(6/13) Gossip from Thrush Green (21 page)

'Flossie, my girl,' she told her, 'we're in a fine old pickle this morning.'

Surprisingly enough, Dotty submitted to all the plans made for her with unaccustomed docility. John Lovell gave the two friends and Flossie a lift back to Lulling Woods and left them there to pack a bag for Dotty while he continued on his rounds.

Ella had expected a spate of instructions about food for the animals, and her own domestic arrangements, but Dotty scarcely said a word. She gave Ella directions about where to find clean nightgowns, a sponge bag, soap and so on in a weak voice, but seemed content to let her do the work.

It was as if she had had quite enough of present problems and was already drifting into oblivion. Ella had never seen anyone in such a state of exhaustion, and was very much alarmed. It was a great relief when a car from the hospital arrived and she could get into it with the patient.

A cheerful nurse, whose face seemed vaguely familiar to Ella, took charge of Dotty, and said that Ella could see her at any time. This sounded ominous to Ella, who knew little about modern hospital methods. She had a confused idea that only those at the point of death were allowed visitors. Surely, one had to come between two and four, or six or seven, and then only with one other person at the bedside?

She kissed Dotty goodbye, and wandered out into Lulling High Street. Where on earth had she seen that nurse before?

It was odd to be at large in the town at almost twelve o'clock. She felt shaky, and the thought of the hill up to Thrush Green was a little daunting. She made her way to The Fuchsia Bush to get a cup of coffee, and to rest.

She had not been inside since the new arrangements had been made. It had been redecorated in a hideous shade of plum red which clashed appallingly with the old mauve curtains and made the interior unpleasantly gloomy.

Two waitresses, who had been busy painting their nails, now broke off their conversation, and the taller one advanced reluctantly to Ella's table.

'Just a cup of coffee, please.'

'We don't do coffee after twelve.'

'It isn't twelve yet,' Ella pointed out.

'But it will be by the time I get the coffee,' replied the girl, huffing on her nails to dry the varnish.

Honest wrath began to give Ella back her usual strength.

'If I don't get coffee within three minutes,' she said flatly, 'I shall see the manager immediately.'

'Oh well!' replied the girl, flouncing off, and casting her eyes to heaven as she passed her friend.

The cheek, thought Ella, taking out her tobacco tin and beginning to roll a cigarette with shaking fingers! Bad enough closing this place at tea time and making it look like a third-rate brothel—whatever they looked like - without having chits of girls making a song and dance about fetching a cup of instant when requested.

In the old days there had been some very pleasant waitresses here, thought Ella, blowing out a cloud of acrid smoke.

Ah, that was it, of course! That nice nurse had worked here years ago. No wonder her face was familiar. Some relation of dear old Mrs Jenner's, if she remembered rightly.

The coffee arrived, with only a small amount slopped in the saucer. It was hot and refreshing, and by the time Ella had drunk half of it, she was feeling more herself.

She must buy some meat for Flossie on the way back, and go and collect her at Dotty's and see that the rest of the animals were safe until the evening. As for Dulcie, she must find someone to milk that wretched animal, but at the moment she could not think of anyone brave enough to tackle the brute.

She stubbed out her cigarette, left the exact money on the bill slip—no tip for that young woman today—and went out into the sunshine.

As much refreshed by her little skirmish as by the coffee, Ella set off briskly to tackle the hill, and all that lay before her at Thrush Green.

15. Dotty Faces Facts

W
HILE
Dotty Harmer lay, unusually quiescent, in her bed in the women's ward of Lulling Cottage Hospital, and Ella puffed up the hill to Thrush Green trying to decide if it were better to collect Flossie immediately or after she had eaten an early lunch, her old friend Dimity Henstock was busy discussing household matters with Charles.

'We really must buy more bed linen, Charles. Everything in that line went, as you know, and the July sales will be starting quite soon. I could save quite a lot of money.'

'Well, my dear, you know best, of course, but the insurance people haven't paid out yet, and our bank account is as slender as ever, I fear.'

'I do know that. The thing is that we shall have so much to buy with it. Beds, for instance. I think it would be sensible to have two single beds in the spare room. We've only had the double one there which means larger sheets which are expensive to launder.'

'But only
two
sheets,' pointed out Charles, 'instead of four.'

'Now I come to think of it,' said Dimity, 'Ella has some of my single sheets that I used when I lived there. I left them with her, but I don't think she has used them. Perhaps I could find out.'

'But we can't take Ella's sheets!' protested Charles.

'Strictly speaking, they are mine. Of course, if they are in use I shall leave them for Ella, but it would save me buying quite so many new ones. We shall need new blankets and covers too, of course.'

'Can you get all you want with fifty pounds?' asked Charles, his chubby face puckered with anxiety.

'No, Charles, I'm afraid I couldn't. But I shall spend fifty pounds to the very best advantage, believe me.'

'I know that.'

'If only the insurance people would pay up! Couldn't you write to them, or get Justin Venables to prod them?'

'I really don't like to do that.'

'Well, it's getting rather desperate, you know, Charles. I know we are very happy and comfortable here with Mrs Jenner's things, but we must look ahead to when we have a place of our own.'

The rector sighed.

'We have indeed been blessed. If only we could have a house as warm and light as this, Dimity.'

