II

Christine Redfern was standing¹ in Linda’s room when the girl returned.

“Oh, there you are,” Christine exclaimed. “I thought you couldn’t be really up yet.”

Linda said:

“No, I’ve been bathing.”

Noticing the parcel in her hand, Christine said with surprise:

“The post has come early today.”

Linda flushed. With her habitual² nervous clumsiness the parcel slipped from her hand. Theflimsy string broke and some of the contents rolled over the floor.

Christine exclaimed:

“What have you been buying candles for?”

But to Linda’s relief she did not wait for an answer, but went on, as she helped to pick thethings up from the floor.

“I came in to ask whether you would like to come with me to Gull³ Cove⁴ this morning. I want tosketch there.”

Linda accepted with alacrity⁵.

In the last few days she had accompanied Christine Redfern more than once on sketchingexpeditions. Christine was a most indifferent artist, but it is possible that she found the excuse ofpainting a help to her pride since her husband now spent most of his time with Arlena Marshall.

Linda Marshall had been increasingly morose⁶ and bad tempered. She liked being with Christinewho, intent on her work, spoke⁷ very little. It was, Linda felt, nearly as good as being by oneself,and in a curious way she craved⁸ for company of some kind. There was a subtle kind of sympathybetween her and the elder woman, probably based on the fact of their mutual⁹ dislike of the sameperson.

Christine said:

“I’m playing tennis at twelve, so we’d better start fairly early. Half past ten?”

“Right. I’ll be ready. Meet you in the hall.”

 

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