Dreams to Sell by Anne Douglas Read Free Book Online

on her, it was Flo herself who asked how long they’d got before Dougal must leave.
    â€˜I put in my notice some time ago,’ he said after a pause. ‘And I’ve passed my army medical.’
    â€˜Had your medical! You never said.’
    â€˜We weren’t talking, Ma.’
    â€˜Oh, well, never mind – just tell me when you have to leave.’
    â€˜End of April, I’ll be reporting to the regiment near Lauder.’
    â€˜End of April? Oh, that’s no time at all – that’s too soon!’
    â€˜Nearly three weeks, Ma. That’s not so bad.’
    â€˜So you say!’ She put a handkerchief to her eyes. ‘I just hope you’re right, that’s all: that this is peacetime and you won’t have to fight.’
    â€˜Ma, I’ll be training and all that sort o’ thing before I even get posted. You’ve no need to worry.’
    â€˜No need at all,’ chimed Roz, then leaped to her feet. ‘There’s the door – it’s Chrissie. Oh, Ma, I wish she’d seen you up and dressed!’
    â€˜Heavens, what a fuss!’ cried Flo, but when Chrissie came in, it was enough for her to see Dougal smiling beside Flo’s bed to know that Ma was better and had come back to them once again.
    â€˜Oh, Ma!’ she cried, running to hug her mother as she lay back against her pillows. ‘Oh, Ma, I’m that glad, eh?’
    â€˜I’m sure I don’t know what about. Your brother’s still going to join the army, you know.’
    â€˜Ma, he’ll be all right, and you’ll be all right. That’s what’s grand, eh?’
    â€˜I hope so,’ sighed Flo. ‘Look, is no one going to make us a cup of tea?’

Eleven
    On the twenty-first of April, three young lawyers, formally dressed in dark suits, arrived at Tarrel and Thom’s at precisely two o’clock, to be shown by Miss Calder to the clients’ waiting room.
    â€˜If you’ll wait here, gentlemen? Mr Banks will be along shortly to welcome you. In the meantime, may I get you some coffee?’
    The three lawyers – Mr Appin, Mr Franklin, and Mr Shield – thanked her and declined, each sitting down, trying to look at ease. When Miss Calder had withdrawn to inform Mr Banks of the candidates’ arrival, Norma, who had been hovering in the background, ran along to the property centre, agog with her news.
    â€˜They’re here!’ she told Roz, who was at her desk, trying like the candidates to appear at ease. ‘The interview men are here! Miss Calder’s put ’em in the waiting room. But where’s Mr MacKenna?’
    â€˜He’s already with Mr Banks.’ Roz jumped up, abandoning any attempt to look calm. ‘What do they look like, then? Are they nice? Did you like them?’
    â€˜Honestly, I only saw ’em for a couple of minutes.’ Norma’s round brown eyes were shining. ‘But I thought they looked OK. Well, one’s a bit overweight, but there’s one who’s really friendly. I mean, he was smiling a lot, but it might have been nerves, eh?’
    â€˜I just wish it was all over,’ Roz muttered, turning away. ‘It’s too nerve-racking.’
    â€˜Anybody’d think you were being interviewed yourself, Roz,’ Norma said, laughing. ‘Why are you getting so worried?’
    â€˜Well, it makes all the difference to your job how you get on with your boss, eh? It’s very important, I’d say.’
    â€˜You’ve been spoiled, having Mr MacKenna, that’s your trouble. How about me? My boss is Miss Calder!’
    â€˜At least you know where you are with her. These fellows are completely unknown.’
    Roz moved around the main office, tidying papers that didn’t need tidying, straightening Mr MacKenna’s pens and adjusting photos on the property wall.
    â€˜I’m going to meet them, you know. Mr MacKenna is going to show them round the