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Just tokeep a tight rein on a few dagoes. The General was followed into the
room by his younger daughter. That, I should think, might make you all the more
doubtful as towhether you were just. All the same the zinniaswere gorgeous this
year; and she proceeded to pick some.
Her husbandand her three children had
implicit confidence in her coherentsympathy.
Hallorsen smiled, and his smile
had an exuberant sweetness. Those Montjoys arecelebrated for their charm. Its
thelatest propaganda restaurant, my dear, so we are probably safe at amoderate
price.
Dinny laid downthe dim and yellowed record and leaned her elbow on the
sill.
In the meantime these cigarettes are really tiptoppropaganda. Only one
thing would do him good, and thats tofall in love. Mother, do we have to go
into black edging for Uncle Cuffs? I can go and see Topsham and you could get
at Follanby,couldnt you? Because for the moment we shall get good food there. I
suppose women ARE more actual; they have a fresher eye, and lesssense of
responsibility. Herexpression suggested that she went through life trying not
to seeit as a joke.
Why on earth, with all this unemployment, dont they
organise anational Slum Clearance Scheme?
Regaining hisposition above the
maxilla, he thought of a very different jawbone.
A man so overflowing with
health and life he hadseldom seen. Her eyebrows twitched and her teeth, very
white and even, appearedin a broad smile. Hes lost the fever, luckily, but
hespretty well worn out, even now. Can we pull any strings without his knowing?
Mother, do we have to go into black edging for Uncle Cuffs?
And he chafed the
more because histraining and his disposition forbade him giving tongue.
You are
very kind, my dear; but why this local disparagement?
I loathe letting that
Yank put his failure on to you.
I daresay theyd comeround if no more were said,
but hows that possible?
She smiled timidly, and asked:Where is Hubert?
We could
expurgate, and embroider, and all that. I shall be delighted to see your
Bolivians.
It wasnt exactly pulling strings with him, my dear; it wassuavity
and power of personality. Uncle Cuthbert, except as a family figure-head, had
neverbeen very near to any one of them.
You shall have an egg-nogg, darling,
said Dinny, and left theroom. Well, as you know, he went straight from Harrow
into the War, andhad one year in the R.
Its not in him to fail, and when he
does, someone else hasto stand the racket.
The frown on the giants brow had a
puzzled quality, and Adrianthought: An honest man, anyway.
So is injustice,
Uncle; and blood is thicker than water.
Ive nothing but myword, he took care of
that when he left me alone with all thosedagoes.
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