Gently with Love Read Online Free PDF

books.’
    ‘She may have done that too. We met by accident.’
    This time Verna’s pause was longer. ‘I don’t like it. Why didn’t she tell me that she had met you – what was so unusual about that?’
    ‘Nothing, probably.’
    ‘She isn’t usually secretive.’
    ‘I expect she has a lot on her mind just now. She certainly seemed nervous. It may be just that she feels a need to be alone for a while.’
    ‘Then why couldn’t she have said so?’
    ‘If she works like Colin she is liable to do a thing on impulse.’
    ‘But suppose she isn’t back by this evening, what in heaven’s name shall I say to Earle?’
    We were interrupted by the pips. I sorted out another coin while Verna lamented peevishly. I fed it in. At the other end I could hear her breathing impatiently.
    ‘Look, George, I’m really worried. I’ve been sitting here getting all sorts of ideas. I was on the point of ringing the police when you called. I was sure it was going to be Anne.’
    I clicked my tongue sympathetically. ‘That’s understandable. But I don’t think I would bother the police just yet, Verna. I’m pretty certain that Anne will turn up before long and she wouldn’t thank you for setting the police on her.’
    ‘Well, she deserves it, that’s all I can say. She must have known how it would upset me. And I really can’t face Earle if she isn’t here. George, you’ll have to come over and help me.’
    I hesitated: this had all the makings of a family row. There was an edge in Verna’s voice that suggested she would not be restrained by any deference to tomorrow’s occasion. Anne had acted rashly: she was going to pay for it. She had betrayed a streak of her father’s nature. Perhaps I owed it to him and to her to be an emotional buffer-stop that evening.
    ‘She loves Earle, you know.’
    ‘What has that got to do with it?’
    ‘I don’t think she’ll be missing when he arrives. And no doubt some time on her own will be good for her. Perhaps we should indulge her for this once.’
    Verna made impatient noises. ‘Can I rely on you or not?’
    ‘I’ll come over as soon as I can.’
    ‘Good,’ she said. And hung up.
    I hung up too, but I lingered a few moments to digest what Verna had told me. I tried to fathom why Anne should have lied to me about having had malaria and fits of weakness. When I had come across her she had been in shock, I had no doubt of that now, and from my observation of her I didn’t think it was because she had just learned some serious news about her health. About that I could hazard a simple conjecture, but it scarcely fitted a state of shock. What I had seen in her eyes was awareness of a crisis that at that moment she was finding insupportable. Had it to do with the quarrel she spoke of? I thought not. The quarrel apparently was a thing of the past, and I suspected that she had only mentioned it to me at all to explain her tears and to allay curiosity. Well, I would have to wait; perhaps that evening would explain the mystery. And meanwhile it was an opportunity to deliver my wedding present, so I went up to my room and rewrapped it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    I FELT NO great urge to arrive at Verna’s and I ate my tea and dressed in leisurely fashion. Then, at seven, I caught the bus, and rode into town with the picture on my knees. The bus dropped me at the bridge. It was another fine evening when all seemed well in the best possible of worlds. I couldn’t help indulging in a few optimistic thoughts as I strolled unhurriedly beside the river. By now Anne must have returned. She would have endured the first flush of Verna’s resentment. There had been explanations and, in tears, mother and daughter had been reconciled. The mystery, if there was one, had been cleared up, and a new and more tender understanding established. Earle had arrived to find Anne radiant. It remained but for me to share their joy.
    So I was smiling when I arrived at the door and pulled the bell to wake melodious