Read Online The Sleeping Partner by Winston Graham - Free Book Online

yes.’
    â€˜I am sorry.’
    â€˜Thanks.’
    â€˜When was it?’
    â€˜Thursday last.’
    â€˜Did you – know it was coming?’
    â€˜No. I’ve been more than usually dull. Maybe it’s this preoccupation with technicalities your husband spoke of.’
    â€˜So sorry about that … But naturally we never guessed …’
    â€˜Well you couldn’t be expected to.’ I opened the gate. ‘ Keep this to yourself, won’t you? I’m not looking for shoulders to weep on.’
    â€˜I can only say again, I’m sorry.’
    â€˜That’s all there is to say.’
    In the middle of the night I thought, what a fool I am standing on my dignity, she’d be right to think me pompous and stuffy. Besides, how do I know what she’s feeling? On Friday night she’d have thought it humiliating to be caught. But perhaps really she’s wanting to make this thing up and only won’t make the first move.
    I got up and put on a dressing-gown and fetched some notepaper and switched on the electric fire.
My dear Lynn,
    Your letter floored me when it came. Believe it or not, and
in spite of our few recent squabbles, I hadn’t an idea that you
felt as badly about my neglect as you do. I suppose I’ve been
like a shortsighted bus driver blundering on in spite of the
warning signals; now I’m complaining that the bus has gone
over the edge.
    Well, it has gone over the edge for me. I haven’t written
before because I hoped to be able to come and see you and
see what could be salvaged from the wreck. Don’t you think
we should meet? There won’t be a scene. I think we’ve always
been civilised about these things and I’ve certainly no ambition
to change.
    Darling, I know all this year you’ve only had 25 per cent
of a husband. If that’s why you left me then I’m willing to
throw up whatever you say and have a shot at beginning again
on entirely different lines. But if you’ve left me for another
man then it’s going to be rather tough. But I still want to see
you and hear about it in so many words. It can’t be any worse
than not knowing for sure. I’m not going to try to see you
until you give the signal. You’re right about that; it’s got to
be at your time and when you feel ready.
    You left your key on Friday night, but I’ve put it under the
geranium pot in the porch. You know when I’m away, so you
can come back any time you like and fetch the things you
want. You also dropped one of your turquoise earrings, which
I’m sending with this.
    With regret – as you say – but with very much affection.
    Mike.

Chapter Seven
    N EXT MORNING Thurston rang to know when the survey equipment would be ready.
    I said: ‘The thing’s still rather in the fourth-day-of-Creation stage. Anything fresh?’
    â€˜Could you get it ready for first experiments by Friday week?’
    When quiet had been restored Thurston said apologetically: ‘Farnborough suggested bringing the Auster over to you on that open ground you’ve got; but nobody much cares for the idea. So the plane’s been flown down to the rocket site at Llanveryan, and we feel that if the thing could be fitted up there it would be much more convenient for first trials.’
    I said: ‘That part’s all right.’
    â€˜I know. Actually it’s the Ministry and not Harwell that’s turning on the steam this time. The whole affair has become suddenly much more vital and more urgent because of this unrest there is in the Sudan on the self-determination issue. Nobody seems to know quite what is going to happen to our area. Porter began talking of its “importance to England” when he was on the telephone just now.’
    I said: ‘Well, I can understand that. But what do they expect me to do, lash the stuff together with string?’
    â€˜Do you need any extra help – will it