(8/13) At Home in Thrush Green by Miss Read Page A

there is no need. I shall be all right. I'm meeting Kathleen at the hospital, so I shall know more then.'
    'Did she get your card?' Agnes asked.
    'She did indeed, and sounded very gratified. In fact, she said if it hadn't been for my kind message she wouldn't have liked to worry me about Ray's accident.'
    'Now, isn't that nice!' cried little Miss Fogerty, aglow with noble feelings.
    Dorothy gave one of her resounding snorts.
    'I'm beginning to wonder,' she said.

5 The Longest Day
    NELLY Piggott, hurrying to work on the Saturday morning, remembered that today was the longest day of the year.
    'June nearly on its way out,' thought Nelly, 'and them blankets not washed yet for the winter. Not that Albert'd notice.'
    As she reached the bottom of the hill she noticed Miss Watson, stick in one hand, and a crocodile-skin handbag in the other, waiting to cross the road. Why was she out so early, wondered Nelly? Looked very smart too. A wedding perhaps?
    Although she was not averse to making the occasional derisive remark about her two schoolteacher neighbours, secretly Nelly felt great respect for them. The school which Nelly had attended as a child, put discipline at the head of its priorities.
    None of the staff could have held a candle to Dotty Harmer's tyrant of a father, but nevertheless due respect to teachers by pupils was expected, and punishment was severe if it was not forthcoming. Nelly herself could remember standing on her chair, a figure of shame before her contemporaries, enduring the while the lash of her teacher's tongue.
    'Good morning, Miss Watson,' she said deferentially.
    'Ah! Good morning, Mrs Piggott,' replied Dorothy. 'Are we in for a fine day, do you think?'
    'I hope so. I only do the morning at The Fuchsia Bush on a Saturday, and I thought I might wash a few blankets this afternoon.'
    Dorothy nodded vaguely. She had never washed a blanket in her life. Surely one would need something bigger than the sink for that? Luckily, the laundry took care of their blankets.
    Nelly slackened her pace, to keep in step with her companion.
    'Please don't let me hold you up,' said Dorothy. 'I'm rather slow these days.'
    'No hurry for me now, we're nearly there,' Nelly assured her.
    'I'm catching the coach,' said Dorothy. 'Rather bad news about my brother.'
    Nelly was agog. A little drama is always welcome.
    'I'm sorry to hear that.'
    'A car accident. I don't think he is badly hurt, but I'm going to the hospital to make sure.'
    'Oh, of course! Blood's thicker than water, I always say. Have you got far to go?'
    'No; it's one of the London hospitals. I can visit any time this afternoon.'
    'Then you'll be in nice time,' commented Nelly, wondering why Miss Watson should be making such an early start.
    As if reading her thoughts, Dorothy replied.
    'I propose to do a little shopping while I'm in town. Selfridge's and John Lewis's are so satisfactory.'
    They were now at the coach stop outside The Fuchsia Bush.
    'Well, I hope you find your brother pretty well,' said Nelly politely, and departed to her day's work.
    Really a very nice woman, thought Dorothy, watching her go. Not many of that calibre about these days. Hard-working, well-mannered, kindly – Albert hardly deserved anyone so worthwhile.
    On the other hand, of course, one had heard things about Nelly's moral standards.
    But before she could dwell on the baser and more interesting side of Nelly's character, the coach arrived, mercifully half empty, and Miss Watson mounted the steps to choose her seat for the journey.

    Winnie Bailey had had a troubled night after her encounter with Richard. She did not regret her refusal to take on Fenella and her two children, but she was annoyed with Richard for suggesting it.
    And yet she was fond of her nephew, despite his irritating ways, and hoped that he would not have a prolonged fit of the sulks, and cut her out of his life. She was getting too old to cope with harboured grudges, and would like to see Richard, and his wife and