(12/13) The Year at Thrush Green by Read Miss

Author:Read, Miss [Read, Miss]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Country life, England, Thrush Green (Imaginary Place), Country Life - England, Pastoral Fiction
ISBN: 9780618884445
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Published: 1995-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

Down at Barton-on-Sea Miss Watson and Miss Fogerty were busy with their preparations for their visit to Thrush Green.

As always, Dorothy Watson's first worry was about her wardrobe. She was fond of her clothes and critical of her appearance. Agnes, who had always put decency and economy before sartorial grandeur, could do little to calm her friend's agitation. Shortage of money had always limited Agnes's scope, and as the years passed she found it rather restful to have so few clothes to choose from.

Dorothy called from her bedroom one morning, just as Agnes was wondering about that day's pudding. Should it be the raspberries left from yesterday? (Hardly enough to cover the bottom of a fruit dish.) Or open a tin of apricots? (Surely rather extravagant with fresh fruit in abundance in July.)

She hastened to obey Dorothy's summons, and found her surveying a pile of clothes spread out on the bed.

'It's so difficult to decide,' cried Dorothy. 'If it were winter I should definitely take my black for evenings, but one likes to look more festive in summer. On the other hand, the evenings may be chilly and I really don't want to drag any old cardigan over my summer dresses.'

Agnes, who relied heavily on 'any old cardigan' to supply extra warmth whatever the occasion, pointed out that a silk dress with long sleeves might be the best answer to the problem.

'This green always looks well,' she ventured, lifting up the garment in question.

'Thrush Green must be sick and tired of that old thing,' responded Dorothy. 'I bought it for a party at Ella and Dimity's years ago.'

'Well, what about the blue?'

'Waist's too high. Right under the bust. Most uncomfortable.'

'I always liked you in this pink one.'

'Too youthful. Mutton dressed as lamb, and no shoes to go with it.'

A less patient woman than Agnes might have suggested that it had been a mistake to buy these things in the first place, and that a jumble sale was the best place to dispose of such problems, but Agnes held her peace.

'I still think the green would be best,' she said diplomatically. 'You can wear black or brown shoes with that, and different silk scarves if the weather is chilly. It has a most becoming neckline.'

Dorothy's agitation was subsiding, she saw with relief.

'You are such a help,' said Dorothy. 'I might pack that light stole I bought in Prouts' sale one year. It goes with everything, and dear Anthony Bull once said I looked distinguished in it.'

With the blessing of the Reverend Anthony Bull, Charles Henstock's predecessor at Lulling, it was quite apparent to Agnes that most of Dorothy's worries were over.

She returned thankfully to eking out the raspberries with some chopped banana.

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