Read Online The Lotus House by Katharine Moore - Free Book Online

done for Harriet,” said Margot and her upward gaze, for Mrs Campbell was tall and thin, was so expressive of deep gratitude that Mrs Campbell thought that she must somehow have had more effect on the child than she had supposed.
    As they drove away Harriet’s mild feeling of regret at leaving and her anxiety as to the future were temporarily swamped by delight as she realized that this was one of Margot’s good times. Except for one complaint that shegrew out of her clothes faster than anyone would think possible, there seemed nothing wrong with her at present, and Margot had called her “darling” twice — once in front of Mrs Campbell, which hardly counted, but once when they were alone together and when they stopped halfway for refreshment, she was allowed to have a chocolate éclair. “It won’t matter for once,” said Margot, looking at the stout square child opposite her with resignation. Really, she grows more like Dick every day, she thought.
    Harriet was very pleased to hear that she was going to have a bedroom of her own in the new house. This had never happened to her before as long as she could remember. At school she had slept with Lucy and Rebecca who had secrets and ignored her and, at the cottage, when she was there which wasn’t very often, she slept on a folding-bed in a sort of alcove between the bathroom and Andrew’s room.
    “Has it got a window?” she enquired anxiously. A bedroom wasn’t a proper one with no window, and she had always wanted to be able to lie in bed and look out of one. Lucy and Rebecca could do this but she had had to look at a blank wall.
    “Yes, of course,” said Margot.
    When they got to the Lotus House it was getting dark and Harriet was tired. Being with Margot was marvellous but it always made her feel as if she had run a long way rather fast, as if there was a clock ticking inside her that wouldn’t stop.
    “Don’t leave me to carry all the things in,” said Margot, “you’re quite old enough now to try and be helpful. You can manage that case — why, your arms are almost as long and big as mine.”
    Harriet picked up the case, she knew her arms ought not to be so long and big at her age. She followed her mother into the hall, blinking at the bright light. An oldlady came bustling out of a door to greet them.
    “Well, here we are, Mrs Sanderson,” said her mother, “all safe and sound, and this is my little Harriet. Harriet, this is our very kind landlady. She’s been longing to meet you. Say ‘How do you do’, Harriet.” But Harriet, who had not until this moment heard anything of Mrs Sanderson, just stared, and Mrs Sanderson’s smile of welcome grew a little fixed.
    “How could Mrs Royce have produced such a very plain daughter?” she thought and then, feeling at once remorseful for such an idea, she bent down and kissed her. She felt Harriet stiffen and said to herself, “This child isn’t used to being kissed.”
    If Mrs Sanderson was disappointed at her first sight of Harriet, Harriet was as disappointed in her bedroom. It was hardly bigger than the cottage alcove.
    “It hasn’t got a window,” she said crossly, “Margot said it had.” Margot had gone straight to her own room and it didn’t matter what she said to Andrew.
    “Yes, it has,” said Andrew, “look, the roof slopes out here and it is just above the bed.” Harriet looked up and saw a small square of glass that opened with a pulley.
    “But you can’t see out of it,” she said.
    Andrew switched off the light. “Now look,” he said. In the frosty January sky the stars were brilliant.
    “You are the only person who can lie in bed and see the sky properly,” said Andrew, “and it’s always changing.” He switched on the light again.
    “The bathroom’s along there next to my room — you’d better have a wash and then supper will be ready. I bet you’re hungry.”
    Left alone, Harriet switched off the light once more and gazed up at the stars. She thought she