The Diddakoi

The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden Read Free Book Online Page B

Book: The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden Read Free Book Online
Authors: Rumer Godden
underneath?’
    Peters made a chart in which a paper-doll Kizzy had her measurements laid out like a diagram for a ship, height, width, depth, and Admiral Twiss went to London and walked along Oxford Street
looking at the shop windows, but there were so many filled with small girls’ clothes that he was bewildered. He knew where to get his shoes made, buy his hats, order his shirts, but this . .
. At last he went to his tailor and ordered a jacket he did not need. Then, ‘Phipps,’ he said, ‘what’s the best place to buy children’s clothes?’
    ‘Rowe’s of Bond Street,’ said Phipps.
    That was quite close, but when he found it the Admiral stood looking at the window for a long time: a model girl was wearing a pale blue coat with a velvet collar and white gloves; another had a
yellow silk smock; they did not at all look like Kizzy There was, too, a little girl figure in riding clothes; Admiral Twiss admired the cut of the jodhpurs, the fitted tweed jacket showing a
glimpse of white shirt and brown tie, the brown velvet riding hat. Must get Kiz a pony, he thought, then suddenly recollected she was not his. He looked at the blue coat again, shook his head and
went away.
    He took refuge at his barber’s and had a haircut though his hair did not really need one. ‘John,’ he asked the young barber. ‘You have children?’
    ‘Three, sir.’
    ‘Where do you buy their clothes?’
    ‘Marks and Sparks, sir. Marks and Spencers, that is – branches all over the place. Wonderful value they are. One of their biggest shops is in Oxford Street.’
    It was a big shop. Admiral Twiss wandered up and down its aisles where the goods were set out on long counters or hung on rails. The shop was full and after Amberhurst seemed to the Admiral a
nightmare of movement and noise; he was jostled and hustled, the lights dazzled him. He did find a rack full of children’s dressing gowns and it occurred to him that Kizzy ought to have a
dressing gown of her own, that his was too large for her, but he could see no one to serve him. The Admiral was used to small exclusive shops where assistants, full of deference, sprang to meet
him; he did not understand that he should search for what he needed and then find a salesgirl – added to which he did not really know what he should buy. After a little while he gave up,
hailed a taxi, and went to his Club for lunch. ‘Luncheon and a stiff drink,’ said the Admiral. Then he caught the next train home.
    ‘Well, well,’ said Peters. ‘Probably have been the same meself No use sending Nat. We’ll have to ask that Mrs Blount.’
    And have trouble with Kizzy? Besides, Mrs Blount would surely talk.’
    ‘It would be all over the village,’ and, ‘If we want that ,’ said Peters, ‘better to ask Mrs Cuthbert.’
    The Admiral was pondering. ‘There’s one woman who doesn’t talk,’ he said. ‘I will go and ask Miss Brooke.’
    ‘Two of everything?’ Miss Brooke asked in a businesslike way. ‘Or three?’
    ‘But is three enough? I buy shirts and socks in dozens,’ said Admiral Twiss.
    ‘This is a child. They grow,’ and Miss Brooke said, ‘One on, one off and one in the wash. That’s enough.’
    ‘But you will get her – er – everything?’ asked the Admiral.
    ‘Of course. Pyjamas, vests, pants, tights. That’s what they wear these days. I had better get them in London if you don’t want talk. I’ll go up tomorrow, won’t
bring them but have them sent express. I will make out a list and keep an account.’
    ‘Handkerchiefs,’ said the Admiral suddenly. ‘She ought to have those – I like mine of lawn, hand-rolled.’
    ‘I will find her some pretty ones.’
    ‘A hat? Shouldn’t she have a hat? And an umbrella?’
    ‘I can guess Kizzy wouldn’t know what to do with them.’ Then, ‘My dear Admiral,’ said Miss Brooke, as he handed her ten ten-pound notes, ‘I shan’t need
all that. Thirty pounds should do it but I will take forty in case; it’s no

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