Page 442 - sons-and-lovers

‘Yes—and very beautiful to have.’
‘You don’t usually say that.’
‘No.’
In a while they went indoors. Everybody looked at them
curiously. He still kept the quiet, heavy look in his eyes, the
stillness in his voice. Instinctively, they all left him alone.
About this time Miriam’s grandmother, who lived in a
tiny cottage in Woodlinton, fell ill, and the girl was sent to
keep house. It was a beautiful little place. The cottage had a
big garden in front, with red brick walls, against which the
plum trees were nailed. At the back another garden was sep-
arated from the fields by a tall old hedge. It was very pretty.
Miriam had not much to do, so she found time for her be-
loved reading, and for writing little introspective pieces
which interested her.
At the holiday-time her grandmother, being better, was
driven to Derby to stay with her daughter for a day or two.
She was a crotchety old lady, and might return the second
day or the third; so Miriam stayed alone in the cottage,
which also pleased her.
Paul used often to cycle over, and they had as a rule
peaceful and happy times. He did not embarrass her much;
but then on the Monday of the holiday he was to spend a
whole day with her.
It was perfect weather. He left his mother, telling her
where he was going. She would be alone all the day. It cast
a shadow over him; but he had three days that were all his
own, when he was going to do as he liked. It was sweet to
rush through the morning lanes on his bicycle.

1