(9/13)The School at Thrush Green Read Online Free PDF

for his car. Isobel and Harold waved him off.
    'What's worrying the dear old boy?' asked Isobel.
    'He has just over fifty pounds in the tobacco tin he keeps the Thrush Green Church upkeep money in, and his accounts say he should have just over five hundred.'
    'That's worrying!'
    'Not with Charles's arithmetic. He never has been any good with noughts. I'll soon sort it out.'
    Over lunch, Isobel told him about Betty's disclosure.
    'It seems so odd. Not that I've seen a great deal of Agnes and Dorothy, but I did have a natter over the hedge recently and I'm sure Agnes would have told me.'
    'Probably forgot,' said Harold equably. 'You'll know soon enough.'

    It seemed that almost everyone knew about the ladies' retirement plans, other than Isobel.
    Not that Agnes had told anyone, for she still felt obliged to keep silent about things until Dorothy deemed otherwise.
    It was some shock to her, therefore, when three of her young charges, four mothers, Betty Bell, the milkman and Mr Jones the publican mentioned the subject all in the course of one day.
    She mentioned the matter to Dorothy that evening.
    'Oh yes!' said that lady carelessly. 'I did tell the office, of course, and I believe I mentioned it to Betty Bell a day or two ago. No harm done, is there?'
    'Well, no, I suppose not,' said Agnes doubtfully, 'but I have been particularly careful to say nothing. Not even to Isobel,' she added.
    It was plain that she was upset, and Dorothy was quick to apologise.
    'It was thoughtless of me, and I should have realised how the news goes through this place like a bush fire. I really am deeply sorry, Agnes dear. I had no idea that it was putting you into an awkward position. Anyway, it's now common knowledge that we are retiring in the summer, so we can be quite open about it.'
    Agnes smiled her forgiveness. 'I will have a word with Isobel when I see her,' she said. 'I shouldn't like her to hear our news from somebody else first.'
    'Why not telephone now?' suggested her friend. 'The sooner the better. After all, she may well be told by someone else very soon.'
    If not already, she said to herself, watching Agnes roll up her knitting before going to the telephone.
    Really, it was exasperating! Was anything private in a village? And would Barton-on-Sea be equally enthralled by its neighbours' affairs?
    Time alone would tell.

    Luckily for Charles Henstock, Dimity too had been delayed, so that he was not late for his meal.
    'And how are the Lovelock girls?' he enquired, using the usual Lulling euphemism for the three ancient sisters.
    'Worried about help in the house,' answered Dimity. 'Well, perhaps not so much the help as having to pay for it.'
    'Have they advertised?'
    'No, I don't think so. But they've asked Nelly Piggott and they are wondering if The Fuchsia Bush would put a postcard in the window.'
    Charles, who could not help thinking that both these aids would cost nothing, dismissed the thought as unworthy and uncharitable, and forbore to comment.
    'They told me, by the way,' went on his wife, 'that Miss Watson and Miss Fogerty are retiring at the end of the school year.'
    'Then we must start thinking about some little celebration to mark the occasion. I mean,' he added, feeling that this could have been better expressed, 'they have both been so much respected and admired all these years, that I'm sure Thrush Green will want to honour them in some way.'
    'A sort of bunfight and presentation of a clock?'
    'Well, something like that,' agreed Charles, feeling that perhaps dear Dimity had over-simplified the matter to the point of banality. 'We shall have to consult various people and come up with something suitable.'
    'I should ask them what they would like,' said Dimity, always practical. 'You know how difficult it is to find houseroom for some of those presents you've been given over the years. I mean, who wants a silver inkstand with cut-glass inkwells these days? And that black marble clock like the Parthenon has to be kept in the