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

Chapter VImidge hardcastle came downstairs aboutbreakfast in bed and had read a book andeleven on Saturday morning. She had haddozed a little and then got up.It was nice lazing this way. About time she had a holiday! No doubt about it,Madame Alfrege's got on your nerves. She came out of the front door into thepleasant Autumn sunshine. Sir Henry Angkatell was sitting on a rustic seat reading TheTimes. He looked up and smiled. He was fond of Midge. "Hullo, my dear." "Am Ivery late?" "You haven't missed lunch," said Sir Henry, smiling. Midge satdown beside him and said with a sigh: "It's nice being here." "You're lookingrather peaked." "Oh, I'm all right. How delightful to be somewhere where no fatwomen are tryingto get into clothes several sizes too small for them!" "Must be dreadful!" SirHenry paused and then said, glancing down at his wristwatch, "Edward's arriving bythe 12:15." "Is he?" Midge paused, then said, "I haven't seen Edward for a longtime ..." "He's just the same," said Sir Henry. "Hardly ever comes up fromAinswick." Ainswick, thought Midge. Ainswick! Her heart gave a sick pang. Thoselovely days at Ainswick. Visits looked forward to for months! Pm going to Ainswick. . . Lying awake for nights beforehand thinking about it. . .And at last--the day!The little country station at which the train--the big London express--had to stop ifyou gave notice to the guard! The Daimler waiting outside.The drive--the final turn in through the gate and up through the woods till you cameout into the open and there the house was--big and white and welcoming. OldUncle Geoffrey in his patchwork tweed coat . . . "Now then, youngsters--enjoyyourselves." And how they had enjoyed themselves. Henrietta, over from Ireland.Edward, home from Eton. She herself, from the North country grimness of amanufacturing town. How like heaven it had been. But always centering aboutEdward. Edward, tall and gentle and diffident and always kind. But never, of