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daytir
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1957.
NO FLOWERS BY REQUEST
O, of course, Mummy,” said Julia, "Dickie and I hope you
will come and make your home with us.
"
I put on what the children used to call my "tell me another" face. Julia is one of those daughters who have never given their parents a moment's anxiety, and I am very fond of her and her altogether admirable husband.
But I know exactly what "making my home with them" would be like: un- paid domestic help to Julia; unpaid sewing-woman to Dickle; unpaid nurse to the children; unpaid kennelmaid to two spoilt Pekes and an autocratie Siamese cat. replied mildly that it seldom worked for two generations to live together.
I
"But, Mummy, you can't possibly get along on Daddy's tiny pension.” I said I had no intention of doing" so. What was in my mind was that, after nearly 30 years (including the better part of two wars) spent in being a strenuous and successful wife and mother, I thought I had earned the
right to become, for the first time, the most con- ter, and he seemed always to Miss Barnslow
"How sidered member of a house have read the story before doing d'po do?” to me, adding in the
the pictures
with perhaps sume breath.
of resentment
AS
I was suddenly reminded of a fairy story that frightened me as a child--all about Somebody the Sorceress.
Meunwille I was exchanging commonplacy greetings
with Mrs Denne, who offered to show me to my room. As we started to climb the stairs a uniformed nurse rustled briskly across the hall, shot a glance at me which said as clearly as print, "And how much trouble will this women be, I wonder," and dis- appoured through a door at the In end.
the
and cooking, implements,
Mry Denne did not come in,
but contented hervell with standing at the door and say- Ing
that the scullery, pantry and Jarder were beyond and she hoped I should be able to find what I wanted. She then departed after mentioning that they usually had tea about half paat four,
It did not take me five anin- utes i register a vow that be- fore I was twenty-four hours older I would have that kii- chen, turned inside out.
AN UNTIDY
MIXTURE
Dorothy L. Sayers
Writes detection -- "not thrillers" that is tron- sured by archbishops and policemen on the beat, is
a
clergyman's daughter.
Her Lord Poter Wimsey is an immortal sleuth. She has also written vezzo, plays, has just finished a translation of Dante.
But now she begins In the China Malf the thrilfor of the year—a detective story by five authors. ·
Each writer sets prob- foms for the next ⋅ to un- ravel. Follow a brilliant
story, a fascinating trial of wits daily in the CHINA MAIL.
On Monday-undercur- rents of anger and fear. sweep through this strango household.
was expected to have tea with the family.
NURSE CUTLER, who came
presently in quest of
the
belling water, supplied answer. She carried a tray with and one two tea-pots-one for herself for her patient and gave her orders for thlo bread- and-butter, cake, aliced lemon
MY predecessor (the one who
was neither lady nor and milk as though she were a cook) must have been a singu- travelling Briton in
a foreign Inrly umidy woman: and I cafe, determined to stand до suspected that an interregnum nonsense, of unaided Mrs Hutchinson had. CHE was good – locking, done nothing to straighten out youngish woman with rod the confusion she had left be- hair, a bust and (thought) hind her,
a temper when roused,
"They'll want you to have meals with them," she said;
gives them
someone talk to. I'd as soon cat in a morgue myself. Not but what my old girll tiresome enough kidneys mostly are. But you always chooso vour patient; you can choose YouT comm company."
and
a in the
Some
1 discovered a Act of Lea- the draining-board, things on an inlaid Sheraton tray In the larder, a trussed fowl and
full of
sprouti rug pantry, a jug of milk in the china - cupboard potatoes under the sink,
THE butter cluded me for ***
some time; but eventually I tracked it down in the meat- safe, which also contained some cakes on an enamel plate, and a bowl of
heads,
sh
can't
το
was starting across the hall with the tea-things when Mir Carringford (who seemed a help- ful man, as men go) appeared
and carried
"Nurse Cutler," suid Mrs Dean to me. "My auni riceps on the ground floor because of She rests in the her heart.
you after afternoon; she'll see tea. That my uncle's room hold. Not that my children after the remote situation, touch
cooked she and my cousin Trent's is just
down or my late husband
is Mane (A and lack of amenities and wiper the sweat from her fore beyond. charming, though in some the local gas had been allowed head, that Mrs Doane was read-
other passage and four bed- thoughtfully ticketed CAT-lest from somewhere
Cre I suppose, I should be tempted them into the sitting-room for ΓΟΡΟΥΣΑ and akting-room
Lo eat them myself, ways trying, man) had ever for in the wages (he drove a ing a book in the garden atid
there I had just found the sugar MRS DEANE Was acnable bargain, being Trent had gone out.
