But Miss Allcock had one outstandingtalent; she was
very good at double-crossing her employers.
She tried drugging herself with books, and it
succeeded for a weekor so.
Weve talked of nothing else in Knype Hill for the
last fortnight. It was evident from thetone of his letter that he had forgiven
Dorothy by this time.
And then the whole world changes,because you look
at it differently.
He might have shown a little more sympathy! And now
I must tell you some of my own news, etc. Sometimes they baited her quite
deliberately.
His spadeflashed in the sun as the train passed. It
was one of those bright cold days which are spring or winteraccording as you are
indoors or out. Butwhen she had thought it over she acquitted him of heartlessness.
I just couldnt go on believing in it anylonger.
And now, will youjust leave the house AT once,
please? Not today, thank you, said Dorothy vaguely. Mrs Semprills done for, so far
as Knype Hill goes. Ifher wages were raised even half a crown a week, what a
differenceit would make!
Inthese third-rate and fourth-rate private schools
a sort of piracyis constantly going on.
Well go back and have the half-crown out of
her.
A few months ago she was foolish enough to put some
of it inwriting.
Not even Mrs Creevyherself could keep the children
in order.
How the devil have you put up with it all thistime?
Inthese third-rate and fourth-rate private schools a sort of piracyis constantly
going on. It was the first time that marmalade had crossed Dorothys lipssince she
had come to Ringwood House.
It was a four-hour journey to Knype
Hill.
Never, never, never throw yourself onthe mercy of a
child!
Youve got rid of a load of superstitious rubbish,
and you ought tobe glad of it. She had grown, indeed, much thinner since she hadbeen
at Ringwood House. Dorothy felt weaker and more tremulous than ever.
His meals are neverpunctual nowadays, it seems. You
haventgot a written contract, have you? I dont see that it makes any difference, she
said finally.
Why is it all right for me to go home all of a
sudden? She was a mementomori, or rather memento senescere, to Dorothy.
His spadeflashed in the sun as the train passed.
All that matters is that its gone, and Ive got to begin mylife all over
again.
Gotter wait case theres a answer, said the boy,
taking anorange-coloured envelope from his belt.