The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-09
FORTY

They went into the Berkeley
happily side by side. They got a
table by the window and Edward
ordered an excellent lunch.
AS they finished their chicken,
Nudge sighed and said, Il ough1
to hurry back to the shop. MY
times up"
you're going to take decent
time over your lunch today, wen
if l have to go back and buy hall
the clothes in the shop!'
"Dear Edward, you r really
rather sweet"
They ate crepes suzette and
then the waiter brought them COT
fee. Edward stirred his sugar in
with his spoon.
He said gently:
"You really do love AinsWlck,
don't your"
"Must we talk about Ainswick?
I've survived not catching the 2:l5
and I quite realize that there
isn't any question Of the 4:15-but
don't rub it in"
Edward smiled.
mo, I'm not proposing that we
catch the Ais. But / am suggest
ing that you come to Ainswick,
Nudge. I'm suggesting that you
come there for good-that is, if
you can put UP with me-"
She stared at him over the rim
of her coffee cup - put it down
with a hand that she managed to
keep steady.
"What do you really mean, Ed
ward?"
I'm suggesting that you should
marry me, Nudge. I don't suppose
that I'm a very romantic PROPOSE
ton. I'm a dull dog. know that,
and not much good at anything
I just read books and potter
around. But although I'm not a
very exciting person, we've known
each other a long time and l think
that Ainswick itself would - well,
would compensate. 1 think you'd
be happy at Ainswick, Nudge. Will
you Gomez"
Nudge swallowed once Or twice
then she said:
"But 1 though - Henrietta"
and stopped.
Edward said, his voice level and
Unconditional:
eyes, I've asked Henrietta three
times to marry me. Each time
she has refused. Henrietta knows
what she doesn't want
There was a silence, and then
Edward said:
"Well, Nudge dear, what about
it?"
Nudge looked up at him. There
was a catch In her voice. She
said:
ut seems 50 extraordinary-to
be offered heaven on a plate as it
were, at the Berkeley"
His face lighted up. He laid his
hand over hers for a brief mo-
ment.
Heaven on a plate" he said.
$50 you feel like that about Aims
wick. Oh, Nudge, I'm glad"
They sat there h:ppily. Edward
paid the bill and added an enor-
NOUS tip.
The people in the restaurant
were thinning out. Nudge said
with an effort:
"We'u have to 60. I suppose
I'd better 60 back to Madame Al
frege. After all, she's counting on
me. 1 can't just walk OUT
mo. 1 suppose you'll have to go
back and resign, or hand in your
notice, or whatever you call it.
You're not to 60 on working
there, though. l won't have it. But
first l thought we'd better 60 to
one of those shops in Bond street
where they sell rings"
"Rings?"
cts usual, isn't it?"
Nudge laughed.
In the dimmed lighting Of the
jewelers. shop, Nudge and Edward
bent over trays of sparkling en-
gagement rings, while a discreet
salesman watched them benign
antly.
Edward said, pushing away a
velvet-covered tray:
mot emeralds."
Henrietta in green tweeds -
Henrietta in an evening dress like
Chinese jade.
No, not emeralds.
Nudge pushed away the tiny
stabbing pain at her heart.
Choose for me-" she said to
Edward.
He bent over the tray before
them. He picked out a ring with
a single diamond. Not a very
large stone, but a stone of beauti-
full color and fire.
Nudge nodded. She loved this
display of. Edwards unerring fas-
tidious taste. She slipped it on her
finger as Edward and the shop
man drew aside.
Edward wrote out a check
for three hundred and forty-two
pounds and came back to Nudge
smiling.
He said, Lets 60 and be rude
to Madame Alfrege."
"But, Darling, 1 am so de-
lighted"
Lady Angkatell stretched out a
fragile hand to Edward and
touched Nudge softly with the
other.
"You did quite right, Edward,
To make her leave that hnrrid