The Land of Summer Read Online Free PDF

since there is no sea whatsoever in my family, but there it is. Now, the luggage? Where is that wretched fellow?’
    On cue a porter arrived with a trolley bearing both the passengers’ luggage, Mrs Winfield’s steamer trunk and four large suitcases taking up most of the space, quite dwarfing Emmaline’s small leather-strapped trunk and one medium-sized case.
    ‘Miss Nesbitt?’ the gentleman with the white flower in his lapel wondered, raising his tall hat. His expression showed no sign of having remarked on anything unusual. ‘Henry Ralph at your service, miss – Mr Aubrey’s works manager. Please leave all your luggage as it is and I shall see to it that it is taken to our carriage. I trust you had a good journey over?’
    Once the niceties had been observed and final farewells exchanged with Mrs Winfield, Emmaline embarked on the third phase of what was turning into an exhausting journey, across London to Paddington under the protection of Mr Ralph.
    * * *
    In the privacy of a suite in a small hotel, two men were closeted in private conference, one standing by the window that looked out over gardens already blanketed in new snow, the other sitting behind a handsome partners’ desk whose top was covered in fine black leather tooled in gold. There were papers in front of the man seated at the desk, papers which were being closely consulted even though practically every word and phrase was known to both the men present.
    The one reading the documents rhythmically tapped the blunt end of his pen on the leather-topped desk while the man at the window slowly smoked an oval Turkish cigarette.
    ‘I fail to understand the delay—’
    ‘There is no delay,’ the man at the desk replied slowly. ‘I am simply checking that everything agreed is implemented by these documents.’
    ‘I think you’re simply delaying the moment, my dear fellow,’ the one at the window sighed. ‘You aren’t going to fail me now, are you? Look on me as having done you a very good turn—’
    ‘No, of course not,’ came the weary response. ‘How can I fail you now? If I fail you I fail everyone. No, no, what must be, must be.’
    ‘It’s all in order. You know that as well as I do. The beagles went over it with fine-tooth combs, as did you, as did I.’
    ‘It is all in order, no question of that.’ The man at the desk carefully cleaned the nib of his pen on a corner of blotting paper preparatory to signing. ‘I think we may proceed to call a witness.’ He rang a bell by the desk and sat back in his chair to wait for the summoned person to appear.
    ‘Remind me when you intend to leave, will you?’ he said, adjusting the immaculate white cuffs on his shirt. ‘Is it still to be next week?’
    ‘I sail for Australia next Friday, yes. By the end of next week I shall be out of your way for good, you will be pleased to hear. Finally out of your hair, think of that.’
    ‘That it should come to this.’ His companion shook his head, then looked up at the man still standing by the window and watched him as he lit a fresh cigarette. The smoker took no notice of the look, even though he could see from the reflection in the glass that he was being observed.
    ‘It’s all right, my dear fellow,’ he said with a smile. ‘I don’t need reminding, and I don’t need a lecture. I know what a bad boy I have been, and I know that without your help … But, my dear fellow, just think. You may well find that it turns out to be the best of all possible eventualities in this best of all possible worlds.’
    They were interrupted by a knock on the door and the appearance of the hotel manager. The man at the desk thanked him for coming up and informed him that they needed him to witness their two signatures on the document that was lying ready on the desk. The manager nodded his assent, duly witnessing the signing.
    ‘I trust everything is to your liking, gentlemen,’ he said as he returned the pen.
    ‘Perfectly satisfactory, thank you,’ the