Thirteen
I’m trying as best I can, though that isn’t saying much, to paint a picture ofthe people who came into our lives, that is to say: who came into my lifebecause, of course, they were in Ellie’s life already. Our mistake was thatwe thought they’d go out of Ellie’s life. But they didn’t. They’d no intentionof doing so. However, we didn’t know that then.
The English side of our life was the next thing that happened. Our housewas finished, we had a telegram from Santonix. He’d asked us to keepaway for about a week, then the telegram came. It said: “Come tomorrow.”
We drove down there, and we arrived at sunset. Santonix heard the carand came out to meet us, standing¹ in front of the house. When I saw ourhouse, finished, something inside me leaped up, leaped up as though toburst out of my skin! It was my house—and I’d got it at last! I held Ellie’sarm very tight.
“Like it?” said Santonix.
“It’s the tops,” I said. A silly thing to say but he knew what I meant.
“Yes,” he said, “it’s the best thing I’ve done… It’s cost you a mint ofmoney and it’s worth every penny of it. I’ve exceeded my estimates allround. Come on, Mike,” he said, “pick her up and carry her over thethreshold. That’s the thing to do when you enter into possession with yourbride!”
I flushed and then I picked up Ellie—she was quite a light weight—andcarried her as Santonix had suggested, over the threshold. As I did so, Istumbled just a little and I saw Santonix frown.
“There you are,” said Santonix, “be good to her, Mike. Take care of her.
Don’t let harm come to her. She can’t take care of herself. She thinks shecan.”
“Why should any harm happen to me?” said Ellie.
“Because it’s a bad world and there are bad people in it,” said Santonix,“and there are some bad people around you, my girl. I know. I’ve seen oneor two of them. Seen them down here. They come nosing around, sniffingaround like the rats they are. Excuse my French but somebody’s got to sayit.”
“They won’t bother us,” said Ellie, “they’ve all gone back to the States.”
“Maybe,” said Santonix, “but it’s only a few hours by plane, you know.”
He put his hands on her shoulders. They were very thin now, verywhite-looking. He looked terribly ill.
“I’d look after you myself, child, if I could,” he said, “but I can’t. It won’tbe long now. You’ll have to

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