(12/13) The Year at Thrush Green by Miss Read Read Free Book Online

sedation.'
    'And you would like us to take it into custody? I mean, into care?'
    Dotty became agitated. 'No, no, no! I am quite capable of caring for him here, as you know. All my animals thrive. It is simply that I want you to have the facts so that the owners can be found.'
    'We'll do our best, madam,' replied the sergeant, holding the telephone some distance from his ear.
    'I can't think why the poor little thing has been abandoned,' went on Dotty, in full blast now. 'He has obviously been looked after very well, coat in excellent condition, nose just the right degree of dampness, and the most expensive basket and rug. It is a complete mystery, officer. A complete mystery!'
    The sergeant acknowledged a mug of coffee being put before him by one of his younger colleagues, rolling his eyes heavenward at the same time to show how much he was enduring.
    'Leave it with me, Miss Harmer,' he said at last. 'I'd better send someone along to make a few notes later today. For our records, you know.'
    'Of course, of course. I shall be at your disposal for the rest of the day. If you are here about four I can offer you a cup of fresh herbal tea. I know you must not take alcohol on duty.'
    'Thank you, madam, but no doubt one of us will call before four.'
    He put down the telephone with a sigh. 'John,' he said to the younger policeman. 'There's a job for you up at Lulling Woods early afternoon. A Miss Dotty Harmer. And whatever you do don't eat or drink anything while you're there.'
    'Why not?'
    His superior officer told him.

March
...daffodils
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty.
William Shakespeare
    March came to Thrush Green like a lamb rather than a lion.
    The mild weather of February continued during the first few days of the new month. The sun shone, the birds began a flurry of mating and nest-building, and the flowers of spring began to appear in woods, meadows and cottage gardens.
    At Winnie Bailey's house the new month was greeted with more than usual activity, for this was the day on which her old friends were coming to lunch.
    After much cogitation and rearranging, the menu had been settled. Avocado pears would be followed by cannelloni served with spinach and runner beans from the freezer and cauliflower from the Women's Institute stall.
    The dessert course had proved more difficult. Jenny was loud in her praises of 'a good crumble-top', and cited the home-grown gooseberries and plums bottled last summer.
    'Rather searching perhaps?' mused Winnie, still anxious about the digestive efficiency of her aged guests. 'I think a well-sweetened apple meringue would be better, and perhaps a fruit jelly as well. And we must remember to order plenty of cream from Percy Hodge.'
    'Cream might be too rich,' commented Jenny, slightly piqued at being denied the pleasure of making a large crumble-top, and the undoubted compliments she would have received on bringing it to the table.
    'We might have yoghurt,' said Winnie doubtfully. 'What do you think?'
    'Things are quite fancy enough with avocado pears and cannelloni,' said Jenny firmly. 'Yoghurt as well would put some of the old ladies into a proper tizz-wazz. They'll like a nice English dish like your apple meringue and cream.'
    And no doubt, she thought rebelliously, they would have preferred a nice gooseberry crumble-top if they'd been given it.
    By twelve o'clock on the great day the table was spread with a fine pink cloth and matching napkins. The silver was dazzling after Jenny's ministrations, pink candles added to the ensemble, and a low pot of dwarf pink tulips stood in the centre. The sun shone upon all this splendour, the cannelloni was ready for the oven, and Winnie and Jenny hovered by the windows awaiting their guests.
    Ella and Dimity were the first to arrive, each bearing a pot of recently made marmalade, and were greeted affectionately, and while they were being helped with their coats, Joan Young's car drew up and the three Misses