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playing shops with Isabel's desk for a counter； or Pad was sitting on the
hearthrug rowing away for dear life with a little brass fire shovel； while
Johnny shot at pirates with the tongs。 Every evening they each had a
pick…a…back up the narrow stairs to their fat old Nanny。
Yes； he supposed it was a poky little house。 A little white house with
blue curtains and a window…box of petunias。 William met their friends at
the door with 〃Seen our petunias？ Pretty terrific for London； don't you
think？〃
But the imbecile thing； the absolutely extraordinary thing was that he
hadn't the slightest idea that Isabel wasn't as happy as he。 God； what
blindness！ He hadn't the remotest notion in those days that she really
hated that inconvenient little house； that she thought the fat Nanny was
ruining the babies； that she was desperately lonely； pining for new people
and new music and pictures and so on。 If they hadn't gone to that studio
party at Moira Morrison'sif Moira Morrison hadn't said as they were
leaving； 〃I'm going to rescue your wife； selfish man。 She's like an
exquisite little Titania〃if Isabel hadn't gone with Moira to Parisif if。。。
The train stopped at another station。 Bettingford。 Good heavens！
They'd be there in ten minutes。 William stuffed that papers back into his
pockets； the young man opposite had long since disappeared。 Now the
other two got out。 The late afternoon sun shone on women in cotton
frocks and little sunburnt； barefoot children。 It blazed on a silky yellow
flower with coarse leaves which sprawled over a bank of rock。 The air
ruffling through the window smelled of the sea。 Had Isabel the same
crowd with her this week…end； wondered William？
And he remembered the holidays they used to have； the four of them；
with a little farm girl； Rose； to look after the babies。 Isabel wore a jersey
and her hair in a plait； she looked about fourteen。 Lord！ how his nose
used to peel！ And the amount they ate； and the amount they slept in that
immense feather bed with their feet locked together。。。William couldn't help
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a grim smile as he thought of Isabel's horror if she knew the full extent of
his sentimentality。
。。。
〃Hillo； William！〃 She was at the station after all； standing just as he
had imagined； apart from the others； andWilliam's heart leaptshe was
alone。
〃Hallo； Isabel！〃 William stared。 He thought she looked so beautiful
that he had to say something； 〃You look very cool。〃
〃Do I？〃 said Isabel。 〃I don't feel very cool。 Come along； your
horrid old train is late。 The taxi's outside。〃 She put her hand lightly on
his arm as they passed the ticket collector。 〃We've all come to meet you；〃
she said。 〃But we've left Bobby Kane at the sweet shop； to be called for。〃
〃Oh！〃 said William。 It was all he could say for the moment。
There in the glare waited the taxi； with Bill Hunt and Dennis Green
sprawling on one side； their hats tilted over their faces； while on the other；
Moira Morrison； in a bonnet like a huge strawberry； jumped up and down。
〃No ice！ No ice！ No ice！〃 she shouted gaily。
And Dennis chimed in from under his hat。 〃Only to be had from the
fishmonger's。〃
And Bill Hunt； emerging； added； 〃With whole fish in it。〃
〃Oh； what a bore！〃 wailed Isabel。 And she explained to William how
they had been chasing round the town for ice while she waited for him。
〃Simply everything is running down the steep cliffs into the sea； beginning
with the butter。〃
〃We shall have to anoint ourselves with butter；〃 said Dennis。 〃May
thy head； William； lack not ointment。〃
〃Look here；〃 said William； 〃how are we going to sit？ I'd better get up
by the driver。〃
〃No； Bobby Kane's by the driver；〃 said Isabel。 〃You're to sit between
Moira and me。〃 The taxi started。 〃What have you got in those
mysterious parcels？〃
〃De…cap…it…ated heads！〃 said Bill Hunt； shuddering beneath his hat。
〃Oh； fruit！〃 Isabel sounded very pleased。 〃Wise William！ A
melon and a pineapple。 How too nice！〃
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〃No； wait a bit；〃 said William； smiling。 But he really was anxious。
〃I brought them down for the kiddies。〃
〃Oh； my dear！〃 Isabel laughed； and slipped her hand through his arm。
〃They'd be rolling in agonies if they were to eat them。 No〃she patted
his hand〃you must bring them something next time。 I refuse to part
with my pineapple。〃
〃Cruel Isabel！ Do let me smell it！〃 said Moira。 She flung her arms
across William appealingly。 〃Oh！〃 The strawberry bonnet fell forward：
she sounded quite faint。
〃A Lady in Love with a Pineapple；〃 said Dennis； as the taxi drew up
before a little shop with a striped blind。 Out came Bobby Kane； his arms
full of little packets。
〃I do hope they'll be good。 I've chosen them because of the colours。
There are some round things which really look too divine。 And just look
at this nougat；〃 he cried ecstatically； 〃just look at it！ It's a perfect little
ballet。〃
But at that moment the shopman appeared。 〃Oh； I forgot。 They're
none of them paid for；〃 said Bobby； looking frightened。 Isabel gave the
shopman a note； and Bobby was radiant again。 〃Hallo； William！ I'm
sitting by the driver。〃 And bareheaded； all in white； with his sleeves
rolled up to the shoulders； he leapt into his place。 〃Avanti！〃 he cried。。。
After tea the others went off to bathe； while William stayed and made
his peace with the kiddies。 But Johnny and Paddy were asleep； the rose…
red glow had paled； bats were flying； and still the bathers had not returned。
As William wandered downstairs； the maid crossed the hall carrying a
lamp。 He followed her into the sitting…room。 It was a long room；
coloured yellow。 On the wall opposite William some one had painted a
young