But, of course, she chided herself hastily, he may have come straight from a patient's sick bed. One must be charitable.
The newcomer was soon happily settled with a gin and tonic and Doctor Bailey and the rector to talk to. Very soon Doctor Lovell and his brother-in-law Edward Young, who was a local architect, drifted towards the group and Ella saw, with some resignation, that the sexes had divided into two camps as usual.
She made her way to the ladies' end to replenish Violet Lovelock's glass. The three Miss Lovelocks had seated themselves on the window-seat, their silvery heads nodding and trembling, and their glasses, as Ella expected, quite empty.
These three ladies, now in their seventies, lived in a Georgian doll's house in Lulling's High Street. There they had been born, their wicker bassinette had been bumped down the shallow flight of steps to the pavement by their torn nursemaid, young men had called, but not one of the three tall sisters had emerged from the house as a bride. They lived together peaceably enough, busying themselves with good works and their neighbours' affairs, and collecting
objets d"art
for their overcrowded gem of a house with a ruthless zeal which was a byword for miles around.
Many a hostess had found herself bereft of a lustre jug or a particularly charming paper-weight when the Misses Lovelock rose to leave, for they had brought the art of persuasive begging to perfection. Continuously crying poverty, they lived nevertheless very comfortably, and the inhabitants of Lulling and Thrush Green were wary of these genteel old harpies. Tales were exchanged of the Lovelocks' exploits.
One told of their kind offer to look after her garden while she was away and how she came back to find it stripped of all the ripe fruit and the choicest vegetables. 'Such a pity, dear, to see it going to waste. We knew you would like us to help ourselves, and it does keep the crop growing, of course. We must let you have a bottle of the raspberriesâso delicious.'
Neighbours who were unwary enough to let the Misses Lovelock look after the chickens in their absence rarely found any eggs awaiting them on their return, and in some cases a plump chicken had died. 'Terribly upsetting, my dear! It was just lying on its poor back with its legs stuck up and a dreadfully resigned look on its dear face! We buried it in our garden as we didn't want to upset you.'
The ladies now smiled gently upon Ella as she retrieved their glasses. All three were drinking whisky, barely moistened with soda water, with a rapidity that had ceased to startle their friends. Ella noticed, with some alarm, that their eyes were fixed upon the silver basket which Dimity was proffering.
'Do you like salted nuts, Bertha?' asked Dimity anxiously of the youngest Miss Lovelock. Bertha, Ada and Violet took two or three daintily in their claw-like hands. Their eyes remained appraisingly upon the gleaming little dish.
'What a charming little basket!' murmured Violet.
'We have its brother at home,' said Ada, very sweetly. 'I believe this should be one of a pair.'
'I can see we shall have to ask Dimity to take pity on our poor lonely little dish at home!' tinkled Bertha, laughing gently.
Ella broke in with bluff good humour.
'Better bring your lonely one up here! We've got a couple to keep it company, haven't we, Dim?'
The three sisters tittered politely and took refreshing gulps of whisky, while Dimity cast a grateful look at her protector
and made her escape to young Mrs Lovell, clutching her mother's silver basket to the fawn silk rose.
Ruth Lovell was a great favourite of hers. Dimity had known her since she was a little girl and had shared Thrush Green's delight at her marriage with Doctor Lovell a year ago.
Ruth looked young and glowing with health. Dimity remembered her wan sad demeanour some years before when the poor girl had been cruelly jilted and she had come to recuperate with her sister Joan Young, and, soon after, had
The newcomer was soon happily settled with a gin and tonic and Doctor Bailey and the rector to talk to. Very soon Doctor Lovell and his brother-in-law Edward Young, who was a local architect, drifted towards the group and Ella saw, with some resignation, that the sexes had divided into two camps as usual.
She made her way to the ladies' end to replenish Violet Lovelock's glass. The three Miss Lovelocks had seated themselves on the window-seat, their silvery heads nodding and trembling, and their glasses, as Ella expected, quite empty.
These three ladies, now in their seventies, lived in a Georgian doll's house in Lulling's High Street. There they had been born, their wicker bassinette had been bumped down the shallow flight of steps to the pavement by their torn nursemaid, young men had called, but not one of the three tall sisters had emerged from the house as a bride. They lived together peaceably enough, busying themselves with good works and their neighbours' affairs, and collecting
objets d"art
for their overcrowded gem of a house with a ruthless zeal which was a byword for miles around.
Many a hostess had found herself bereft of a lustre jug or a particularly charming paper-weight when the Misses Lovelock rose to leave, for they had brought the art of persuasive begging to perfection. Continuously crying poverty, they lived nevertheless very comfortably, and the inhabitants of Lulling and Thrush Green were wary of these genteel old harpies. Tales were exchanged of the Lovelocks' exploits.
One told of their kind offer to look after her garden while she was away and how she came back to find it stripped of all the ripe fruit and the choicest vegetables. 'Such a pity, dear, to see it going to waste. We knew you would like us to help ourselves, and it does keep the crop growing, of course. We must let you have a bottle of the raspberriesâso delicious.'
Neighbours who were unwary enough to let the Misses Lovelock look after the chickens in their absence rarely found any eggs awaiting them on their return, and in some cases a plump chicken had died. 'Terribly upsetting, my dear! It was just lying on its poor back with its legs stuck up and a dreadfully resigned look on its dear face! We buried it in our garden as we didn't want to upset you.'
The ladies now smiled gently upon Ella as she retrieved their glasses. All three were drinking whisky, barely moistened with soda water, with a rapidity that had ceased to startle their friends. Ella noticed, with some alarm, that their eyes were fixed upon the silver basket which Dimity was proffering.
'Do you like salted nuts, Bertha?' asked Dimity anxiously of the youngest Miss Lovelock. Bertha, Ada and Violet took two or three daintily in their claw-like hands. Their eyes remained appraisingly upon the gleaming little dish.
'What a charming little basket!' murmured Violet.
'We have its brother at home,' said Ada, very sweetly. 'I believe this should be one of a pair.'
'I can see we shall have to ask Dimity to take pity on our poor lonely little dish at home!' tinkled Bertha, laughing gently.
Ella broke in with bluff good humour.
'Better bring your lonely one up here! We've got a couple to keep it company, haven't we, Dim?'
The three sisters tittered politely and took refreshing gulps of whisky, while Dimity cast a grateful look at her protector
and made her escape to young Mrs Lovell, clutching her mother's silver basket to the fawn silk rose.
Ruth Lovell was a great favourite of hers. Dimity had known her since she was a little girl and had shared Thrush Green's delight at her marriage with Doctor Lovell a year ago.
Ruth looked young and glowing with health. Dimity remembered her wan sad demeanour some years before when the poor girl had been cruelly jilted and she had come to recuperate with her sister Joan Young, and, soon after, had
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