Page 24 - Julie Thorley Nine Lives book

A Touch of Sea Air
her scales between lessons.
The sea air is very bracing and I am sure it will soon blow
new life into my poor chest, much better for me than spending the summer in the town at home with you all, much as I miss you. As arranged, Dr Braddock, Aunt Anna’s own physician, is to call on me to monitor my progress and I met him for the rst time yesterday. Oh, he is so handsome, and I suspect he may be rather sweet on my cousin!
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Dr Braddock says I am doing well, but that he will continue to call as long as I am in Shrimpton. I am glad, because I look forward to his visits. Ada is not proving to be as good a friend as I had hoped, and I am a little lonely.
It rained all day yesterday, so we were trapped in the house. My aunt would not let me venture out, worrying that I might catch a chill. So we read a little, talked a little, sat in silence a little. Then just as I feared I should go mad with boredom we had a visitor. Dr Braddock called, not to check on my health but rather on purely social grounds. It seems he, too, was at a loss as to how to spend such a dreary day.
The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly. He is very good company and had us both in ts of giggles. Our cousin is so lucky to have such an appealing admirer, and I was very sorry when he said he had to leave.
I nd I am eagerly awaiting his next visit, because he always lifts my spirits. It almost makes me sorry that I am feeling so much better now – but no, that is most ungrateful.
Anyway, today has been much better. The weather is much improved and I was allowed to leave the house for a little air – and well, such excitement! Miss Faulkner accompanied us on our walk this afternoon and Ada persuaded us that it would be fun to leave the footpath and venture on to the beach. It was so hot that I gladly agreed.
We had hardly gone more than a few yards though 20