Verity had no control over her.
'As soon as they got to the inn there was
trouble, for the landlord had put up another double bed in their room and
claimed the right to let two other women share it. Only a long and painful
argument and some extra money from Verity won them their privacy. They had a
meal together-and listened to the slamming of doors, the cries of ostlers, the
hurrying feet of the maids and the singsong of drunken wayfarers under the
window.
"I think we shall have to plug our ears to
sleep," said Verity, taking the pins out of her hair. "If it's like
this at seven what will it be in another three hours?"
Never worry," said Demelza, " they'll
all be drunk insensible." She stretched herself, arching her back like a
cat. Oh, that old coach: joggle, joggle, bump. Three times I thought we were
going to upset or spend the night in the mud."
"It has given me a sick headache,"
Verity said. "I shall take a draught and lie down early."
In another hour I believe I should have felt the
same. What were you going to tell me about your stepchildren, Verity?"
Verity' shook out her hair and it fell in a
cloud about her shoulders. The action was like some new and secret blossoming
of her personality. She did not look eleven years older than Demelza now.
Happiness had brought the keen intelligence and vitality back into her eyes,
and an extra roundness to her cheeks and made the wide generous mouth less
unpro portionate.
" It's nothing," she said. "
Nothing beside what is happening to Ross."
" I want to hear," said Demelza.
" Have you not even seen them once yet?"
"... It is the only flaw at present. Andrew
is very fond of his children, and I hate to feel they will not come because I
am there."
"Why should you feel that? It is naught to
do with you."
" It should not be. But. “ She split one
side of her hair into three parts and began to plait them. "It is a very
peculiar position, with Andrew's first wife dying as she did and the children
being left so young with that scar; their mother dead, their father in prison;
brought up by relatives.
. Their father has always been at a disadvantage
with them: They have come to see him occasionally, but never since we married.
Of course James could not, for he is with the fleet and depends on the
movements of his ship; but he has never once written. And Easter is only at
Plymouth.... Andrew hardly mentions them now, but I know he thinks about them.
I know he would be very happy if we could come together. I have wondered
sometimes whether to go to Saltash to meet Esther - not telling Andrew, while
he is away."
“ No," said Demelza, " I wouldn't do
that She should come to you.
Verity stared at. her reflection in the mirror,
then at Demelza, who was changing her stockings. "But suppose she never
comes."
"Get Andrew to invite her."
"He has already done that, but she has made
excuses."
You must use a bait, then."
A bait?"
Demelza wriggled her toes, and her eyes
considered expressively the three pairs of shoes she had to choose from.
Is she fond of her brother?"
“I believe so."
" Then get him to Falmouth first. Perhaps
it is only shyness with them both, and he might be easier to entice in the
first place."
"I should like to think you're right, for
he must be home soon. He was expected back at Easter, but his ship was diverted
to Gibraltar .. What is that?"
Above the
impression, not emphasise it Ignoring. Ross's look, he said it would profit
them both if Captain Poldark would spend the week end thinking this over, and
also in casting back in his memory for any new recollection that would help.
After all, he said, rubbing his blue chin, no one but the prisoner could, know
all the facts.
One condition of Ross's consent to Demelza's
presence in the town was that she should make no attempt whatever to see him in
gaol. In fact she was not altogether loth, for she would not then have to
account for her movements. Only to Verity need she make excuses, and at the worst
Verity had no control over her.
'As soon as they got to the inn there was
trouble, for the landlord had put up another double bed in their room and
claimed the right to let two other women share it. Only a long and painful
argument and some extra money from Verity won them their privacy. They had a
meal together-and listened to the slamming of doors, the cries of ostlers, the
hurrying feet of the maids and the singsong of drunken wayfarers under the
window.
"I think we shall have to plug our ears to
sleep," said Verity, taking the pins out of her hair. "If it's like
this at seven what will it be in another three hours?"
Never worry," said Demelza, " they'll
all be drunk insensible." She stretched herself, arching her back like a
cat. Oh, that old coach: joggle, joggle, bump. Three times I thought we were
going to upset or spend the night in the mud."
"It has given me a sick headache,"
Verity said. "I shall take a draught and lie down early."
In another hour I believe I should have felt the
same. What were you going to tell me about your stepchildren, Verity?"
Verity' shook out her hair and it fell in a
cloud about her shoulders. The action was like some new and secret blossoming
of her personality. She did not look eleven years older than Demelza now.
Happiness had brought the keen intelligence and vitality back into her eyes,
and an extra roundness to her cheeks and made the wide generous mouth less
unpro portionate.
" It's nothing," she said. "
Nothing beside what is happening to Ross."
" I want to hear," said Demelza.
" Have you not even seen them once yet?"
"... It is the only flaw at present. Andrew
is very fond of his children, and I hate to feel they will not come because I
am there."
"Why should you feel that? It is naught to
do with you."
" It should not be. But. “ She split one
side of her hair into three parts and began to plait them. "It is a very
peculiar position, with Andrew's first wife dying as she did and the children
being left so young with that scar; their mother dead, their father in prison;
brought up by relatives.
. Their father has always been at a disadvantage
with them: They have come to see him occasionally, but never since we married.
Of course James could not, for he is with the fleet and depends on the
movements of his ship; but he has never once written. And Easter is only at
Plymouth.... Andrew hardly mentions them now, but I know he thinks about them.
I know he would be very happy if we could come together. I have wondered
sometimes whether to go to Saltash to meet Esther - not telling Andrew, while
he is away."
“ No," said Demelza, " I wouldn't do
that She should come to you.
Verity stared at. her reflection in the mirror,
then at Demelza, who was changing her stockings. "But suppose she never
comes."
"Get Andrew to invite her."
"He has already done that, but she has made
excuses."
You must use a bait, then."
A bait?"
Demelza wriggled her toes, and her eyes
considered expressively the three pairs of shoes she had to choose from.
Is she fond of her brother?"
“I believe so."
" Then get him to Falmouth first. Perhaps
it is only shyness with them both, and he might be easier to entice in the
first place."
"I should like to think you're right, for
he must be home soon. He was expected back at Easter, but his ship was diverted
to Gibraltar .. What is that?"
Above the
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