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She was。
Josephine arched her spine； pulled up her knees； folded her arms so
that her fists came under her ears； and pressed her cheek hard against the
pillow。
Chapter 3。II。
Another thing which complicated matters was they had Nurse
Andrews staying on with them that week。 It was their own fault； they
had asked her。 It was Josephine's idea。 On the morningwell； on the
last morning； when the doctor had gone； Josephine had said to Constantia；
〃Don't you think it would be rather nice if we asked Nurse Andrews to
stay on for a week as our guest？〃
〃Very nice；〃 said Constantia。
〃I thought；〃 went on Josephine quickly； 〃I should just say this
afternoon； after I've paid her； 'My sister and I would be very pleased； after
all you've done for us； Nurse Andrews； if you would stay on for a week as
our guest。' I'd have to put that in about being our guest in case〃
〃Oh； but she could hardly expect to be paid！〃 cried Constantia。
〃One never knows；〃 said Josephine sagely。
Nurse Andrews had； of course； jumped at the idea。 But it was a
bother。 It meant they had to have regular sit…down meals at the proper
times； whereas if they'd been alone they could just have asked Kate if she
wouldn't have minded bringing them a tray wherever they were。 And
meal…times now that the strain was over were rather a trial。
Nurse Andrews was simply fearful about butter。 Really they couldn't
help feeling that about butter； at least； she took advantage of their kindness。
And she had that maddening habit of asking for just an inch more of bread
to finish what she had on her plate； and then； at the last mouthful； absent…
mindedlyof course it wasn't absent…mindedlytaking another helping。
Josephine got very red when this happened； and she fastened her small；
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The Garden Party
bead…like eyes on the tablecloth as if she saw a minute strange insect
creeping through the web of it。 But Constantia's long； pale face
lengthened and set； and she gazed awayawayfar over the desert； to
where that line of camels unwound like a thread of wool。。。
〃When I was with Lady Tukes；〃 said Nurse Andrews； 〃she had such a
dainty little contrayvance for the buttah。 It was a silvah Cupid balanced
on theon the bordah of a glass dish； holding a tayny fork。 And when
you wanted some buttah you simply pressed his foot and he bent down
and speared you a piece。 It was quite a gayme。〃
Josephine could hardly bear that。 But 〃I think those things are very
extravagant〃 was all she said。
〃But whey？〃 asked Nurse Andrews； beaming through her eyeglasses。
〃No one； surely； would take more buttah than one wantedwould one？〃
〃Ring； Con；〃 cried Josephine。 She couldn't trust herself to reply。
And proud young Kate； the enchanted princess； came in to see what
the old tabbies wanted now。 She snatched away their plates of mock
something or other and slapped down a white； terrified blancmange。
〃Jam； please； Kate；〃 said Josephine kindly。
Kate knelt and burst open the sideboard； lifted the lid of the jam…pot；
saw it was empty； put it on the table； and stalked off。
〃I'm afraid；〃 said Nurse Andrews a moment later； 〃there isn't any。〃
〃Oh； what a bother！〃 said Josephine。 She bit her lip。 〃What had we
better do？〃
Constantia looked dubious。 〃We can't disturb Kate again；〃 she said
softly。
Nurse Andrews waited； smiling at them both。 Her eyes wandered；
spying at everything behind her eyeglasses。 Constantia in despair went
back to her camels。 Josephine frowned heavilyconcentrated。 If it
hadn't been for this idiotic woman she and Con would； of course； have
eaten their blancmange without。 Suddenly the idea came。
〃I know；〃 she said。 〃Marmalade。 There's some marmalade in the
sideboard。 Get it； Con。〃
〃I hope；〃 laughed Nurse Andrewsand her laugh was like a spoon
tinkling against a medicine…glass〃I hope it's not very bittah
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The Garden Party
marmalayde。〃
Chapter 3。III。
But； after all； it was not long now； and then she'd be gone for good。
And there was no getting over the fact that she had been very kind to
father。 She had nursed him day and night at the end。 Indeed； both
Constantia and Josephine felt privately she had rather overdone the not
leaving him at the very last。 For when they had gone in to say good…bye
Nurse Andrews had sat beside his bed the whole time； holding his wrist
and pretending to look at her watch。 It couldn't have been necessary。 It
was so tactless； too。 Supposing father had wanted to say something
something private to them。 Not that he had。 Oh； far from it！ He lay
there； purple； a dark； angry purple in the face； and never even looked at
them when they came in。 Then； as they were standing there； wondering
what to do； he had suddenly opened one eye。 Oh； what a difference it
would have made； what a difference to their memory of him； how much
easier to tell people about it； if he had only opened both！ But noone
eye only。 It glared at them a moment and then。。。went out。
Chapter 3。IV。
It had made it very awkward for them when Mr。 Farolles； of St。 John's；
called the same afternoon。
〃The end was quite peaceful； I trust？〃 were the first words he said as
he glided towards them through the dark drawing…room。
〃Quite；〃 said Josephine faintly。 They both hung their heads。 Both
of them felt certain that eye wasn't at all a peaceful eye。
〃Won't you sit down？〃 said Josephine。
〃Thank you； Miss Pinner；〃 said Mr。 Farolles gratefully。 He folded his
coat…tails and began to lower himself into father's arm…chair； but just as he
touched it he almost sprang up and slid into the next chair instead。
H