The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-02-07
The Rains
Came

cigarette she feit suddenly con-
fused ana helpless AMI laid Il on
the table saving. III have It when
I've finished
! like 20 smoke with ms tea
said Lady Esketh I love the
taste OF smoke with bread and
butter and she apoloEized for
the tea. saying. II suppose one
really only has good tea in an
English household
I'd love 10 make you a cup Of
good tea. said Miss Hodge. with
very thin bread and butter. We
have lovely bread. lis baked for
Us by one Of the girls. She
learned how from Mrs. Smiley
that's the wife of one of the Amer
lean missionaries.
Perhaps you'd let me come to
tea with you some day. said Lady
Esketh: 7 haven't had a bit Of
decent bread since I've been in
India
Miss Hodge heard herself say
ing oh. would you come? Id be
delighted
It all happened without her
knowing how L had come about
and before the words were we'll
out OF her mouth she remembered
Miss Dirks and vas terrified. But
beneath the spell of Lady Esketh
the terror slipped away quickly.
Il was like something out of a
fairy tale. After all those years of
wanting people TO see how nice
and coy she had made the bunga-
low, OF wanting them to see what
a lovely tea she could serve. il
happened at last. and with Lady
Esketh. Suddenly nothing mat
tered, not even facing Sarah.
And I hope you'll let me come
one day very soon Lady Esketh
was saying; and Miss Hodge, still
enchanted. found herself saying.
Any day you like, Lady Esketh."
I could come tomorrow or
Friday
Cornered now and in despera-
ton, Miss Hodge said. Perhaps
Friday would be best. You see.
Thursday is prize day at the
school and we shouldn't be home
until quite late ANYWAY. Fri
DAY would be one day farther
off. 1t would give her one more
day to appease Sarah.
Yes. Friday would be fine"
The tea was finished now and
it was clear to Miss Hodge that it
was time for her to leave. but in
her excitement and her fear of
Miss Dirks she could not seem to
pull herself together and think
how TO bring the conversation to
an end and make a graceful exit.
Edwina. aware that her caller was
uncertain of how to make a get
away, made more effort and asked
questions about the school, about
The English colony, about the
so that the conversa-
ton became a kind of cross
examination of Miss Hodge. Pres
entity as Lady Esketh began to
eel completely exhausted there
vas knock at the door and her
maid appeared to say, The doctor
5 mere again, me lady; and Miss
lodge, Selling the interruption
With a sudden relief, rose and said.
We'll, l think l had better leave
low. l must be getting home"
Edwlna, a gracious, mechanical
said, 1T was very kind Of
'ou to think of me-"
Then Wen expect you on FRI
lay, about s."
That's right" said Edwina.
And we must arrange to meet
ONE Indians real Indians |
mean, not the kind who have been
0 Oxford.
Yes yes" said Miss Hodge,
III arrange that" But how she
would arrange it. she had no idea.
"Good-by."
"Good-by.' And Miss Hodge.
rembling and blushing, backed
ut of the door There wasn't any
way out now. She would have to
ace Sarah Anyway, she had
scaped having to smoke the Gig
rette. 1t still lay on the table.
lady Esketh, it seemed, had not
ven noticed il.
TO Be Continued1