Chapter 16 The Birds Fly South

‘Was that the car?’
Tuppence came out of the front door peering curiously¹ along the curveof the drive, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her daughter Deborah and thethree children.
Albert emerged from the side door.
‘They won’t be here yet. No, that was the grocer, madam. You wouldn’tbelieve it–eggs have gone up, again. Never vote for this Government again,I won’t. I’ll give the Liberals a go.’
‘Shall I come and see to the rhubarb and strawberry fool for tonight?’
‘I’ve seen to that, madam. I’ve watched you often and I know just howyou do it.’
‘You’ll be a cordon² bleu chef by the time you’ve finished, Albert,’ saidTuppence. ‘It’s Janet’s favourite sweet.’
‘Yes, and I made a treacle³ tart⁴–Master Andrew loves treacle tart.’
‘The rooms are all ready?’
‘Yes. Mrs Shacklebury came in good time this morning. I put the Guer-lain Sandalwood Soap in Miss Deborah’s bathroom. It’s her favourite, Iknow.’
Tuppence breathed a sigh of relief at the knowledge that all was in or-der for the arrival of her family.
There was the sound of a motor horn and a few minutes later the carcame up the drive with Tommy at the wheel and a moment later theguests were decanted⁵ on the doorstep–daughter Deborah still a very hand-some woman, nearly forty, and Andrew, fifteen, Janet, eleven, and Rosalie,seven.
‘Hullo, Grandma,’ shouted Andrew.
‘Where’s Hannibal?’ called Janet.
‘I want my tea,’ said Rosalie, showing a disposition⁶ to burst into tears.
Greetings were exchanged. Albert dealt with the disembarkation of allthe family treasures including a budgerigar, a bowl of goldfish and a ham-ster in a hutch.
‘So this is the new home,’ said Deborah, embracing her mother. ‘I like it–I like it very much.’
‘Can we go round the garden?’ asked Janet.

分享到：