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the top of the hill, that’s what. But now and again I like to keep my eye on things, otherwise you get taken for granted, and as a matter of fact I want a shilling postal order if you please.’ While Miss Maltravers was looking for it in her book, Lally said, really quite loudly in front of two or three people we didn’t even know, ‘Mr Wilde, by the by, that Cheddar you sent up with the children last week was dry as dry. Australian, I shouldn’t wonder, and made the journey all the way on the open deck by the look of it, and you know we always take English. So next time you haven’t got it in, send up a nice piece of Leicester, will you. No fobbing off, Mr Wilde.’ And he looked a bit grumpy and said he was very sorry he was sure. And then, looking up at the ceiling of the shop which was hung with legs of ham, kettles and lids, saucepans, wooden spoons in bundles and tin mugs with
Poland
printed on their bottoms, as well as lots of flypapers on account of all the flies and wasps which buzzed about because of the sugar and currants in the big wooden drawers behind the counter, Lally said, ‘I wonder if you have such a thing as a pair of plimsolls as’ll fit this young gentleman here.’ She put her hand on Brian Thing’s head to show she didn’t mean me. And Mr Wilde, who was wrapping up some bacon which he’d just sliced, said yes, he thought so, and they were ninepence ha’ penny a pair.What was funny was that she paid for them out of her own purse and not the housekeeping one, which was different and had a handle. It didn’t leave very much in it, because when she paid Miss Maltravers for the postal order she did it with a sixpence and some coppers, and when she shook her little purse nothing rattled in it.
    Anyway, Brian Thing got his plimsolls, which were better than his lace-ups in the country, and he seemed very pleased and asked if he could carry the red and black shopping-bag. That was really my job, but Lally said yes, so I couldn’t say anything because he was a Guest and all. I felt it was a bit Teacher’s Pet sort of thing but remembered about kith and kin and him only having half, if you know what I mean, with a new mother who told him to call her ‘Kathleen’, he said.
    When we got to the long white bridge over the Cuckmere the tide was coming in and there were two swans dobbling about by the far bank with three cygnets, but we didn’t stay looking at them for long because the cob started stretching out his neck and making rather grumpy hissing noises and flapping his wings, and my sister hurried across the bridge and you could hear Brian Thing’s feet going plonk plonk plonk on the wooden boards. At the little bridge over the stream where we used to catch roach sometimes, for Minnehaha our cat, Lally suddenly said, ‘Pouf. But it’s hot! Let’s all have a sit down here in the shade for a couple of ticks. Brian, you can change into your plimsolls, and I’ve got a quarter of Liquorice Ailsorts, who wants one?’
    Brian changed his shoes, and we all had a Liquorice Allsort, but only one because of not spoiling our appetites.And Lally fished about in the red and black bag and took out an envelope and pushed in the postal order; then licked the flap and stuck it down.
    â€˜Now,’ she said, ‘we must get a move on. I’m behind with my work and you’ll get no lunch this morning if we aren’t quick sharp up the hill.’ She bustled about with her bags and purses and we all clambered up to the main road and had a good look right and left, because you never knew if there was a motor car coming or not, although there hardly ever was.
    Then we all ran very quickly across the main road to the little iron gate by the barn which led into Great Meadow and all sort of collided and Lally said, ‘Drat the thing.’ The envelope fell on the road and I saw that it said ‘Miss Gladys