(513) Return to Thrush Green by Miss Read

Author:Miss Read [Read, Miss]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Country life, England, Country Life - England - Fiction, Pastoral Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780395276273
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Published: 1978-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

On the morning after Ella's party, Winnie Bailey, the doctor's widow, made her way next door to Tullivers.

The May sunshine gilded the green. Daisies spangled the grass, and a lark's song fell from the blue, as clear and pure as a cascade of mountain water. How Donald loved a day like this, thought Winnie, tapping at the door. But there was no point in grieving. It was the last thing he would have wanted, and since his death she had learnt to savour each day as it came, to count her many blessings, and to try to put sadness behind her.

Phyllida and Frank Hurst had helped enormously, she thought. What a comfort good neighbours could be!

Phil's head appeared at a bedroom window above her. 'Oh, do just walk in, Winnie dear. I'm coming down now.'

'I promised you some pansy plants,' said Winnie. 'I haven't brought them in case it's a busy time for you, but they're all ready next door whenever you need them.'

'Lovely!' said Phil. 'Come in and sit down, or shall we sit in the garden?'

'The garden,' said Winnie. 'It's much too gorgeous to stay indoors.'

They sat on the garden seat, facing the sun. A border of pinks nearby was beginning to break into flower, and the roses were in bud.

'You are going to have a fine show this summer,' commented Winnie.

'I know. The sad thing is that we shall miss most of it this year.'

'Not leaving Thrush Green?'

'Good heavens, no! But we only heard this morning that Jeremy and I can go with Frank to America in June.'

'The lecture tour you told me about?'

'That's right. It was all arranged, as you know, last autumn for Frank, but getting accommodation for Jeremy and me was the difficulty. Now we've heard that a publishing friend in Boston can put us up for the whole three months, if need be, or part of that time. I didn't think it right to drag Jeremy from place to place, but this arrangement will be perfect. Isn't it marvellous news?'

'It is indeed. And don't forget that I shall look forward to keeping an eye on the place for you.'

'You are kind. And Harold has offered to keep the garden in trim, so we feel that we can go with an easy conscience.'

'I hope you'll let me look after the cat too. She'll be much happier staying at Tullivers, I'm sure, and anyway she knows she is welcome next door if she feels lonely.'

'I was going to ask you about that,' admitted Phil. 'As a matter of fact, she virtually lives in the garden in the summer, so that she shouldn't be too much of a bother.'

Winnie rose to go.

'Now I must do some telephoning. Ella first. What a good party that was! I do hope Isobel finds a house soon. She'll be a great asset to Thrush Green, won't she?'

'Indeed she will. I heard her say that she intended to see if Williams and Frobisher have anything on their books. They're pretty reliable. What about her present house? Is it the sort that will sell easily?'

'I gather so.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.