The Wilmington morning star., 1947-07-05

NAlOSG Sdt QOWIl UGSlUS MIN ant
said with a sigh:
cts nice being here"
You're looking rather peaked"
"Oh, Pm all right. How delight
full to be somewhere where no fat
women are trying to get into
Clothes several sizes too small for
them!"
"Must be dreadful" Sir Henry
paused and then said, glancing
down at his wrist-watch, ed
wards arriving by the 12:15."
"Is he?" Midge paused, then
sad, 81 haven't seen Edward for
a long time 80"
He's just the same" said
Henry. Hardly ever comes up
from Ainswick."
Ainswick, thought Nudge. Aims
wick! Her heart gave a sick pang.
Those lovely days at Ainswick.
Visits looked forward to for
months. I'm gong to Ainswick.
-. Lying awake for nights be-
forehand thinking about it.
And at last-the Cay! The little
country station at which the train
the big London express-had t.
stop if you gave notice to the
guard! The Daimler waiting out
side. The drive-the final turn in
through the gate and up through
the woods till You came out into
the open and there the house was
big and white and welcoming.
Old Uncle Godfrey in his patch
work tweed coat.
"Now then. youngsters-enjoy
yourselves" And how they had
enjoyed themselves. Henrietta,
over from Ireland. Edward home
from Elton. She herself, from the
North country grimness of a man
uf~acturing town. How like heaven
it had been.
But always centering about Ed
ward, tall and gentle and diffiden1
and always kind. But never, o.
course. noticing her very much
because Henrietta was there.
Edward, always so retiring, sc
very much of a visitor that she
had been startled n day when
Tremlet, the head gardener, hac
said:
THE place will be Mr.. Ed
wards some day"
But why, Tremlet? He's moi
Uncle Geoferey's SOM"
Hes the heir, Miss Nudge. En-
tailed, that's what they call it,
Miss Lucy, she's Mr.. Goeffrey's
only child, but she can't inherit
because she's a female ard Mr.
Henry, her husband, he's only g
second cousin. Not so near as Mr..
Edward"
And now Edward lived at Aims
wick. Lived Their. alone and very
seldom came away. Nudge won
dered, sometimes, if Lucy mind
ed. Lucy always looked as though
she never minded about anything.
Yet Ainswick had been her
home, and Edward was only hel
first cousin once removed ane
over twenty years younger thar
she was. Her father, old Geoffrey
Angkatell, had been a great
character" in the country. He
had had considerable wealth as
well, most o. which had come tt
Lucy. so that Edward was a com
paratively poor man, with enough
to keep the place up, but not much
over when that was done.
Not that Edward had expensive
tastes. He had been in the diplo
matte service for a time, but wher
he inherited Ainswick he had re
signed and come to live on hi!
property. He was of a bookisl
turn of mind, collected first edi
tons, and occasionally wrote
! rather hesitating, ironical little
articles for obscure reviews. HI
had asked his second cousin, Hen
rietta ~Savernake, three times tt
marry him.
Nudge sat in the autumn sun
shine, thinking Of these things
She could not make up her mine
whether she was glad she was go
ing to see Edward Or not. 1t wa
not as though she were what i!
called "getting over it," One sim
ply did not get over anyone lik'
Edward. Edward at Ainswick wa.
Just as real to her as Edward ris
ing to greet her from a restauran
table in London. She had lovee
Edward ever since she could re
member.
Sir Henry's voice recalled her