She then here~ been lacking in affection: nice,
dealing
dived into the boot od strode She opened the door, remark- accustomed but affection is one
a canister labelled SPICES, the sola doing some em thing, editors) at I had conceded off abruptly, with a grateful af ed that her uncle had brought and was shaking various other broidery. She did not bostir fer- consideration is quite an- something on account of having hens in wich hand.
up all my things, Informed me containers in the hope of coming seif, and I gathered that I was that the bathroom was at the other.
end of the corridor and hoped upon the tea, when Mr Curring expected to pour out, As I was "What
are you going to do
BOTH
all should be comfortable, then, Mummy?"
with
politeness perfect GOOD SORTS
of interest,
ne
been in a situation before he rightly said, dy would make me more THEY'RE orders instead of
about
recommendatione
taking I said: "I propose to take a giving them), and after I had situation de cook-housekeeper
him WILL pass over the long shown
"NOT in your · department," from our vicar, and our MP. "NOT series of family expostula-
And
said Mr Carringford, with said: tions that followed. By the time
"Well, now it's my turn. Did a twinkle. "Five only in family well-reasoned letters had
Edin. you have a cook-housekeeper California before and, if so, why did she
leave?"
that
so on.
"If there's a hospital nurse,
"
by
suites theth."
in a
ford's hend came suddenly
through the window and afted and how I was getting on.
own' room
mc.
a
הה
king my place at the tea-table, young man limped in, support- ing himself on a stick, and was introduced as Mr Trent Carring-
without the faintest expression
He seemed to know his way I thanked her, and said it all about the kitchen, for he at ford.
the right He had evidently been strong looked very nice, Site then left once directed me to
on the and
the good-looking before me to take off my hat and un- quarter-a biscuit in
accident which bad would scullery shelf and explained flyin arrived from. Willie
as stated. She lives in the pack, suying that she
axcept his wife,
and who liked was badly distorted,
the village. Her father's the local retuch in half an hour towphow that the tomily all drank China, crippled him; but his left leg burgh, Marjorle in
sgt. Good sorts,
me the kitchen premises, unless som
tea, Indian, whole of that side of his face and my sister Maud in Nairobi,
На seized my
pushed I would like to rest a Httle Forgeant major's He said: "Well, my wife did
The
sweet, and strong"-which was
was terribly scarred, neither did I find rettled up my
front door, which bad- first, affairs.
ореп the cooling till she got fil. And ly needed painting, and ushered
ho appear to have the full use found a tenant for the house, and then we had a lady-cook. Sho
I thanked her again, and shid made for her in her
by Nu
Nurse Cutler.
of his left am. I learned after- me through a square hall into a that I should prefer to take up was sitting in the want a lucky and are un siting-room he said. "Stude
dutles at once,
He then apologised for the wards that his machine had stil manages cook, and she left after a row down, won't you?" he said. "I'
absence of a refrigerator, well,"
saldi electric the
an caught are, and he had been somehow to carry on) where I
with the nurse, O Lord, I for- go and hunt up Philippa.
sweeper and various badly burned all down that side had so often interviewed exact-
"though if you are tired, I dare other things, which he had "not before they were able to drag got the nurse. That makes ing cooks, incompetent lady-ve."
The roon, which was pleasant say Nurse would make tea for yet succeeded in affording," and him out. By some miracle he helps, untrained young women
though shabbily furnished, and us. Mrs Hutchinson only comes showed me
whore the table- had kept the sight of bath eyes. with lipstick and a high value said I armly, that must be looked out upon a mixed kind of
greably filed with
flowers, in the mornings,”
linen was kept
but the left side of his mouthi for themselves, and daily char- considered, too.
I replied that I felt perfectly They are garden.
I remarked that he was ad- had acquired a permanent twist ladies reluctantly
Vegetables and fruit- capable of making tea, and she prepared 10 cellent women, but they make troes
was disconcerting-you were Banked by her- drifted I noted that, as mirably domesticated. This sim which
away. I
tili oblige.
work"
beceous borders running down tar na
as household duties were pla picasantry seemed to dis- found it difficult to tell, So we considered the nurse, to a terred fonce at the end, concerned, Mrs Denne appeared concert him. He mumbled that you came to know him, whether Finally he said:
wife had been in poor health curtain where n
he was smiling or meeting. of glant con-
a passenger in the boat for a long time, and his neice 10 be "You will be looked on as volvulus, dropping over a mass
and resolved that Nurse Cutler wasn't much given that way- one of the family, of course.” of mallow and foxglove, borage should never, if I could help it, At that moment an acid voice
SAID I should much
aug be asked to put herself out on somewhere outelde inquired only prefer rosebay willow-herb, to be looked on as a cooks- nested that Miss Barraslow dad
my account.
"well has the new plainly, not yet got round to the task
RETURNING with admirable this corner of the punctuality at the expira- somebody else sald,
incompetent arrived?" with you of civilising
abd "Shush!" said he, "but that's estate.
