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

family, as she had said.
    Well, time would show, she thought philosophically, putting out the milk bottles on the front step.
    John Lovell, on his way to morning surgery, hurried across to speak to her.
    'Did you ever find that farm, John?' she asked him.
    'After a false start or two. The fir tree's gone now, but the house is still there, and the farm buildings, though everything's a bit run down.'
    'Who lives there now?'
    'At Trotters? Leys Farm, I mean.'
    'Yes. Which do they call it, by the way?'
    'Leys Farm. Though an old boy on the road knew it as Trotters, as you do.'
    'Nice family?'
    'Two middle-aged brothers, and a youngster, a nephew, I gathered. It was he who was groggy. Some tummy bug or other. Violent D. and V. but he had responded well to antibiotics when I called again, so I shan't need to make another visit, unless they ring.'
    'No women?'
    'Not in evidence. They looked a pretty scruffy lot, despite half a dozen expensive-looking cars in the yard. How are things with you?'
    'Fine, John.'
    She was half-inclined to tell him of Richard's visit, but already a few patients were entering his waiting room, and Winnie, as a doctor's wife, knew better than to keep him from his work.
    She might tell him later, she decided, watching him cross to the surgery. Perhaps she might feel less worried about the affair as time passed.

    Downhill at Lulling, the rector decided to take advantage of the sunshine to walk along the tow path of the River Pleshey.
    The exercise would do him good, Dimity told him, as she set about preparing a lamb casserole.
    'And it might clear my brain,' added Charles. 'Tomorrow's sermon doesn't read very well, I must admit. Perhaps I shall get some flashes of inspiration.'
    He always enjoyed this quiet pathway. The willows shimmered their grey green leaves above the water. Their rustling, and the river's rippling, made a tranquil background to the rector's thoughts, and he walked rather farther than he first intended, until he found himself within sight of the cottage which had once belonged to the water keeper, and now housed his old friend Tom Hardy and his equally ancient dog, Polly.
    He decided to call on them, and crossed the wooden footbridge to the house. As was his wont, he went to the back door, and there discovered Tom chopping up wood on the doorstep. Polly was lying nearby in the sun, but came to greet him, tail wagging.
    'She remembers you, sir,' said Tom, straightening his back slowly. 'This is a nice surprise, I must say. Come into the kitchen.'

    A bench stood against the wall, hard by the back door.
    'Let's sit here,' said the rector. 'Too good to go inside.'
    The old man sat down heavily with a sigh.
    'Who'd have thought choppin' a few sticks would wind you? It does though.'
    'Do you need them in this weather?'
    'Well, no. I don't light my kitchen stove much come the summer, but I suppose it's going most of the year, and I likes to have plenty of firing put by.'
    'It must make quite a bit of work, Tom. Clearing out the ashes and so on.'
    'Ah! But it's company. And the kettle's always on, and the oven stays nice and hot. I puts in a chop, or some sausages in a little old tin, and a rice pudden for afters. That cooks lovely that old stove, and in the evening I opens the little door, and Poll and me enjoys the firelight and the warmth on us.'
    Charles Henstock recalled the massive black hod which held the fuel for Tom's stove, and wondered how he could lift it nowadays. He had never completely regained his strength after his sojourn in the local hospital, when Polly had been a welcome guest at Lulling Vicarage in her master's absence.
    'Do you get anybody to help you in the house?' asked Charles.
    'Well, my good neighbour comes now and again, but she's a busy soul. But that reminds me, sir, she brought a form for me to write on to see if I could have a home help once or twice a week.'
    'That's a splendid idea.'
    'Yes, I's'pose so. But I'm no hand at forms. Would you be so good as to help