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pleaded。 〃The band and everybody arriving。 They'd hear us； mother；
they're nearly neighbours！〃
To Laura's astonishment her mother behaved just like Jose； it was
harder to bear because she seemed amused。 She refused to take Laura
seriously。
〃But； my dear child； use your common sense。 It's only by accident
we've heard of it。 If some one had died there normallyand I can't
understand how they keep alive in those poky little holeswe should still
be having our party； shouldn't we？〃
Laura had to say 〃yes〃 to that； but she felt it was all wrong。 She sat
down on her mother's sofa and pinched the cushion frill。
〃Mother； isn't it terribly heartless of us？〃 she asked。
〃Darling！〃 Mrs。 Sheridan got up and came over to her； carrying the
hat。 Before Laura could stop her she had popped it on。 〃My child！〃
said her mother； 〃the hat is yours。 It's made for you。 It's much too
young for me。 I have never seen you look such a picture。 Look at
yourself！〃 And she held up her hand…mirror。
〃But； mother；〃 Laura began again。 She couldn't look at herself； she
turned aside。
This time Mrs。 Sheridan lost patience just as Jose had done。
〃You are being very absurd； Laura；〃 she said coldly。 〃People like that
don't expect sacrifices from us。 And it's not very sympathetic to spoil
everybody's enjoyment as you're doing now。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 said Laura； and she walked quickly out of the
room into her own bedroom。 There； quite by chance； the first thing she
saw was this charming girl in the mirror； in her black hat trimmed with
gold daisies； and a long black velvet ribbon。 Never had she imagined she
could look like that。 Is mother right？ she thought。 And now she hoped
her mother was right。 Am I being extravagant？ Perhaps it was
extravagant。 Just for a moment she had another glimpse of that poor
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The Garden Party
woman and those little children； and the body being carried into the house。
But it all seemed blurred； unreal； like a picture in the newspaper。 I'll
remember it again after the party's over； she decided。 And somehow that
seemed quite the best plan。。。
Lunch was over by half…past one。 By half…past two they were all
ready for the fray。 The green…coated band had arrived and was
established in a corner of the tennis…court。
〃My dear！〃 trilled Kitty Maitland； 〃aren't they too like frogs for words？
You ought to have arranged them round the pond with the conductor in the
middle on a leaf。〃
Laurie arrived and hailed them on his way to dress。 At the sight of
him Laura remembered the accident again。 She wanted to tell him。 If
Laurie agreed with the others； then it was bound to be all right。 And she
followed him into the hall。
〃Laurie！〃
〃Hallo！〃 He was half…way upstairs； but when he turned round and
saw Laura he suddenly puffed out his cheeks and goggled his eyes at her。
〃My word； Laura！ You do look stunning；〃 said Laurie。 〃What an
absolutely topping hat！〃
Laura said faintly 〃Is it？〃 and smiled up at Laurie； and didn't tell him
after all。
Soon after that people began coming in streams。 The band struck up；
the hired waiters ran from the house to the marquee。 Wherever you
looked there were couples strolling； bending to the flowers； greeting；
moving on over the lawn。 They were like bright birds that had alighted
in the Sheridans' garden for this one afternoon； on their way towhere？
Ah； what happiness it is to be with people who all are happy； to press
hands； press cheeks； smile into eyes。
〃Darling Laura； how well you look！〃
〃What a becoming hat； child！〃
〃Laura； you look quite Spanish。 I've never seen you look so
striking。〃
And Laura； glowing； answered softly； 〃Have you had tea？ Won't you
have an ice？ The passion…fruit ices really are rather special。〃 She ran to
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The Garden Party
her father and begged him。 〃Daddy darling； can't the band have
something to drink？〃
And the perfect afternoon slowly ripened； slowly faded； slowly its
petals closed。
〃Never a more delightful garden…party 。。。〃 〃The greatest success 。。。〃
〃Quite the most 。。。〃
Laura helped her mother with the good…byes。 They stood side by side
in the porch till it was all over。
〃All over； all over； thank heaven；〃 said Mrs。 Sheridan。 〃Round up the
others； Laura。 Let's go and have some fresh coffee。 I'm exhausted。
Yes； it's been very successful。 But oh； these parties； these parties！ Why
will you children insist on giving parties！〃 And they all of them sat down
in the deserted marquee。
〃Have a sandwich； daddy dear。 I wrote the flag。〃
〃Thanks。〃 Mr。 Sheridan took a bite and the sandwich was gone。 He
took another。 〃I suppose you didn't hear of a beastly accident that
happened to…day？〃 he said。
〃My dear；〃 said Mrs。 Sheridan； holding up her hand； 〃we did。 It
nearly ruined the party。 Laura insisted we should put it off。〃
〃Oh； mother！〃 Laura didn't want to be teased about it。
〃It was a horrible affair all the same；〃 said Mr。 Sheridan。 〃The chap
was married too。 Lived just below in the lane； and leaves a wife and half
a dozen kiddies； so they say。〃
An awkward little silence fell。 Mrs。 Sheridan fidgeted with her cup。
Really； it was very tactless of father。。。
Suddenly she looked up。 There on the table were all those
sandwiches； cakes； puffs； all uneaten； all going to be wasted。 She had
one of her brilliant ideas。
〃I know；〃 she said。 〃Let's make up a basket。 Let's send that poor
creature some of this perfectly good food。 At