Dorothy Eden Read Online Free PDF Page A

away in a hurry, throwing things into a bag. Where had she gone?
    All at once Alice remembered the calendar with the scribbled notes on it, and a thought occurred to her. If Camilla made notes to jog her memory perhaps there would be notes for the future, too.
    She went out to the kitchen and groped on the mantelpiece where she had put the calendar. She couldn’t feel it, and finally stood on a chair to look at the accumulated debris, matchboxes, cigarettes, old letters and dust on the high mantelpiece. It was then that she saw the envelope addressed in large printing to herself.
    How silly! Here was the answer to the problem all the time and she hadn’t known. Camilla might have put it in a more conspicuous spot, of course. Probably she had, and it had slipped down, or the magpie, in his short flights, had knocked it over.
    She tore open the envelope and extracted the note. It, too, was written in large printing, the kind Camilla probably taught her pupils in school.
    DEAR ALICE,
    I AM BEING MARRIED. ISN’T IT A SCREAM! IT’S ALL VERY SECRET AND HUSH HUSH BECAUSE WE DON`T WANT A FUSS. SORRY NOT TO BE THERE WHEN YOU ARRIVED, BUT THIS IS THE WAY THINGS HAVE SUDDENLY HAPPENED. HE WON’T LISTEN TO ANYTHING BUT RUSHING ME TO THE ALTAR. THE WISE MAN DOESN’T TRUST ME! I JUST HADN’T TIME TO DO A THING. WE’RE CATCHING A PLANE TOMORROW. HE HAS BOOKINGS HE CAN’T MISS, I’M IN A DITHER. I CAN’T MAKE SENSE. BUT YOU’LL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN. I’LL SEND FOR THB REST OF MY CLOTHES LATER. I AM GLORIOUSLY HAPPY.
    LOVE,
    CAMILLA.

3
    W ITH THE PROBLEM OF Camilla’s disappearance at last solved, Alice slept. She was awakened in the morning by the now familiar sound, a hammering on the door. She scrambled into a housecoat and slippers, hastily smoothed her hair, and went to open the door.
    Felix stood there. He had on his uniform, and beyond him at the gate stood the bus, his odd new stage property, with its engine running.
    ‘Just on my way,’ he said. ‘Can’t stop. Any news of Camilla?’
    ‘Yes. She’s gone off to get married.’
    ‘No!’ His lean face was quite still. ‘How do you know?’
    ‘There was a letter for me on the mantelpiece. I didn’t find it until late. Wait, I’ll show it to you.’
    She watched as he read the letter. At the end his brows drew together. He handed it back.
    ‘I don’t believe it,’ he said flatly. ‘Anyone could print that. Couldn’t they?’
    Before she could produce her confused thoughts he had turned to go down the path, calling over his shoulder, ‘Don’t go away. I’ll see you tomorrow night and we’ll talk.’
    She noticed passengers peering out of the bus at the young woman in a housecoat with whom the driver was so audibly making a date. If only they knew the date was merely to talk about another woman! Though even that was better, as things were, than talking about themselves.
    Then, as the bus moved away, Alice thought, Poor Felix! He’s going to drive all the way to Hokitika convincing himself that Camilla is just having a joke on us. Suddenly she thought, I hope he doesn’t have an accident, and was surprised at the sharpness of her worry for someone whom she had ceased to love.
    She had time, as the bus disappeared down the narrow curving road, to realize that it was a beautiful morning. The sky was a clear and perfect blue over the luxuriant green of the bush. Through a clearing in the trees the snowpeaks were visible, and, in one incredible stream, the glacier plunged seemingly into the heart of the bush foliage. A few wisps of cloud clung round the peaks, otherwise the rain had left no sign in the shining sky.
    The trees were full of movement. The soft cooing gurgling sound of wood-pigeons filled the air. A black-and-white fantail flirted daintily on a branch. Webster, the tame magpie, had appeared round the side of the house and, stretching his throat, emitted a high sweet call.
    ‘So you’re going to sing to me this morning instead of give me dire