(9/20) Tyler's Row by Read Miss

Author:Read, Miss [Read, Miss]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, England, Country Life - England, Cottages - England, Cottages
ISBN: 9780848817022
Publisher: Academy Chicago Pub
Published: 1972-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

The days that followed were still darkened by Mrs Pringle's gloomy mood, but the limping seemed to ease a little as the days went by, and we became cautiously hopeful.

The high spot of the week was a visit from Amy. She brought with her a niece of James's, called Vanessa, an eighteen-year-old dressed fashionably in a motley collection of shapeless woollen garments in shades of mauve, grey and black. Three sleeves overlapped, the first layer appearing to be some sort of garment which my mother would have called a spencer, then another three-quarter length one, topped by a cardigan which reached the knees but, surprisingly, had short sleeves.

A dull brown stone on an inordinately long silver chain swung over her attire and hit her teacup, every now and again, when she tossed back a mane of long black hair. The stone reminded me of one shown me once by Mrs Pringle. She had told me, with much relish, that it came from her mother's gall bladder and was much treasured in the family. I am a squeamish woman, and have never quite got over this shattering experience. To have Vanessa's stone swinging about the tea-table was very unnerving.

She was a silent girl, ate very little, and appeared thoroughly bored with our company. As soon as tea was over, Amy dispatched her to the village stores to buy some cigarettes.

'Sorry about this,' said Amy, 'but she's in love. Eileen, James's sister, is at the end of her tether, and I said I'd have her for a few days.'

'What's he like?'

'Unsuitable.'

'How unsuitable?'

'Well, do you remember dear Joyce Grenfell's sketch where the bewildered mother says: "Daddy and I are delighted that you are going to marry a middle-aged Portuguese conjurer, darling. But are you sure he will make you happy?" It's rather like that.'

'Married?'

'Four times already. Has six children, one eye and a cork leg.'

'You're making it up!'

'Cubs' honour!' said Amy, drawing a finger across her throat for added measure. 'May I slit my throat, if I tell a lie, and all that. He was wounded in a war in Bolivia.'

'This gets more unbelievable every minute.'

'It's gospel truth, darling. He recently came as a rep. to the firm where she fiddles with the typewriter all day—one can't call it proper typing. She offered to do some letters for me yesterday, and every one began: "Dear Mr Who-ever-it-was Halfpenny".'

'She has my sympathy,' I said.

'Maybe. You taught yourself, but Vanessa had over a year at some ruinously expensive place in town where she met dozens of perfectly normal cheerful young men of her own generation. But no—she must fall for Roderick.'

'I suppose Eileen's talked to her?'

'Till she's blue in the face. So have I. It makes no difference. She eats next to nothing, dissolves into tears, has constant headaches, and threatens to do away with herself.'

'Can't she change her job?'

'She doesn't want to. She can see the wretched fellow this way. I've offered to take her abroad for a few weeks — James is willing

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