The spirit of jealousy had claimed her, too. Makes
it more cheerful-like, she was wont to say. Finally they compromised by leaving the
light in Mothersroom with the door open.
They did notseem related to anything in her small
experience. By the three wise monkeys, was one of them. And Young Grandmother did
tell Marigold she spent too much timewith Lazarre. Marigold loved them but held them
in awe. Besides, she had never been at Uncle Pauls, and there were thingsthere she
wanted to see. Once when she had madeMarigold angry, Hoity toity, a little pot is
soon hot!
And what if you couldnt stick on butfell down into
that sky? Aunt Flora flatteredherself she knew how to deal with
children.
She loved it whenit was covered with little dancing
ripples like songs.
But she stopped,gazing with a suddenly transfigured
face at the sunset over HarmonyHarbour. How the wind was wailing round the
house!
Kate said shed like to breakevery bloody bone in
that bloody heifers body. Besides, she had never been at Uncle Pauls, and there were
thingsthere she wanted to see.
But was this some terrible wind thatLazarre called
de ghos wind? And yet she could notunderstand why bloody was swearing. And next day
word had comethat the old lady had gone daid.
Marigoldspent a raptured week looking forward to it
and living it inimagination.
Shes a great big baby and Im ashamed of her, said
Uncle Paulcrushingly. Marigoldwaved back before she saw it was only a branch of
wild, white plum-blossom, wind-shaken.
Once Marigold had tried to hoodwinkher with a small
half-fib.
Well, go, said Uncle Paul, finally losing his
patience with thisexasperating child. Marigold was turning away whenher eyes fell on
Alicia. Marigold didnt know what jiltedwas, but whatever it was she hated Hilda for
doing it to Frank.
To the day of her death Marigold believed
ithappened.
Fifteen minutes later Marigold was out of bed
again. As far back as she could remember that spruce hill had held anirresistible
charm for her. What was it she had heard about Uncle Paul keeping apet rat in the
barn?
She had been laughed at so for that and hadsuffered
keen humiliation. Aunt Flora flatteredherself she knew how to deal with children.
Makes it more cheerful-like, she was wont to say.