Agatha Christie The Hollow Chapter I At 6:13 a.m. ... - bzelbublive.info

"My God," he said, "is that the sort of thing you have to put up with? I heard thatdamned woman talking to you behind the curtain. How can you stick it. Midge? Whydidn't you throw the damned frocks at her head?" "I'd soon lose my job if I didthings like that." "But don't you want to fling things at a woman of thatkind?" Midge drew a deep breath. "Of course I do. And there are times, especiallyat the end of a hot week during the summer sales, when I am afraid that one day Ishall let go and just tell everyone exactly where they get off--instead of'Yes, Madam, no.Madam--I'll see if we have anything else. Madam.'""Midge, dear little Midge, you can't put up with all this!" Midge laughed alittle shakily. "Don't be so upset, Edward. Why on earth did you have to comehere? Why not ring up?" "I wanted to see for myself. I've been worried . . ."He paused and then broke out. "Why, Lucy wouldn't talk to a scullery maid theway that woman talked to you. It's all wrong that you should have to put up withinsolence and rudeness. Good God, Midge, I'd like to take you right out of it all downto Ainswick. I'd like to hail a taxi, bundle you into it, and take you down to Ainswicknow by the 2:15." Midge stopped. Her assumed nonchalance fell from her. Shehad had a long, tiringmorning with trying customers and Madame at her most bullying. She turned onEdward with a sudden flare of resentment. "Well, then, why don't you? There areplenty of taxis!" He stared at her, taken aback by her sudden fury. She went on, heranger flaming I up: B "Why do you have to come along and say these things? You don'tmean them. Do you think it makes it any easier after I've had the hell of a morningto be reminded that there , are places like Ainswick? Do you think I'm grateful to youfor standing there and babbling about how much you'd like to take me out of it all?All very sweet and insincere. You don't really mean a word of it. Don't you knowthat I'd sell my soul to catch the 2:15 to Ainswick and get away from everything?I can't bear even to think of Ainswick, do you understand? You mean well, Edward,but you're cruel! Saying things--just saying things. ..." They faced each other, seriouslyincom- moding the lunchtime crowd in Shaftesbury Avenue. Yet they wereconscious of nothing but each other. Edward was staring at her like a mansuddenly aroused from sleep. He said, "All right then, damn it. You're coming toAinswick by the 2:15!" He raised his stick and hailed a passing taxi. It drew intothe curb. Edward opened the door and Midge, slightly dazed, got in. Edward said"Paddington Station" to the driver and followed her in. They sat in silence.Midge's lips were set together. Her eyes were defiant and mutinous. Edwardstared straight ahead of him.As they waited for the traffic lights in Oxford Street, Midge said disagreeably:"I seem to have called your bluff." Edward said shortly: "It wasn't bluff."The taxi started forward again with a jerk. It was not until the taxi turned left inEdgware Road into Cambridge Terrace that Edward suddenly regained his normalattitude to life. He said, "We can't catch the 2:15," and tapping on the glass he