Read Online Winter in Thrush Green by Miss Read - Free Book Online Page A

pressed into the little hall and the front door was shut against the roaring night.
    'They're my
new
boots,' explained Dotty proudly. 'I put them on
over
my shoes, you see, and then I can just step out easily and I don't dirty people's carpets.' Her wrinkled old face was flushed with excitement. She might have been six years old in her unaffected delight.
    'How awfully sensible,' said Dimity kindly, watching her friend tugging ineffectually at one boot while she balanced precariously on the other. 'Can I help?'
    I'll just sit on the stairs,' said Dotty. 'They're a bit stiff.'
    'Come inside,' implored Ella, rubbing her hands for warmth. It was apparent to her that Dotty would be stuck on the stairs in everybody's way, puffing and blowing over her infernal boots, for some time to come. 'Or upstairs to the bedroom.'
    'But that
entirely
defeats the purpose of my boots.' protested Dotty. 'I shan't be a moment.'
    She bent down again, her face becoming purple with her efforts.

    'Let me—' began Dimity, but Dotty waved her aside.
    'No, no, no! It's just their being new,' puffed Dotty, resting one thin leg across the other knee and displaying an alarming amount of undergarments to the glass front door. Really, thought Ella irritably, she carries eccentricity too far. In two shakes we shall have the others arriving–the new man among them–and it's enough to frighten a stranger out of his wits to see old Dotty mopping and mowing in her seal-skin coat with one boot in her ear. Her irritation, coupled with the draughts in the tiny hall, gave Ella inspiration.
    'Take the whole thing off, Dotty, shoe and all. Then you can pull your shoe out afterwards.'
    The other two ladies gazed at her with respect. Dotty obeyed, the shoes were retrieved, her jacket taken from her, and Dotty stood revealed in the brick-coloured dress and coral necklace whose fine divergence of shade had delighted the neighbourhood for so long.
    'Oh, my jacket!' wailed Dotty, as she was being ushered into the sitting-room. 'I've brought you some of my quince jam, dears. It's in the pocket.'
    'How kind,' said Dimity. I'll put it in the kitchen at once.' She fluttered off on her errand, leaving Dotty to exclaim over the metamorphosis of her pumpkin.
    Guests now began to arrive thick and fast and the little sitting-room was soon filled with chatter and laughter. All those present had known each other for years and more than half of them had met before during the day as they went about their daily rounds. Harold Shoosmith had not yet arrived and Ella wondered if he could have forgotten, as she bore her tray of drinks round the room.
    The small clock on the mantelpiece was striking seven when
the door-bell shrilled and Ella and Dimity hurried to answer it.

    Harold Shoosmith entered in a gust of wind and a shower of apologies. The telephone had rung as he was about to leave -a long-distance call–an old friend in trouble–on her way north and had shattered her windscreen–might call at his house later. The words gushed out as Ella took his coat and scarf so that it was some minutes before she could introduce him to Dimity who stood looking pink and expectant at the sight of such a handsome–and unattached–man actually under her own roof.
    Harold Shoosmith gave Dimity a smile that turned her heart over, murmured some polite words and followed his hostesses into the sitting-room, smoothing his white hair, which the wind had ruffled, as he went. His dark suit was impeccably cut, his linen snowy, his tie discreetly striped, and denoted, both ladies felt sure, a school, college or regiment of the finest quality. They felt very proud of their distinguished
guest as they led him to their friends and Dimity felt, for the first time, that it was a pity that Thrush Green men did not take the same pains with their dressing. Why, young Doctor Lovell, she noticed now, was actually wearing a dog-tooth checked jacket with leather patches on the sleeves!