appearance, ready to engage on what she called “a good clean-down,” to make up for the fact that her daughter’s illness had kept her away for a day or two.
Since there was nothing for her to do in the house, Meg took a basket and went out to do some general household shopping. For although Felicity had said that Cecile would attend to such matters, Cecile had been grateful earlier that morning when Meg had offered to buy anything necessary.
It was a pleasant morning, cool, but with the sun shining brightly and only a few fleecy clouds chasing each other across a pale blue sky. As Meg walked along the country road which led from the house to the village, she hummed happily to herself.
When she arrived at the straggling line of shops which made up the main street of the village, she was astonished to find that a number of people seemed to know about Pearl’s accident.
One or two stopped her and inquired kindly about the little girl. Although few had the details right—Pearl’s injuries varying from a sprained ankle to more or less fatal head injuries—Meg found their interest sympathetic.
She responded gratefully, endeavored to correct any errors in information, and undertook to convey to Pearl all the kind messages she was given.
“One doesn’t know what attitude to take toward the children of well-known people,” said Mrs. Cooper. “I thought the little girl looked lonely and aimless sometimes, and I’m sure my four would be very glad to have her play with them. But one doesn’t want to be pushy.”
“I think it would be lovely for Pearl to see other children,” Meg replied warmly. “And I’ll certainly try to arrange it. Thank you very much.”
As she turned homeward she had the comfortable feeling that life could once more encompass what she called “nice, normal people,” as well as the fascinating, but somewhat wearing figures who seemed to people her existence at the moment.
A pleasant path brought her to the back of the house, and as s he came into the kitchen Mrs. Parker stopped her energetic scrubbing to observe, “Lady and gentleman to see you.”
“To see me?” Meg looked mystified. “But I don’t know any ... to see Miss Manners, surely?”
“No, to see you. Miss Greenway they asked for. That’s you, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Meg. And suddenly, at the thought that they might bring bad news of Pearl, her heart gave a lurch. “Oh, I hope—”
She dropped her basket on the kitchen table and ran to the front of the house.
The sound of voices came from the drawing room, and she pushed open the door quickly and walked in.
Then she stopped dead. Of the two people in the room, one was dearly familiar and the other much less so. It was her father who got up and came forward to embrace her, amused and delighted by her astonishment. And beyon d him, Meg saw Claire—smiling, it was true, but coldly, and with an air of sharpened interest which suggested that she saw Meg in a different, but still less endearing light.
CHAPTER FOUR
“ Why, father, how wonderful!” Meg hugged and kissed her father in astonishment and joy. “How on earth did this happen? I thought you were miles away.”
“We were for the early part of our honeymoon. But, as you know, we decided just to drive wherever our fancy took us, and we followed the good weather north. Then Claire suggested we drop in on her brother in Newcastle, as I’d never met him. When we saw him last night, he told us, to our astonishment, that you were here and that he knew you quite well.”
“I could hardly believe it.” Claire took up the tale, but she glanced at Meg with curiosity rather than friendliness, and it was obvious that the discovery had not especially pleased her. “I had no idea that you and, Leigh had even met.”
“We hadn’t until a few days ago.” Meg made herself greet Claire with cordiality. “I expect he explained what happened. ”
“Not in much detail. Something to do with you and
Since there was nothing for her to do in the house, Meg took a basket and went out to do some general household shopping. For although Felicity had said that Cecile would attend to such matters, Cecile had been grateful earlier that morning when Meg had offered to buy anything necessary.
It was a pleasant morning, cool, but with the sun shining brightly and only a few fleecy clouds chasing each other across a pale blue sky. As Meg walked along the country road which led from the house to the village, she hummed happily to herself.
When she arrived at the straggling line of shops which made up the main street of the village, she was astonished to find that a number of people seemed to know about Pearl’s accident.
One or two stopped her and inquired kindly about the little girl. Although few had the details right—Pearl’s injuries varying from a sprained ankle to more or less fatal head injuries—Meg found their interest sympathetic.
She responded gratefully, endeavored to correct any errors in information, and undertook to convey to Pearl all the kind messages she was given.
“One doesn’t know what attitude to take toward the children of well-known people,” said Mrs. Cooper. “I thought the little girl looked lonely and aimless sometimes, and I’m sure my four would be very glad to have her play with them. But one doesn’t want to be pushy.”
“I think it would be lovely for Pearl to see other children,” Meg replied warmly. “And I’ll certainly try to arrange it. Thank you very much.”
As she turned homeward she had the comfortable feeling that life could once more encompass what she called “nice, normal people,” as well as the fascinating, but somewhat wearing figures who seemed to people her existence at the moment.
A pleasant path brought her to the back of the house, and as s he came into the kitchen Mrs. Parker stopped her energetic scrubbing to observe, “Lady and gentleman to see you.”
“To see me?” Meg looked mystified. “But I don’t know any ... to see Miss Manners, surely?”
“No, to see you. Miss Greenway they asked for. That’s you, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Meg. And suddenly, at the thought that they might bring bad news of Pearl, her heart gave a lurch. “Oh, I hope—”
She dropped her basket on the kitchen table and ran to the front of the house.
The sound of voices came from the drawing room, and she pushed open the door quickly and walked in.
Then she stopped dead. Of the two people in the room, one was dearly familiar and the other much less so. It was her father who got up and came forward to embrace her, amused and delighted by her astonishment. And beyon d him, Meg saw Claire—smiling, it was true, but coldly, and with an air of sharpened interest which suggested that she saw Meg in a different, but still less endearing light.
CHAPTER FOUR
“ Why, father, how wonderful!” Meg hugged and kissed her father in astonishment and joy. “How on earth did this happen? I thought you were miles away.”
“We were for the early part of our honeymoon. But, as you know, we decided just to drive wherever our fancy took us, and we followed the good weather north. Then Claire suggested we drop in on her brother in Newcastle, as I’d never met him. When we saw him last night, he told us, to our astonishment, that you were here and that he knew you quite well.”
“I could hardly believe it.” Claire took up the tale, but she glanced at Meg with curiosity rather than friendliness, and it was obvious that the discovery had not especially pleased her. “I had no idea that you and, Leigh had even met.”
“We hadn’t until a few days ago.” Meg made herself greet Claire with cordiality. “I expect he explained what happened. ”
“Not in much detail. Something to do with you and
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