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the inkpot； one on a silver photograph frame； playing too。 Darling little
spots。 Especially the one on the inkpot lid。 It was quite warm。 A
warm little silver star。 She could have kissed it。
The front door bell pealed； and there sounded the rustle of Sadie's print
skirt on the stairs。 A man's voice murmured； Sadie answered； careless；
〃I'm sure I don't know。 Wait。 I'll ask Mrs Sheridan。〃
〃What is it； Sadie？〃 Laura came into the hall。
〃It's the florist； Miss Laura。〃
It was； indeed。 There； just inside the door； stood a wide； shallow tray
full of pots of pink lilies。 No other kind。 Nothing but liliescanna lilies；
big pink flowers； wide open； radiant； almost frighteningly alive on bright
crimson stems。
〃O…oh； Sadie！〃 said Laura； and the sound was like a little moan。 She
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crouched down as if to warm herself at that blaze of lilies； she felt they
were in her fingers； on her lips； growing in her breast。
〃It's some mistake；〃 she said faintly。 〃Nobody ever ordered so many。
Sadie； go and find mother。〃
But at that moment Mrs。 Sheridan joined them。
〃It's quite right；〃 she said calmly。 〃Yes； I ordered them。 Aren't they
lovely？〃 She pressed Laura's arm。 〃I was passing the shop yesterday；
and I saw them in the window。 And I suddenly thought for once in my
life I shall have enough canna lilies。 The garden…party will be a good
excuse。〃
〃But I thought you said you didn't mean to interfere；〃 said Laura。
Sadie had gone。 The florist's man was still outside at his van。 She put
her arm round her mother's neck and gently； very gently； she bit her
mother's ear。
〃My darling child； you wouldn't like a logical mother； would you？
Don't do that。 Here's the man。〃
He carried more lilies still； another whole tray。
〃Bank them up； just inside the door； on both sides of the porch；
please；〃 said Mrs。 Sheridan。 〃Don't you agree； Laura？〃
〃Oh； I do； mother。〃
In the drawing…room Meg； Jose and good little Hans had at last
succeeded in moving the piano。
〃Now； if we put this chesterfield against the wall and move everything
out of the room except the chairs； don't you think？〃
〃Quite。〃
〃Hans； move these tables into the smoking…room； and bring a sweeper
to take these marks off the carpet andone moment； Hans〃 Jose loved
giving orders to the servants； and they loved obeying her。 She always
made them feel they were taking part in some drama。 〃Tell mother and
Miss Laura to come here at once。
〃Very good； Miss Jose。〃
She turned to Meg。 〃I want to hear what the piano sounds like； just
in case I'm asked to sing this afternoon。 Let's try over 'This life is
Weary。'〃
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The Garden Party
Pom！ Ta…ta…ta Tee…ta！ The piano burst out so passionately that
Jose's face changed。 She clasped her hands。 She looked mournfully
and enigmatically at her mother and Laura as they came in。
〃This Life is Wee…ary； A Teara Sigh。 A Love that Chan…ges；
This Life is Wee…ary； A Teara Sigh。 A Love that Chan…ges； And
then 。。。Good…bye！〃
But at the word 〃Good…bye；〃 and although the piano sounded more
desperate than ever； her face broke into a brilliant； dreadfully
unsympathetic smile。
〃Aren't I in good voice； mummy？〃 she beamed。
〃This Life is Wee…ary； Hope comes to Die。 A Dreama Wa…
kening。〃
But now Sadie interrupted them。 〃What is it； Sadie？〃
〃If you please； m'm； cook says have you got the flags for the
sandwiches？〃
〃The flags for the sandwiches； Sadie？〃 echoed Mrs。 Sheridan dreamily。
And the children knew by her face that she hadn't got them。 〃Let me
see。〃 And she said to Sadie firmly； 〃Tell cook I'll let her have them in ten
minutes。
Sadie went。
〃Now； Laura；〃 said her mother quickly； 〃come with me into the
smoking…room。 I've got the names somewhere on the back of an
envelope。 You'll have to write them out for me。 Meg； go upstairs this
minute and take that wet thing off your head。 Jose； run and finish
dressing this instant。 Do you hear me； children； or shall I have to tell
your father when he comes home to…night？ Andand； Jose； pacify cook
if you do go into the kitchen； will you？ I'm terrified of her this morning。〃
The envelope was found at last behind the dining…room clock； though
how it had got there Mrs。 Sheridan could not imagine。
〃One of you children must have stolen it out of my bag； because I
remember vividlycream cheese and lemon…curd。 Have you done that？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Egg and〃 Mrs。 Sheridan held the envelope away from her。 〃It
looks like mice。 It can't be mice； can it？〃
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The Garden Party
〃Olive； pet；〃 said Laura； looking over her shoulder。
〃Yes； of course； olive。 What a horrible combination it sounds。 Egg
and olive。〃
They were finished at last； and Laura took them off to the kitchen。
She found Jose there pacifying the cook； who did not look at all terrifying。
〃I have never seen such exquisite sandwiches；〃 said Jose's rapturous
voice。 〃How many kinds did you say there were； cook？ Fifteen？〃
〃Fifteen； Miss Jose。〃
〃Well； cook； I congratulate you。〃
Cook swept up crusts with the long sandwich knife； and smiled
broadly。
〃Godber's has come；〃 announced Sadie； issuing out of the pantry。
She had seen the man pass the window。
That meant the cream puffs had come。 Godber's were famous for
their cream puffs。 Nobody ever thought of making them at home。
〃Bring them in and put them on the table； my girl；〃 ordered cook。
Sadie brought t