'And as old and beautiful,' agreed his wife. 'Well, whatever it is it will be lovely to settle in again. I'll call on Ella this afternoon, and find out about the sheets.'

'You won't rob her of them, will you?' pleaded Charles.

'Good heavens! I knew dear old Ella long before I met you, Charles, and you can rest assured that neither of us is going to fall out over a few rather shabby sheets!'

And with that the good rector had to be content.

Dimity set off to walk the half mile or so from Mrs Jenner's to Thrush Green. It was a calm day—'soft weather' as the Irish call it—and there were very few people about.

Dimity enjoyed the peace of it all. She walked slowly, relishing the sounds of the countryside heard so clearly in the still air. A cow lowed in one of Percy Hodge's distant fields on her left. In the high branches of a walnut tree on her right she heard the excited squeaking of what she guessed were some long-tailed tits searching busily for insects, and she stopped by a farm gate to listen to the rare summer sound of a cricket in the grass.

It was all so very soothing, and Dimity's anxieties grew less pressing now that she was in the fresh air and able to enjoy the slower tempo of life about her. She wished that their plans were more definite. Surely they should know by now if a house were planned for the old site, although she was beginning to hope that somewhere else might be found for them. It would be good to make a fresh start. Not that she would ever want to go far from her friends at Thrush Green, but she felt that she could not face the effort needed to supervise the plans for a new abode, nor the delays which were bound to arise.

If only some pleasant place, like Mrs Jenner's, within a mile or so, say, from their old home could be found, how perfect it would be! Both she and Charles were now getting over the first numbing shock of their loss, and were beginning to long for a place of their own. Dimity knew Charles too well to expect him to take any positive action in asserting his needs. He would be content to wait humbly for what the Church provided, secure in his belief that all would be for the best. Dimity, a little less quiescent, was beginning to wonder if some pressure might not be a good thing.

She strolled on, and soon came in sight of Thrush Green. A sturdy figure, leading a spaniel, emerged from the lane which led to Lulling Woods, and Dimity recognised her old friend.

She caught up with her as she crossed the grass towards the home they had once shared.

'I was just coming to see you,' she cried, bending down to pat Flossie. 'How's Dotty?'

And Ella told her the sorry tale.

'Well,' declared Dimity, with unusual firmness, 'it's a blessing in disguise, Ella. She's looked really ill for months now, and won't take any advice. I'm quite relieved to hear that she's being properly looked after for a change.'

'But that's only temporary, Dim, that's what worries me. I think in a way, this trying to adopt a child was her muddle-headed way of having companionship and a bit of help with the work. Honestly, I'm pretty tough, but after clearing up the worst of that kitchen of hers, I was whacked. It wants a complete turn-out from top to bottom, that house of Dotty's, but who is going to take on the responsibility?'

'Do you think the niece might come for a bit when Dotty comes out of hospital?'

'Connie? She might. But she's got a small-holding of her own, I believe. Mind you, they get on pretty well, and Connie's got a good head on her shoulders. I don't think she'd stand any of Dotty's bullying. By the way, did you come for anything special?'

Dimity explained about the bed linen.

'I shall be glad to know they're in use,' replied Ella. 'They've been stored on the top shelf of the airing cupboard ever since you got married. Do them good to see the light of day.'

And you're sure you have enough? Charles is most anxious that we don't take anything away which might be useful.'

'My dear old Dim, I've all my own stuff, and when mother died I inherited hers, including some lovely heavy linen sheets with lace insertion. Perishing cold in the winter, but bliss on a hot summer's night, so have no fear on that score. And incidentally, I have a pair of her rugs up in the loft which I shall never use. Say if you want them when you move into the new place. Heard any more yet?'

Dimity told her how things stood, and how she was beginning to worry about the delay.

'It'll sort itself out,' said Ella, rising. Let's get those sheets down before we forget them. And do you want some blackcurrants? The bushes at the end of the garden are laden.'

'Yes, please. It's Charles's favourite fruit. Nothing so good as blackcurrant tart in the winter.'

'Unless it's dear old rhubarb,' said Ella. Can't think why people turn up their noses at rhubarb. Good for you all the way through, I reckon.'

They were upstairs retrieving Dimity's sheets when Ella looked at her watch.

It's Dulcie I'm worried about. She's due to be milked before evening and I haven't found anyone to do it. I'm damned if I'm going to. Any ideas?'

Arms clutching sheets, Dimity turned her mind to Ella's problem.

'Percy Hodge might do it, I suppose, but he's pretty busy. Let's ring Charles. He might know of someone. He comes across all sorts of interesting bits of knowledge on his parish visiting.'

'And tell him to come down to tea,' said Ella, as her friend dialled. 'You'll need the car to get the sheets home, let alone the blackcurrants.'

Dimity relayed the message and then broached the subject of Dulcie.

'But Albert Piggott once had goats,' said Charles immediately. 'I'm sure I could persuade him to take on a little task like that. He would be delighted to help Dotty, I'm sure.'

Dimity could not feel quite as positive about Albert's delight as her warm-hearted husband, but passed on the good news to Ella.

'God bless Charles!' cried Ella. 'If anyone can persuade Albert to take on extra work then he's the man to do it.'

Charles was as good as his word. He left the car outside Ella's house and walked by the church to Albert's cottage.