Henrietta Sees It Through Read Online Free PDF

Double Bass had played three loud zooming notes I Pinged once; when one of the cellos turned round and gave me a Look, I Pinged a second time; and at the bit where little Mrs Simpkins began playing inflats instead of sharps, I Pinged for the third and last time. This was correct.
    The Conductor said ‘Good, Triangle!’ and was I proud?
    Always your affectionate Childhood’s Friend,
    H ENRIETTA

 
    Â 
    Â 
    July 15, 1942
    M Y D EAR R OBERT
    When the war started I decided that anything in the way of relaxation and fun would be wrong, and I spent all my spare time weeding. The result of all this well-doing was that the war became a little wheel which went round and round in my head, and Lady B complained that I had got into the habit of frowning.
    â€˜What do you think about when you weed?’ she said to me one day, as she sat and watched me busy among the onions.
    â€˜Well, all down that row I worried about the Linnet, and all down this one I’m worrying about Bill, and for the first three rows I worried about Libya, and for the next two our shipping losses, and——’
    â€˜Stop!’ said Lady B. ‘I am an old woman,’ she went on, ‘and nobody expects me to do more than knit, but I’d never take a knitting needle in my hand again if I couldn’t read at the same time and thus occupy my thoughts.’
    â€˜I wonder if one could read and weed?’ I said.
    â€˜Of course you couldn’t,’ said Lady B. ‘But it’s time you snapped out of all this gloom, Henrietta. I think you’d better enter for the Bowling Tournament.’
    â€˜But I haven’t played bowls since the war began.’
    â€˜That doesn’t matter. I shall enter, too,’ said Lady B recklessly. ‘It will be unfortunate for our partners, but good for their self-control.’
    Lady B and I entered for the Bowling Tournament. She drew the Admiral as her partner, and I drew Colonel Simpkins. Neither Colonel Simpkins nor the Admiral was pleased, but they generously decided to make the best of it. Lady B and I were, of course, delighted when we found we had drawn each other in the first round as opponents.
    â€˜It’s a pity we have to play with four woods instead of two,’ said Lady B, ‘but we can soon trundle them down, and then have a nice chat.’
    We trundled them down, and the people on the rinks on either side brought them back. The Admiral and Colonel Simpkins became rather red in the face, but said nothing.
    â€˜Now they’ve got the whole rink to themselves,’ said Lady B, settling herself comfortably on a seat. ‘I like your shirt, Henrietta. Where did you get it?’
    â€˜I made it out of some of Charles’s old pyjamas. I used the legs for the sleeves.’
    â€˜My dear, how brilliant of you! I often wonder why men wear out the seats of their pyjamas the way they do. The collar’s good.’
    â€˜I lined it.’
    â€˜Just pull up your jersey and let me see the back. Yes, it’s definitely a success. And the colour is delightful. Charles must have looked sweet in it.’
    â€˜He did rather.’
    A shadow fell across our knees, and we looked up to see the Admiral standing before us. ‘Would it be too much to ask you ladies to pay a little attention to the game?’ he said in a shaking voice.
    â€˜Well, Admiral darling,’ said Lady B, ‘our shots were so terribly bad they didn’t really seem worth taking an interest in, if you know what I mean.’
    â€˜And your partners’ play is a matter of indifference to you?’
    â€˜Of
course
not,’ said Lady B, looking a little guilty. ‘But we feel we can leave it all to you and Colonel Simpkins.’
    The Admiral, who admires the Clinging Woman, was slightly mollified by this remark, as Lady B intended he should be. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t care to tell us from time to time which shot lies nearest the