The House by Hilda Lawrence

Author:Hilda Lawrence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phocion Publishing
Published: 2019-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

PART TWO

WHEN we left the garden last night, we knew what we must do the next day.

It is afternoon of that day. I am waiting again, but this time I am not afraid, because Mike and Joe will be here in a little while. Mike, Joe, Mrs. Barnaby, the cousins.

Breakfast and lunch are behind me. In two hours, more or less, the party will begin. I know every move we will make afterward. Mike and Joe and I will go to the old playroom to see my music box. They will make it convincing.

I talked to everyone in the house this morning, a few words to each. I went where they were and watched what they were doing. That was my idea, not Mikes.

When I went to the kitchen, Tray was leaving, and I met him face to face. He stood aside to let me pass. “Good-morning, Tray, I’ve missed you.”

Mrs. Tench was washing vegetables at the sink, and Anna was drinking coffee at the worktable.

“Did you have a pleasant time yesterday, Anna?” I asked. I wanted to know whether she had talked to her priest.

She colored. “I did all right. The dog ate his breakfast this morning, Miss Isobel, a nice bowl of milk.” She looked into her cup, not at me.

“Hes an old fraud, Anna, don’t worry about him. What did you people do in town?”

They had been together all the time, Mrs. Tench said. She emphasized together. They had shopped together, gone to the movies together, to buy a nice bond, to the tearoom for the special blue-plate dinner. “Only it was chipped white. A dollar fifty and not worth the fifty. They can’t fool me with their wilted lettuce, warm vinegar on other people’s leavings, and I told the woman so.”

I said, “I had a good time, too. T came home late. Everybody was in bed when I came home. Where’s Tench?”

“Out back.” Mrs. Tench frowned. “What’s on your mind, Miss Isobel? You’re a hen on a hot griddle. “Where’s Tench?’ Out bade washing the car, which is what he always does on Friday morning, as you know. You’ll do well to go out yourself and have a nice walk.”

“I’d like to help you. Is there anything I can do? I can get the candles ready if you tell me the color you want.”

“All done, Miss Isobel, but thank you.”

“I hope we’re using yellow. It’s a warm color.” Where did the yellow wax on the floor of Father’s closet come from?

“Your mother wants white,” Mrs. Tench said.

I left them talking for my benefit. I know how people sound when they want to be overheard.

“Those lobsters look very nice and lively, don’t they?” Anna.

“The—oh, yes, to he sure they do. But you might give them a poke. I like company; I like visitors and getting out the best cloth and doing things pretty. We’re going to enjoy this, Anna. And Miss Isobel! It’s a treat to see her, taking an interest And the madam! Well, they can’t grieve forever—he wouldn’t want it so.

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