Faster! Faster! Read Online Free PDF Page A

returned, and gave Sal her case.
    â€œHere you are,” said Sal, handing her the cheques in a little sheaf. “If you’ll give them back to me when they’re signed, I’ll send the lot off to Ingatestone. She’ll be back at the office on Tuesday morning.”
    â€œI shall be there myself on Tuesday,” Claudia said, going to the writing-table. “I’m going up with Sylvia, about her job.”
    â€œWe were just talking of that.”
    â€œDarling,” said Mrs Peel anxiously, “do you really
know
what kind of people poor little Sylviawould be thrown with? You can’t tell very much in one interview, can you?”
    â€œOne interview?” said Claudia, raising her eyebrows. “But it won’t be
my
interview, Mother. It’ll be Sylvia’s. It’s her affair, not mine. She’s going to see them by herself, and to tell me about it afterwards, I hope.”
    â€œI thought you said you were going up to London to see about it.”
    â€œOh no. I’m going up because Sylvia asked me to, and because I’ve got to be at the office.
She’s
going up to see about her job. You know I’ve always made my children take their own decisions.”
    Sal Oliver, for her part, knew that this attitude on the part of her daughter was one that always drove Mrs Peel into a frenzy of fretfulness. It implied a not very obscure reproach to her own entirely dissimilar methods of bringing up her daughters, and it also made clear Claudia’s complete indifference to her mother’s views.
    Claudia sat at her desk and signed cheques clearly and rapidly.
    Mrs Peel rustled—an accomplishment lost to any generation younger than her own—ejaculated, and uttered vexed and discursive sounds and phrases.
    Sal Oliver picked up the newspaper.
    Twenty minutes later Claudia also went out into the garden. A rather curious set of tennis was in progress. Sylvia and Maurice, screaming with laughter, were on one side of the net. On the other, Taffy partnered Quarrendon. Beside her rapid movements and odd, lanky grace he ratherresembled a very slowly-moving battleship. When he did hit a ball, it was with a terrific and ill-directed force that invariably sent it out of the court.
    â€œAre you enjoying yourself?” Claudia called out gaily.
    â€œVery much, thank you. I’m not sure about my partner though.”
    Claudia sat down beside Frances Ladislaw.
    Maurice was serving. His small, intent face was set. When he served a double fault, a not-quite-inaudible stream of maledictions came from behind his clenched teeth.
    â€œHow earnest little boys always are!” said Frances.
    â€œI wish he wouldn’t swear,” Claudia admitted. “Is Quarrendon really all right, do you think?”
    â€œOh yes. He’s enjoying it. The girls are marvellous with him. Oh, well
played!”
cried Frances, indulgently rather than truthfully, as Quarrendon, grasping his racquet with both hands, scooped the ball over the net.
    â€œWell played!” shrieked Taffy and Sylvia.
    Claudia laughed.
    â€œCome and sit in the old place by the stream. Do you remember how we used to take books there, ages ago, when you used to come and stay in the old days?”
    â€œIndeed I do. It’s lovely to find you here again, Claudia.”
    They strolled along, happily discursive.
    â€œDo you remember the frightful clothes we used to wear—high collars and tight waists?”
    â€œAnd hair tied up in two black bows?”
    â€œDo you remember Anna putting up her hair, over a huge pad, for the first time? It was when I stayed with you, and you gave a dance.”
    â€œAnd I was so cross because I wanted to wear a black frock, and mother said it wasn’t good style for a young girl!”
    They laughed.
    â€œLet’s sit here. It’s like old times,” said Frances —happily, though not accurately. “Tell me about Anna. It’s years since