Free These Delights by Sara Seale

her brother’s choice, and she would undoubtedly do much for Monk’s Farm.
    She could hear them now, Vicky and Pauline, their clear young voices calling to one another across the yard as they helped one of the men load manure, while the sound of Lou’s endless scales came from the house. Luke, she knew, had taken Diana to Brent to look at a mare, and would probably stay for lunch at the Manor. Tomorrow they were all to go over there for tea. Hester, sighed and hoped the children would behave. She might drop a hint to Vicky beforehand, but it was difficult to know what to say. The Jordans seldom behaved badly and if one were to try to control their opinions it would only make them self - conscious. Their complete naturalness was half their charm, but Hester doubted whether it would appeal to Lady Sale.
    Corky was ringing the outside bell and she gathered together her gardening tools and went into the house, meeting the two girls in the porch.
    “What’s for lunch, Corky?” Pauline shouted. “Apple pud again? Oh, good, I’m starved.” She made a bee-line for the dining-room, but Hester called her back.
    “Wash first, both of you, please, ” she said. “You re ek of manure.”
    “Manure is deli ci ous,” announced Vicky, sniffing the palms of her hands. “It is fruity and sweet and cl ean all at once. I love it.”
    “Possibly, but not in the house,” said Hester dryly. “And Vicky, I wouldn’t make those sort of remarks when we go to the Sales tomorrow.”
    “Why? Aren’t they alive to their five senses?” asked Vicky, surprised but interested.
    “Well, they mightn’t understand.”
    “But Sir Harry must use manure for his roses.” Vicky always would pursue a thing to its logical con cl usion. “If he is sensitive to the scent of his roses, he must be sensitive to the smell of manure.”
    Hester began to wish she had held her tongue.
    “I daresay he is, but nobody wants to discuss manure over tea—at least not in that household.”
    “How odd,” said Vicky. “Diana loves horses so naturally one would con cl ude —”
    “It’s far safer not to jump to con cl usions, my dear,” Hester said. “Run and tell Lou lunch is ready; he can’t have heard the bell.”
    “He never hears anything when he’s practising,” said Pauline as Vicky disappeared. “Isn’t Lady Sale going to like us, Cousin Hester?”
    “That will depend entirely on you,” Hester replied. “Now, hurry up and wash your hands.”
    Luke came in at tea-time looking well pleased with his day. Diana had liked the mare, he told them and would probably buy her; they had found a very nice set of the Elizabethan poets in a second-hand book shop, and Si r Harry had produced an excellent port after lunch.
    Leaning back his chair, drinking cup after cup of tea, Luke listened idly to the children’s chatter and thought contentedly of the day. Diana had been at her most charming. The mare had pleased her and brought a flush of excitement to her manner with him, and although she had discussed her future plans for the farm she had consulted his opinion and allowed herself to be overruled on the smaller points. He had been careful to make only the most light-hearted love to her, and had been rewarded by a new warmth which gave him better promise for the future.
    Vicky, at once receptive to his mood, nodded her head wisely and thought: Diana has been kind to him today. She had grown very fond of her cousin and she thought it was a pity that she should have to make such a conventional marriage since he was not the type to find another love outside his home.
    Pauline had said when she had explained about Diana’s money:
    “Ah, yes, he marries her for practical reasons. He will doubtless later have his little friend and be happy.”
    “No,” Vicky had answered. “You are wrong, Pauline. Luke will be faithful to Diana. He would think it dishonorable to take her money and betray her.”
    “Pouff!” Pauline had said with innocent