Read Online The Baker's Tale by Thomas Hauser - Free Book Online Page B

mother gives to her children. And Antonio is a very good uncle.”
    Two young people with magic in the air. The butterflies fluttered more gaily than Ruby or Edwin had seen them before. The birds sang more beautifully than they had ever heard them sing. Agentle breeze rustled about as if saying, “How are you, my dears? I have come all this way to salute you.”
    After a stop for cheese and bread, they walked on. They passed a chemist’s shop with glowing bottles of different shapes and sizes in the window. They stood outside a tailor shop, commenting upon how the waistcoat patterns always appeared impeccably stylish when on a mannequin, yet never looked quite the same when worn by the purchaser.
    Then a monstrous dark cloud appeared.
    Isabella Murd stood before them on the street, unmoved by the bright sunny spirit of the day except insofar as it had spared her the trouble of carrying an umbrella.
    If Ruby lived to be one hundred years old, she would never forget the look on Isabella’s face. A rabid wolf would have been more enticing. Look at this young lady on Edwin’s arm, the look said. I hate her.
    Edwin, after a moment’s pause, introduced them.
    â€œThis is Isabella Murd, the daughter of my employer. And this is my friend, Ruby Spriggs.”
    Isabella stared at Ruby with scornful jealous eyes.
    â€œRuby is such an interesting name,” she said contemptuously.
    â€œThank you, ma’am. Isabella is a beautiful name, too.”
    There was little further conversation.
    â€œShe does not like me,” Ruby told Edwin after they and Isabella had parted. “Not at all.”
    â€œLet her fly away in a high wind on a broomstick,” Edwin responded.
    Ruby laughed. She and Edwin walked on.
    The glory of the departing sun set the broad sky on fire. The light of day faded. The sombre hues of evening closed upon them. There was a lamplighter and two lengthening lines of firethat stretched parallel down the street until blending together in the distance. The sweet scent of honeysuckle floated through the air. Never had the moon risen with a more wondrous radiance over London than it did that night.
    At the close of their day together, Edwin walked Ruby home and kissed her hand at the door. She was certain that she would never be kissed so magnificently ever again unless, perhaps, it was another time by Edwin. She prayed that she would always love her life as much as she did now. Before sleeping, she sat on her bed, held the book that Edwin had given to her, and stared at the inscription that flowed from his hand.
    It had been the happiest day of her life. Happy walk, happy parting, happy dreams.
    Outside Ruby’s window, the twilight deepened into night. Edwin walked home along streets that were bright in the silvery light of the moon. Stars twinkled. He knew the names that science had given the constellations, but they had deeper meaning to him now.
    â€œThere is a spell upon me,” Edwin thought. “This is what it is like to be in love.”

CHAPTER 6

    R uby went to sleep with Edwin’s kiss light on her hand.
    For the rest of her life, she would think of love’s awakening in association with that day. The world had seemed as though it were made fresh and new just for her and Edwin that morning. For hours on end, it had been hard to know whether she was awake or in a dream.
    She would always remember the moment when Edwin bade her goodnight at the bakery door. When they had parted, there was such a beautiful expression in his eyes. He was in her prayers and in her sleep that night. London itself was different now from what she had known before.
    Ruby went to the learning center as usual on Monday. Marie invited me for dinner that evening. Ruby met me at the bakery door.
    â€œI have a great secret to tell you,” she said.
    â€œShall I try to guess?”
    She blushed.
    â€œI wonder who it can be about,” said I.
    â€œIt is about . . .” Ruby