Giant's Bread by Agatha writing as Mary Westmacott Christie Read Free Book Online

princesses. Vernon liked the latter kind best. There was one in particular that he loved, about a princess in a tower with golden hair and a vagabond prince in a ragged green hat. The story ended up in a forest and it was possibly for that reason that Vernon liked it so much.
    Sometimes there would be an extra listener. Myra used to come in and be with Vernon during the early afternoon when Nurse Frances had her time off, but Vernon’s father used sometimes to come in after tea when the stories were going on. Little by little it became a habit. Walter Deyre would sit in the shadows just behind Nurse Frances’ chair, and from there he would watch, not his child, but the storyteller. One day Vernon saw his father’s hand steal out and close gently over Nurse Frances’ wrist.
    And then something happened which surprised him very much. Nurse Frances got up from her chair.
    â€˜I’m afraid we must turn you out for this evening, Mr Deyre,’ she said quietly. ‘Vernon and I have things to do.’
    This astonished Vernon very much, because he couldn’t think what those things were. He was still more puzzled when his father got up also and said in a low voice:
    â€˜I beg your pardon.’
    Nurse Frances bent her head a little, but remained standing. Her eyes met Walter Deyre’s steadily. He said quietly:
    â€˜Will you believe that I am really sorry, and let me come tomorrow?’
    After that, in some way that Vernon could not have defined, his father’s manner was different. He no longer sat so near Nurse Frances. He talked more to Vernon and occasionally they all three played a game – usually Old Maid for which Vernon had a wild passion. They were happy evenings enjoyed by all three.
    One day when Nurse Frances was out of the room, Walter Deyre said abruptly:
    â€˜Do you like that Nurse of yours, Vernon?’
    â€˜Nurse Frances? I like her lots. Don’t you, Father?’
    â€˜Yes,’ said Walter Deyre, ‘I do.’
    There was a sadness in his voice which Vernon felt.
    â€˜Is anything the matter, Father?’
    â€˜Nothing that can be put right. The horse that gets left at the post never has much chance of making good – and the fact that it’s the horse’s own fault doesn’t make matters any better. But that’s double Dutch to you, old man. Anyway, enjoy your Nurse Frances while you’ve got her. There aren’t many of her sort knocking about.’
    And then Nurse Frances came back and they played Animal Grab.
    But Walter Deyre’s words had set Vernon’s mind to work. He tackled Nurse Frances next morning.
    â€˜Aren’t you going to be here always?’
    â€˜No. Only till you get well – or nearly well.’
    â€˜Won’t you stay always? I’d like you to.’
    â€˜But you see, that’s not my work. My work is to look after people who are ill.’
    â€˜Do you like doing that?’
    â€˜Yes, very much.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Well, you see, everyone has some particular kind of work that they like doing and that suits them.’
    â€˜Mummy hasn’t.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, she has. Her work is to look after this big house and see that everything goes right, and to take care of you and your father.’
    â€˜Father was a soldier once. He told me that if ever there was a war, he’d go and be a soldier again.’
    â€˜Are you very fond of your father, Vernon?’
    â€˜I love Mummy best, of course. Mummy says little boys always love their mothers best. I like being with Father, of course, but that’s different. I expect it’s because he’s a man. What shall I be when I grow up, do you think? I want to be a sailor.’
    â€˜Perhaps you’ll write books.’
    â€˜What about?’
    Nurse Frances smiled a little.
    â€˜Perhaps about Mr Green, and Poodle and Squirrel and Tree.’
    â€˜But everyone would say that that was