(10/13) Friends at Thrush Green Read Online Free PDF

cloth over the kitchen table and whizzing plates upon it.
    'Dunno. Never saw 'em. I was workin'.'
    'Makes a nice change,' commented Nelly, briskly setting cutlery round the table as if she were dealing cards.
    'No need to be sarky,' growled Albert. 'I was down Dotty's. Got better things to do than to poke my nose into other folks' affairs.'
    This lofty attitude was greeted by a snort from his wife.
    'Well, I bet you're the only person on Thrush Green who don't know if they've arrived. I saw a few curtains twitching as I come along just now.'
    She set about poaching a piece of smoked haddock with her usual dexterity, and after it was consumed went to the sink to wash up, while Albert sank exhausted into his chair with the newspaper.
    'I knew a woman,' said Nelly conversationally, 'who never washed a frying-pan after using it for fish. Couldn't face the job.'
    She studied her own wet frying-pan critically.
    'What she do with it then?' enquired Albert, rousing himself.
    'Chucked it out.'
    'You'd better not start that sort of lark, my girl,' warned Albert, asserting himself as a householder.
    'I might yet,' replied Nelly.
    Albert returned to his paper, and Nelly to her thoughts.
    She was perturbed about an incident in the shop that morning, involving Bertha Lovelock. That ancient lady had come in on her own to purchase a small currant loaf, a commodity for which The Fuchsia Bush was justly renowned.
    Nelly had turned to the tray to fetch the loaf, and thought she saw, from the corner of her eye, a scone being transferred from the basket on the counter to Miss Lovelock's coat pocket.
    She said nothing. She could have been mistaken, and she had no idea how many scones should have been in the basket. Some had already been sold by the assistants, and it was impossible to check. In any case, Miss Bertha Lovelock was an old customer and not to be upset.
    She swathed the currant loaf in snowy tissue paper, took the money, wished the old lady a civil good morning and watched her depart. She returned to the kitchen and her pastry-making. Should she question the girls to see if such a thing had happened before? Should she tell Mrs Peters of the incident? Had there really been an incident?
    Flouring the pastry board and wielding her rolling pin, Nelly began to grow calmer. Let the old dear have the benefit of the doubt this time. It might never happen again, and least said soonest mended. No point in alarming Mrs Peters and the girls over one scone. Nevertheless, Nelly determined to keep a sharp eye on the Lovelock sisters, and Miss Bertha in particular.

    Meanwhile at the Shoosmiths', Ella Bembridge had wished the visitors goodbye, invited them to call at any time, and stumped homeward.
    'Would you mind very much if we stretched our legs after our drive?' enquired Dorothy. 'That is, after we've helped you wash up these tea things.'
    Isobel refused to countenance their presence in the kitchen, and gave her blessing to the proposed walk.
    The two ladies naturally looked first at their old school: the playground was empty, the doors and windows shut, but all looked neat and clean, and geraniums had been planted in new window boxes.
    'It looks very well cared for,' said Agnes. 'I wish we could go in. I wonder if the fish tank is still kept in my room.'
    'Most probably,' said Dorothy, moving along to study the outside of the empty school house.
    'I must say,' she continued, 'that it is very sad to see the state of our garden. Those roses should have been pruned, and I can't see any mower getting over the lawn if it is left much longer.'

    Agnes could hardly bear to look at her old home. Here she had been so happy; here she had spent years of companionship with Dorothy, and had met so many pupils, parents and friends.
    'Let's stroll along the road towards Nidden,' she suggested. 'The evening's so lovely.'
    'I must say,' said Dorothy a little later, 'that the air here is better than at Barton. I know we have the sea now, but there is something so