though? She virtually ignored me. They don't want to know. Well, they'll have to put up with me because I intend staying and making a success of this place. Cheery bye. I'm off.'
Venetia waved a carefree hand and set off towards the door deliberately smiling and nodding at everyone as she went. The village people did not respond.
The regulars in The Royal Oak had plenty to say about the health club. Willie Biggs, the verger, confided to his drinking partner, Jimmy Glover, that it was an excuse for a sexual orgy like them Romans used to have.
'Wouldn't go as far as that Willie, but by Jove that woman in the tracksuit has plenty going for her. Nice bit of crackling and not half.'
'She ain't a woman, she's a walking sexpot skelling-ton. See her eyes when she spots.the rector. He's 'ad to change his route for his morning run to avoid her. They say she made eyes at him not knowing who he was. Dr Harris had a row with her in the Store because of it, and she's made sheep's eyes at Jimbo before now. Huzzy she is, Jimmy, a huzzy.'
'What I don't like is them making the Big House into a circus. Jaccersys and them naked Swedish steam things. Goes against nature. All them beautiful walls and them lovely paintings. I remember as a boy when we all went up from school to sing carols and then had mince pies and orange squash in the music room. Miss Evans getting bright red doing the conducting and then fidgeting with 'er 'ands and staring at her shoes when Sir Tristan made
54
his thank you speech. Remember that Willie?'
'I do. I looked forward to that from one Christmas to another. And then Bonfire Night. Remember the cook used to do dozens of baked potatoes and yer ate 'em with yer gloves on 'cos they were that hot. Them bonfires were grand. That high they used to be, yer don't get bonfires like that nowadays. I could just fancy going this November to one o* them fires. Remember Sir Tristan used to come out and give each one of us a toffee apple to take home? Say what you like they were special people up at the Big House.'
'And where is it all now? Madame Butterfly won't be dishing out toffee apples, more likely condoms.'
'Shut up, Jimmy, what are yer thinking of?' Willie glanced round to make sure Jimmy hadn't been overheard.
'Well, I'm right. Everybody thinks the same; the good old days are dead and gone.'
"Ave you got that Sykes in 'ere? Yer know Bryn doesn't like dogs in.'
'Doesn't matter. I don't care. He never makes a sound, nobody knows 'e's 'ere.'
'I do 'cos I can smell him.'
'That's only 'cos he's drying out, he's been out in this old rain and he got soaking. In any case 'e's partial to a drop of Guinness as you well know, so we share a glass.'
'All right, all right. You're soft in the head where that dog's concerned.' Willie put down his pint of Tetley's and waved to Pat Duckett, beckoning her across to join them. 'Sit 'ere Pat and tell us the latest from the school. Still wearing you out, is it?'
Pat carefully placed her plump behind on the settle and launched into the story of Venetia's visit to Mr Palmer.
'Headmaster, I ask yer and there she is prancing about in the playground demonstrating some exercises he could do to correct his stoop. "Come up and see me
55
sometime", she says, sounded like Greta Garbo in that film. Or was it Marlene Dietrich? Anyways them children were all gathered round with their mouths open listening to all this. I had the kitchen window open on account as I was washing up in there and it was steamy. I could hear every word what she was saying. I heard Mr Palmer say, "I'm afraid the subscription would be beyond my teacher's salary, Mrs Mayer." "Oh," says she, "call me Venetia do." Waggles her bum and dances off.'
'Been making eyes at the rector an' all,' said Jimmy determined to inflame Pat's wrath.
'Never. That's it then, she is a tart. Whatever would Mrs Rector think if she knew?'
'She does.'
'Never. The poor dear. She might be a Doctor and well brought up but she is pleasant to
Venetia waved a carefree hand and set off towards the door deliberately smiling and nodding at everyone as she went. The village people did not respond.
The regulars in The Royal Oak had plenty to say about the health club. Willie Biggs, the verger, confided to his drinking partner, Jimmy Glover, that it was an excuse for a sexual orgy like them Romans used to have.
'Wouldn't go as far as that Willie, but by Jove that woman in the tracksuit has plenty going for her. Nice bit of crackling and not half.'
'She ain't a woman, she's a walking sexpot skelling-ton. See her eyes when she spots.the rector. He's 'ad to change his route for his morning run to avoid her. They say she made eyes at him not knowing who he was. Dr Harris had a row with her in the Store because of it, and she's made sheep's eyes at Jimbo before now. Huzzy she is, Jimmy, a huzzy.'
'What I don't like is them making the Big House into a circus. Jaccersys and them naked Swedish steam things. Goes against nature. All them beautiful walls and them lovely paintings. I remember as a boy when we all went up from school to sing carols and then had mince pies and orange squash in the music room. Miss Evans getting bright red doing the conducting and then fidgeting with 'er 'ands and staring at her shoes when Sir Tristan made
54
his thank you speech. Remember that Willie?'
'I do. I looked forward to that from one Christmas to another. And then Bonfire Night. Remember the cook used to do dozens of baked potatoes and yer ate 'em with yer gloves on 'cos they were that hot. Them bonfires were grand. That high they used to be, yer don't get bonfires like that nowadays. I could just fancy going this November to one o* them fires. Remember Sir Tristan used to come out and give each one of us a toffee apple to take home? Say what you like they were special people up at the Big House.'
'And where is it all now? Madame Butterfly won't be dishing out toffee apples, more likely condoms.'
'Shut up, Jimmy, what are yer thinking of?' Willie glanced round to make sure Jimmy hadn't been overheard.
'Well, I'm right. Everybody thinks the same; the good old days are dead and gone.'
"Ave you got that Sykes in 'ere? Yer know Bryn doesn't like dogs in.'
'Doesn't matter. I don't care. He never makes a sound, nobody knows 'e's 'ere.'
'I do 'cos I can smell him.'
'That's only 'cos he's drying out, he's been out in this old rain and he got soaking. In any case 'e's partial to a drop of Guinness as you well know, so we share a glass.'
'All right, all right. You're soft in the head where that dog's concerned.' Willie put down his pint of Tetley's and waved to Pat Duckett, beckoning her across to join them. 'Sit 'ere Pat and tell us the latest from the school. Still wearing you out, is it?'
Pat carefully placed her plump behind on the settle and launched into the story of Venetia's visit to Mr Palmer.
'Headmaster, I ask yer and there she is prancing about in the playground demonstrating some exercises he could do to correct his stoop. "Come up and see me
55
sometime", she says, sounded like Greta Garbo in that film. Or was it Marlene Dietrich? Anyways them children were all gathered round with their mouths open listening to all this. I had the kitchen window open on account as I was washing up in there and it was steamy. I could hear every word what she was saying. I heard Mr Palmer say, "I'm afraid the subscription would be beyond my teacher's salary, Mrs Mayer." "Oh," says she, "call me Venetia do." Waggles her bum and dances off.'
'Been making eyes at the rector an' all,' said Jimmy determined to inflame Pat's wrath.
'Never. That's it then, she is a tart. Whatever would Mrs Rector think if she knew?'
'She does.'
'Never. The poor dear. She might be a Doctor and well brought up but she is pleasant to
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