The Greatcoat
“It wasn’t speculation: she was sure of it. How could he not? The flat still breathed his presence, even though it was Philip who sat opposite her, eating the steak-and-kidney pudding. He praised it, as if she were a clever child, and told her that it was as good as his mother used to make.
‘I should think so,’ said Isabel, having endured his mother’s meals.
‘Did you have a nice time with Janet Ingoldby?’ ‘What?’ ‘You went for coffee with Janet Ingoldby.’ Again that note of patience in his voice.... She was shrinking in his eyes, she thought, while the rest of his life expanded.
‘Oh … No, I’d got the day wrong. It’s next week, I think. Just as well, really, because I had a lot of shopping to do and it took hours to make the pudding. I’m fearfully slow.’ ‘You’ll get quicker.’ ‘Will I?’ she asked. To her amazement, he was perfectly serious. He didn’t want her to tutor local children in French. He didn’t want her going into other people’s houses, earning money and using her qualifications.MoreLess
‘I should think so,’ said Isabel, having endured his mother’s meals.
‘Did you have a nice time with Janet Ingoldby?’ ‘What?’ ‘You went for coffee with Janet Ingoldby.’ Again that note of patience in his voice.... She was shrinking in his eyes, she thought, while the rest of his life expanded.
‘Oh … No, I’d got the day wrong. It’s next week, I think. Just as well, really, because I had a lot of shopping to do and it took hours to make the pudding. I’m fearfully slow.’ ‘You’ll get quicker.’ ‘Will I?’ she asked. To her amazement, he was perfectly serious. He didn’t want her to tutor local children in French. He didn’t want her going into other people’s houses, earning money and using her qualifications.MoreLess
Read book The Greatcoat for free
Write Review:
User Reviews: