She was holding back something.
"You haven't attended to these roses lately," he said, observing that
the flowers had not been changed and that their fallen petals strewed
the tables. "They looked so fresh when I was here alone the other day."
"What a dreadful person you are, Tommy, for noticing things. First you
discover my headache, and now those flowers! I see I shall have to be
careful with you. Perhaps you would like to look at my precipice and
tell me if there is anything wrong with that too? You have heard of the
old French lady, I daresay. She ended, you know, in not approving of it
at all. We can have tea when we come back. And after that perhaps you
will let me know what is wrong with baby?"
"I can tell you that without looking at him. He is teething."
"Clever boy! As a matter of fact, he isn't. But I had to make some
excuse to the dear Duchess."
They climbed up the short slope and found themselves looking towards
the sea over the face of a dizzy cliff. A falcon, on their approach,
started with rustle of wings from its ledge and then swayed crazily
over the abyss.
Pages:
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310