The House Above the River Read Online Free PDF Page B

the cruise?”
    â€œOh, yes. But they couldn’t afford to take me as well. Obviously.”
    Obviously, Giles thought, they were a selfish pair. He was indignant to learn that they kept the girl at home, where she couldn’t do more than casual jobs for pocket money, instead of letting her get on and earn enough to take herself abroad.
    â€œI’m glad I came,” she said, lowering her voice, and looking significantly at Miriam and back at Giles. “She isn’t a bit well. And Francine doesn’t understand her. Thinks it is just affectation. It isn’t. I know it isn’t.”
    Just affectation. Giles nodded. He found himself wishing the moment was suitable for telling Susan about himself and Miriam. And then he heard the latter’s voice again, saying to Phillipa, “I wish he would go to England, and see a specialist. This Paris man is supposed to be first-rate, but the French never give me the same confidence. Do you know what I mean?”
    â€œI have never been ill in France,” said Phillipa.
    â€œLucky you. Henry has the most fantastic things to take, all according to an elaborate plan. I think most of it is mumbo-jumbo.”
    â€œNot entirely,” said Henry. He had been showing Tony some old maps of the Brittany coast-line, which he had taken from a high shelf on the other side of the library, but he had evidently heard his wife’s remark.
    â€œNot entirely,” he repeated, coming back towards the group near the window. “These new drugs, cortisone, and so on, are very up to date and they need careful handling. One is given them for a limited period at a time. The point is, they work. Temporarily, at all events.”
    â€œFrancine agrees with me that it’s probably all bunkum. If your disc has slipped they ought to put it back. She always says so.”
    â€œFrancine is an ignorant old woman, and as superstitious as they come.”
    â€œShe adores you, and she’s bitterly disappointed you won’t drink her own filthy concoctions.”
    The tone of these exchanges was light, suitably flippant, but there was an edge to both their voices that silenced all the others.
    Giles made a show of looking at his watch.
    â€œI’m afraid we really must make tracks, now,” he said, heartily. “There are several jobs we have to do on board before we leave this part of the river.”
    Phillipa jumped up, a trifle too readily, gathering together her shopping bag and the milk can.
    â€œI must get going on my lunch,” she said. “I’ve got the most marvellous food in here. Oysters, fillet steak, peaches.”
    â€œCome on,” said Tony. “I can’t wait.”
    They thanked their hosts and moved towards the door.
    â€œSee you this afternoon,” said Giles to Susan. “We shall go up river to Tréguier on the tide about six. But come along earlier for tea. O.K?”
    The girl hesitated, looking round for Miriam. But the latter was at the door, moving through it with Phillipa.
    â€œI’ll expect you,” Giles urged.
    â€œI’ll come if I can,” she answered. He left her standing near the window, smiling at him, the sun bright on her hair.
    Giles strode rapidly ahead down the path through the woods. Behind him Tony and Phillipa were delayed by Henry, who insisted, after all, upon coming with them to the landing-stage, and who kept stopping to point out some tree or shrub worthy of notice.
    Giles was impatient to get back to the seclusion of his boat. His thoughts, if not his feelings, were in turmoil. He wanted only to find some simple job to do on deck, where he could allow the peace of his surroundings to sort out and subdue the disturbance.
    He was aghast, therefore, when he came round a corner of the path through the trees, to see Miriam, standing at the junction of yet another track with the main way down the hill.
    â€œI had to speak to you, Giles,” she said, breathlessly,