about it.”
“I won’t have Therèse lugging buckets of boiling water about the place.”
“I don’t care who does it,” said Berry, “so long as it’s done. After all, what does it mean? Four or five buckets of water, twice a day.”
“Don’t be a fool,” said Daphne. “Eugène has his work cut out to cook our food on that stove. He can’t boil bathing-pools.”
“I see,” said her husband, coldly, “no need for blasphemy.”
“I think it’s clear,” said Jonah, “that we should have a supplementary supply. I suggest a power-plug in the bathroom, and, plugged into that, a hot plate. On this, a vast receptacle, such as a lessiveuse , can constantly stand. In the morning, as in the evening, the water will be boiling – or very near. Electricity’s dirt cheap here, so why not install the thing? Carson can do it this evening. We can get the stuff in Pau. I’ve got to go into Pau, to pick Carson up. I can get a plate and a plug and the rest of the stuff. And Carson can install the contraption this afternoon.”
“‘The Gordian knot of it,’” said Berry, “‘he will unloose.’ And how does the b-bather transfer the b-boiling water from the receptacle to the b-bath?”
“By means of a saucepan,” said Jonah. “Don’t spill it upon your feet.”
“I think,” said Berry, “Therèse should prepare my bath. I mean, I’m not used to ladling molten lead. And, if any did miscarry – well, think of the waste. And what are we doing today? A stroll towards Besse would suit me down to the socks.”
Jill cupped her chin in her palms.
“You’re coming down to the torrent – the Columbine. Boy’s going in with Jonah, and Daphne’s got letters to write. So you must come.”
“My sweet,” said Berry, “we can see the swine from the bridge. From that convenient—”
“It’s much bigger, lower down, because of the falls. Besides, a bridge is like tourists. I want to stand by its side. I’ve always wanted to, but we’ve never had time.”
My brother-in-law swallowed.
“Don’t you think,” he said, “the first day we’d better stick to the roads?”
“No,” said Jill. “Besides, we must get into training. Tomorrow we’re going up Evergreen. Right to the top. Therèse says there’s quite a good path, if you don’t look down.”
As soon as he could speak—
“What, up this mountain?” cried Berry. He laughed wildly. “You must be mad. Besides, my doctors wouldn’t hear of it. And I wish you wouldn’t say these things. I was going to have a third egg, but I don’t seem to fancy it now.”
I put in my oar.
“Up and down Evergreen is considered an afternoon’s stroll. But I’ve heard that, once you’re up there, you can walk to the Col de Fer. All the way…on the mountain-tops. I don’t know how true it is. Of course, that’s a day’s excursion.”
“What’s the matter with you,” said Berry. “This isn’t The Psalms. You can’t go prancing about a lot of mountain-tops. They’re not meant to be pranced on. They’re meant to be surveyed.”
“I shan’t rest till we’ve done it,” said Jill. “D’you really mean that we don’t have to come down?”
“So I’m told,” said I. “Beautiful going, they say – like an English heath.”
“But how gorgeous!” said Berry. “Well, you go on and do it: and I’ll come up to the Col and meet you by road. I can pilot the ambulance – for those who finish the stretch. The vultures’ll look after the others. Remember that day we saw them helping a sheep?”
“You filthy brute,” said Daphne.
“As a punishment,” said I, “he shall bear the beer. I’ll get a rucksack today. Once it’s adjusted, they say you don’t feel the weight. Besides, it leaves the hands free for carrying other things.”
Berry appeared to be communing with himself.
Ten minutes later, I was by Jonah’s side, and the Rolls was whipping through Lally and heading for Pau.
We had picked up Carson and had done our
Patria L. Dunn (Patria Dunn-Rowe)