Wait For the Dawn Read Online Free PDF

was swiftly disillusioned, for he was almost the first person she saw. He was standing on a stepladder, replacing some items on a shelf above his head. As Lydia entered he turned to her with the attention that he would give to any new customer, but then, seeing who it was, beamed broadly.
    ‘Well,’ he said, ‘if it isn’t Miss Halley come to see how we’re getting on.’ Quickly he climbed down from the steps. There were other customers in the shop, being served by the assistants, but Mr Canbrook gave his attention solely to Lydia. ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’ he murmured. ‘Have you just come to see me, or are you going to disappoint me by saying you only want to buy something?’
    Lydia smiled uncertainly at the man. ‘Hello, Mr Canbrook,’ she said. ‘I’ve come to buy some collars from you, if I may.’
    ‘Ah, well,’ he sighed, smiling, ‘at least you’re here, that’s the important thing. Collars, is it?’
    Lydia said, ‘I want half a dozen for my father. He takes size fifteen and a half.’
    ‘It shall be done.’ So saying, Mr Canbrook turned to a young man, who, having just finished serving a customer, now stood behind the counter, folding linen napkins. ‘Mark,’ Mr Canbrook said to him, ‘six standard collars, fifteen and a half, for the young lady here, if you please.’
    The young man at once went to a shelf and drew from it a box. Putting it on the counter he took from it a pile of collars, located those of size fifteen and a half, and counted out six. That done he carefully wrapped them in tissue paper. He gave Lydia the price and she counted it out from her purse and put the coins into his hand.
    ‘There you are,’ said Mr Canbrook, as the young man turned back to his business with the napkins, ‘you’ve got your father’s collars. And where are you going now, may I ask? Back to Capinfell?’
    ‘Not yet,’ Lydia said. ‘I’m to meet my sister from the train.’
    ‘Where is she coming from?’
    ‘Redbury.’
    He nodded. ‘What time is her train due in?’
    ‘Two-thirty.’
    ‘Oh, well, you’ve got lots of time before you need to go to the station. Have you got other errands?’
    ‘Well – no.’
    He beamed, and lowering his voice, said, ‘Then you can have some tea with me, can’t you? You told me you would, the next time you were in Merinville.’
    ‘Well . . .’ she said, and then after a moment’s hesitation. ‘I haven’t got
that
long . . .’
    ‘Oh, but the teashop’s only a few doors along.’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Lydia said, knowing now that she could hardly get out of it. Then, making up her mind, she nodded and smiled. ‘Very well, Mr Canbrook, thank you very much. It would be very nice to have a quick cup of tea if you can spare the time from your business.’
    ‘That’s excellent,’ he said. ‘It’s not too busy this afternoon, and I shan’t be gone long.’ He turned and smiled at his two young male assistants and the middle-aged female, whom Lydia had heard him refer to as Miss Angel. ‘You’ll be all right for ten minutes, won’t you? I’ll only be along at the teashop. One of you can come and get me if you need me.’
    Moments later the man was leading the way out of the shop. As they stepped outside there was a little flurry of movement, and suddenly Mr Canbrook’s dog was there, tail wagging enthusiastically.
    ‘Oh dear,’ said Mr Canbrook with a shake of his head. ‘Sorry, Tinny old boy, but this little jaunt’s not for you.’ The dog looked up at him with mournful eyes. ‘We’re not going anywhere, old chap,’ Mr Canbrook said, ‘so you might as well go on back into the shop.’
    ‘Where did he come from?’ Lydia said.
    ‘He’s got a basket in the back room.’
    ‘Can’t he come with us?’
    ‘Well, I would take him, but there are some people in the teashop who’d frown, so we’d better not.’ He bent and touched the dog on the head. ‘All right, Tinny, go on back into the shop, there’s a good