Free (7/13) Affairs at Thrush Green by Miss Read Page B

her leaving you, and the rows you had, but that's in the past, Albert, and she's still your wife, you know. You get down to this hospital and see her. It's your duty to stand by her.'
    Albert was taken aback by such straight talking.
    'I don't know about my duty,' he responded with some heat. 'What about her duty to her lawful wedded husband, eh? What I'm concerned about is this Charlie. I bet he's got his eye on Nelly's bits and pieces, and why should he have 'em?'
    Mr Jones looked at him with disgust.
    'And you've got your eye on them too, I take it? You makes me puke, Albert, that you do. There's this poor soul—your own flesh and blood—'
    'And plenty there was of it too,' interjected Albert morosely, recalling his wife's vast bulk.
    'Flesh and blood,' continued the landlord unperturbed, 'dying, from what this chap says, and you think of nothing but what you might get out of it. Finish your beer, Albert, and clear out, will you? I'm fed up with this business. You asked my advice and this is it. Ring up this chap, find out where Nelly is, and get down there pronto to see her.'
    At that moment, two men entered the bar and he turned to serve them, still flushed with anger at Albert's behaviour.
    Albert took advantage of the interruption to creep away to his house next door.
    There was cold comfort there, but at least it was more congenial today than The Two Pheasants.

7. Albert Piggott Under Pressure
    THE AFFAIR of the Lady Chapel kneelers still caused the good rector some unhappy twinges, but nothing more had been said directly to him by Mrs Thurgood.
    Could she have decided against pursuing the matter? It seemed unlikely. There was a ruthless tenacity about the woman which Charles recognised only too well. He quailed before it, and chided himself for cowardice, but this self-flagellation did not mitigate his fears.
    He had a horrid feeling that Mrs Thurgood was simply biding her time before returning to the attack. With Dimity beside him one afternoon, they had examined the present kneelers minutely, and had put aside any which appeared to be the worse for wear. Naturally, Mrs Thurgood's own kneeler was one of the shabbiest as she was such an outstandingly regular church-goer, and about six or eight others would benefit from some attention. But on the whole, Dimity and Charles agreed, the rest of the kneelers were perfectly capable of fulfilling their function for several years.
    Comforted by this discovery, Charles felt that he could withstand any onslaught from the doughty Frances Thurgood. It was certainly rather unnerving to find that the weeks slid by without any further manifestations of the lady's pugnacity. What lay behind this silence? Had she decided to give up the fight? Had she simply forgotten about the kneelers? Had she, perhaps, suddenly regretted her offer to pay for the work?
    Charles wondered if he would ever learn the answers to these questions. He had not long to wait.
    One bright morning he collected the letters from the hall mat and carried them to the breakfast table where Dimity was already buttering her toast. There were half a dozen or so envelopes, but one was immediately noteworthy for its excellent quality and imposing seal at the back.
    'From the bishop,' said Charles, opening it first.
    Dimity, watching him closely, saw his expression turn from pleasure to dismay. Having read the bishop's letter, he then turned to another enclosed with it, and the dismay upon his chubby countenance was now tinged with indignation.
    'Well, really !' protested Charles, handing over the letters. 'Now what do you make of that?'
    Dimity read rapidly. The bishop's note was kindly and concise. It said that he had received the enclosed letter from Mrs Thurgood to which he had replied. He said that he had every confidence in Charles's decision and urged him not to worry unduly about a matter which was really very trivial. He sent his regards to Dimity and hoped to see them both very soon.

    Frances Thurgood's letter