Free (6/13) Gossip from Thrush Green by Miss Read Page A

his sister icily.
    'Kathleen was a martyr to her migraine at the time, as you know, otherwise we should have invited you to stay with us when you were discharged. But we knew you wanted to get home and pick up your normal life again. I said so at the time, didn't I, Kathleen?'
    'You did indeed, dear,' said Kathleen, dabbing her mouth with a spotless linen napkin and leaving lipstick as well as jam upon it.
    Before any civilised reply could be made, there was a rapping at the front door. Agnes, glad to escape, hurried to open it, and was confronted by Dotty Harmer with Flossie on a lead. A battered metal milk can dangled from the other hand.
    Without being invited, Dotty pushed past Agnes and entered the sitting room. She was in a state of considerable agitation, and burst into speech.
    'Oh, Dorothy my dear, there is a poor dog absolutely stifling to death in a car outside. No window left open, and it is in a terrible state of anxiety. Aren't people thoughtless? Really they need a horse-whipping, and my father would have administered it, I assure you, if he had come across such fiends! Someone calling at The Two Pheasants, I suppose, or at the Shoosmiths.'
    'The dog belongs to my brother here,' said Dorothy, with a hint of smugness in her tone. 'I'm sorry it upset you so, Dotty dear. I'm afraid it must have upset a great many people at Thrush Green during the past hour.'
    Dotty was not the slightest bit abashed.
    'I don't think I have had the pleasure of meeting you before,' she said, transferring Flossie's lead to her left hand and entangling it dangerously with the milk can, whilst proffering her right.
    'My sister-in-law Kathleen. My brother Ray. My friend Miss Harmer,' intoned Dorothy.
    Ray bowed slightly, Kathleen gave a frosty smile, and Dorothy waved at the tea tray.
    Let me give you some tea, Dotty. Do sit down.'
    Outside, the barking changed to a high-pitched squealing, even more agitating than before. Ray began to make for the door.
    'Excuse me, I'd better bring Harrison in,' he said. He was through the door before anyone could stop him.
    So kind of you, Dorothy, but I'm on my way to Ella's and mustn't delay.'
    She began to make her way to the door. Flossie's lead was now hopelessly tangled around Dotty's wrinkled stockings.
    At that moment, Ray's labrador, slavering at the mouth, burst into the room, gave a demented yelp, and rushed at Flossie.
    The noise was indescribable. Flossie, the meekest of animals, screamed with alarm. Harrison charged into the table, knocking the sponge cake, chocolate biscuits, two tea cups, milk jug and a flurry of knives and teaspoons to the floor.
    Dotty, pulled off balance, fell across Agnes's chair, driving her mother's cameo brooch painfully into her throat. Dorothy, ever quick-witted, sat down abruptly before her own precarious balance added to the confusion, and Kathleen, cowering in her chair, gave way to hysterics.
    This scene of chaos confronted Ray when at last he regained the sitting room. With commendable promptitude he caught Harrison by the collar, and held him firmly, while Agnes and Dotty recovered their balance. The milk-can had rolled under Agnes's armchair and was dispersing a rivulet of goat's milk over the carpet.

    'I apologise for this mess,' said Dotty. 'You must let me pay for any cleaning you have to have done. Goat's milk can be so very pervasive. I'd better return home and fetch some more for Ella. Luckily, Dulcie is giving a splendidly heavy yield, at the moment.'
    Quite in command of herself, she smiled politely in the direction of the hysterical Kathleen, now throwing herself about alarmingly in her chair, waved to Ray, and took the shaken, but now well-behaved, Flossie into the hall. Agnes accompanied her, hoping that the blood on her throat from the brooch's wound would not stain her best silk blouse.
    'Are you sure you would not like to rest for a little?' enquired Agnes. 'The dining room has a most comfortable armchair, if you would like a few minutes'