Neither, I was glad to see, had on of the half-hour, Mrs Deane My Carringford, with what I was told to tell you.”
an air from the led me to the kitchen, which between embarrassment. Hallering Old Rectory was she as jet ejected
the old sweet-scented was roomy, though rather dark, relief, said, "Oh, dear! that's the kind of house which you borders
a gas-stove, re- Trent," and escaped, shutting I refuse and contained might call an off-white cle- Provence roses (which
to call cabbage-roses in spite of markably dirty, and a dresser the door very firmly behind him, phant: too large for a a private to
etraotically piled with crockery before 1 could ask whether I and 100 small for an
an tuhat Shakespeare Wys) 14
favour of those corseted
Only this time I sat on the right side of the table, and was offering my wares upon a sellers' market. It was new and en joyable.
AS not without sympathy
10
for the would-be employers housekean't agree
1 turned down-after all, I had been there myself. sounded just like
own my only duller; suburban home, and I wanted
The Д change. more money, outings, sitting- rooms, gadgets and TV they offered, the more dificult
But it all more
-
titution to run nichts varieties which
to be
vehicni
are all
modern shape
myself becoming. It was
old enough core quite a stimulating old change when the procession of and not old enough to be pic and no smell. I was gazing out was inter- turesque; half a mile from of the window, thinking that it distracted females
looked rather pleasant In one diree all Hallering village in ripted by a distracted middle-
sunshine, when а aged man, who began with re-
tion, a mile from Thorne rall summer way station in the other,
woman's voice said just behind and freshing candour:
about five minutes' panting.
"Good afternoon, Mra Merton. walk uphill from પ bus-roulo which functioned,
I'm Philippa Deane." father Le
WAS stupidly startled, gularly, every two hours.
It' wan bullt NO DOGS
of grey
In cause she had come in stone, a Equare, uncompromising quietly as a ghost, and when I
and
wag surrounded on turned to face her I was startled GOOD afternoon, Mrs-um-ak- shape,
Merion, I'm afraid "I am on three sides by an acre or so of again, though in rather a differ-
It ent way. father overgrown garden. front windows looked out, over
NO CHILDREN
the
ઘણીવ
2010 g
sole
مثلة
Case
be:
33
of
an absolutely hopeless errand,
a She was about 28, I suppose I'm trying to And 4 cook-house- keeper for a family of four in rough lawn, to a plece of broken a slender, elegant body, vory dressed fr a figured depths of the country. In wall and a porch which were the simply
of Hallering Old black and grey frock, moving. sole remains ex-R.A.F. nephew Church
with
effortless jame, ich, niece and self:
The "New Church-an un- flowing water, and surmounted, no children, no dogs, no enter attractive specimen of Victorian as it awum out of the shadows taining, no town within miles, Gothic had been erected at the of the room, by a beautiful and no neighbours, no mod-con. Don't suppose you'd look at it far end of the village, whither, perfectly, expressionless mask.
some time in the present century, It was a face from which all the Rector had thankfully pur- life and apop sold that I could not pos- sued it, and there settled down tanelly
consider outdoor saniin sued it,
17 # pleasant reconditioned to have boom cottage of manageable size.
for a moment."
I
laughod. • "It isn't as bad
SOCINOD
drained out
Marcus Carringford, who met me at the station in a pre-wor
A the word-deli- serately withdrawn.
zo, that is not
and
as "that, Company's water, elecs tricity and some rather, inferior car-solld as to the engine, but Local- par! And there's a village battered as to the coachwork muthlessly of sorts-only there's nothing to explained all this rather upblo- do in it.
I mean, no cute to rattled up the drive.
no gelically as we chirped" and
I said: If I shops, and nowhere
"We've only had it about 18 have feelings get one's perm set. Of course,"
added, more cheerfully, months, and it's still in a bit of
you shall never
proper
My could always run you over to Kilchester
"I informed him that my hair wayed naturally.
grinned alsarmingly. *667: "Doct
Congratulationa. As our daily says, it looks almost as good as, driificial."
ibat
grin
a mess. It had been empty for
I don't know how long. Joy!" ese what they
The last word, was not an ex- plosion of thanksgiving but a
are. The im- pression of đầu
loudly bollowed atommons, which termino d Inought out trom behind, this secrecy stamp- shrubbery to hefty young blonde, ed on mouth
breeches.
and forehead
somehow Was I noted the presence of the HIS ↳ Joy. Barnslow, who "daily," And I think it was ut is nobly endeavouring to enhanood
moment I fell for it. That make our widerners blossom, the dark, shin- out of the top drawer. Joy, behold Mra Merton, the ing baik, matt- come
white skin, Also, la cuing out in for conclue of my bout and tion that Mr Carringford was a You'll find the hens in the boot." and the dark
artish
had commercial
Talar explazod various you in which iris could Illustrated a lot of stories, d squawkings which had accom the road in merezines. I vormember buried our prostor, and which I councely be dis something inguished from
the pupil. ware lively and gfull of Dimonds, wrong with the springe.
and
his
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