The Dust That Falls from Dreams Read Online Free PDF

jolly, but he was always mildly anxious and on edge. He used to say: ‘I’d like to get out of this gambling business and actually make something, get into manufacturing properly. Can’t think of anything that someone isn’t already making, though.’ At this time he was saying, ‘Perhaps I can dream up something that might be useful for the war. Boots? Bridles? Bullets? Barrels? Other things beginning with B?’ He did invent and sell several devices designed to improve one’s golf, golf being the great passion of his life. He treated it like a patriotic duty.
    When my father and Ash came into the drawing room, they were both holding a glass of whisky in one hand, and a cigar in the other. Ash never did smoke, and he was letting his go out. Father exhaled a big puff of smoke, and said, ‘Wonderful news. Do you want to hear it?’
    ‘Ooh, yes!’ we all cried, except for Mother, who had a stern habit that she rarely let slip. She was the kind of mother who believed in exposing newborn babies on hillsides. Her favourite adage was ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’.
    ‘Young Ashbridge here has requested my permission to ask forRosie’s hand in marriage,’ said Father, ‘and I have given my consent.’
    My sisters all squealed and applauded, my mother smiled faintly, and I believe I went pale. I could hardly prevent myself from trembling.
    ‘I have asked him to turn Mahommedan and marry all four of you. I begged him to take you all off my hands in one big shebang, but sadly he has eyes only for Rosie. I even advised him against marriage altogether, but he is not to be deterred. What do you say, Rosie bairn?’
    ‘But, Father, he hasn’t even asked me.’
    ‘Come on, old thing,’ said Ash, ‘I asked you when you were twelve. You have a brass curtain ring to prove it.’
    ‘Ask her again!’ cried Sophie. ‘Oh, how impeachably romantic! Come on, Ash. Ask her again!’
    Sophie was my youngest sister. She was sweet, and, until we knew better, we all thought her a bit silly because she muddled up her words very dreadfully sometimes. Mother said, ‘Sophie dear, I think you mean “impeccably”.’
    ‘May I speak to Rosie in private?’ asked Ash, but my sisters wouldn’t allow it. ‘Be a sport,’ said Ottilie.
    ‘Oh, go on, Ash,’ said Christabel.
    ‘What if I say “no”?’ I said.
    ‘That would be exscreamingly hard for poor Ash,’ said Sophie. ‘You know you wouldn’t.’
    ‘Well, Rosie,’ said Ash, ‘what do you say? Will you marry me?’
    I was shaking so hard that I couldn’t control myself. Suddenly I burst into tears and buried my face in my hands.
    ‘I think that means “yes”,’ said Christabel.
    Ash knelt down before me and said, ‘Does it?’ and I nodded. Everyone except Mother danced and capered. Mother paused in her embroidering, and said, ‘My dear, I have always thought of you as a son, and now you will be!’ My three sisters held hands and did an impromptu circle dance. Ash stood up and beheld the mayhem with amusement and affection in his eyes.
    After the merriment had subsided a little, Ash sipped at his whisky, and said, ‘There is something I do have to tell you all.’
    We fell silent, realising that something ominous was about tobe said. Ash cleared his throat and announced, ‘I have enlisted with the Honourable Artillery Company. I feel that I have to go. To do my bit. I wanted to make sure I was really engaged to Rosie before I went.’ He hesitated, and added, ‘And Albert and Sidney have enlisted with me.’
    My father was stunned, but my mother said, ‘Good boy.’ Sophie and Christabel and Ottilie exchanged horrified glances. As for me, I found myself standing up and saying, ‘Of course you have to go,’ but then I ran from the room, startled by the horrible wailing that I knew was coming from me.

4
In Which Ashbridge Attempts to Comfort Rosie
    I ran out after her and found her in the room at the front where the family Bible is. She had collapsed on