Chapter 6 chapter Five

"David, when are we going back to London? When are we going back to America?" David Hunt cast a quick surprised look at Rosalind, who was sitting across the breakfast table. "It's not in a hurry, right? What's wrong with this place?" He quickly looked around the room where they were having breakfast with appreciative eyes. 'Fulaban' is built on a hillside, from the window you can have an unobstructed view of the beautiful and peaceful English countryside.The hillsides are covered with thousands of daisies, now that the season of blooming has passed, but there is still a golden color left.

While playing with the toast and wheat noodles on the plate, Rosalin muttered, "You said we would return to the United States soon, as long as the formalities are completed, we will go back immediately." "Yes, but it's actually so easy to vote. There is always a priority in things. Neither you nor I have any business reasons to prioritize. After the war, things are more difficult." When he spoke, he couldn't help being a little angry with himself.Although the reason he said was true, it sounded like he was dodging.Don't know if the girl across the way sounds like that.Besides, why was she leaving in such a hurry all of a sudden?

Rosalin murmured: "You said we would only stay here for a while, but you didn't say we would stay in touch." "What's wrong with Wensley Village? What's wrong with 'Fulaban'? Tell me!" "No—it's them, a lot of them!" "The Cloade family?" "right." "They're the ones I find most interesting," said David. "I like to see their stinky faces full of jealousy and hate. Don't take my fun away, Rosaleen." She said in a confused low voice, "I hope you don't think that way, I don't like that."

"Cheer up, girl, we've suffered a lot. But the Cloades have been comfortable... very comfortable, as dependent on Brother Gordon as a little flea is on a big flea. I hate They're the kind of people—I've always hated that kind of people." She said in shock: "I don't like very people, that's too bad." "Don't you think they root for you? Don't they treat you very...very friendly?" She said uncertainly: "They didn't treat me badly, nor did they hurt me." "But they all want to do that in their hearts, baby face, it's true." He laughed presumptuously, "If they didn't cherish their lives too much, one sunny morning, you would definitely be found stabbing someone with a knife." Die in bed."

She shuddered. "Don't make it so scary." "Okay...maybe not using a knife, just poisoning the soup." She gazed at him with trembling lips and said: "Are you kidding..." He became serious again. "Don't worry, Rosalind, I'll take care of you. They have to pass me first." She stammered: "If what you say is true ... if they hate us ... hate me, why don't we hurry to London? We'll be safe there ... no need to be with them." "Living in the country will do you good, my girl. You know you won't be comfortable living in London."

"It's about the war... the bomb..." She closed her eyes and said tremblingly: "I will never forget...never..." "No, you'll forget," he said softly, holding her gently by the shoulder. "Forget that, Rosaleen, you were shocked, but it's over now. No one will drop a bomb again." .Don't think about it. Forget about it. The doctor said he wanted you to stay in the country for a while, so I'm taking you out of London." "Really? Is it true? I thought...maybe..." "What do you think?" Rosalind said slowly, "I thought maybe you wanted to stay because of her."

"she?" "You know who I'm talking about. The girl that night, the girl who was in the Women's Royal Naval Service." "Lynn? Lynn Marchmont?" "You value her very much, David." "Lynn Marchmont? She's Rowley's girlfriend. Good Rowley in the field! That fool as a cow!" "That night, I saw you talking to her all the time." "Oh, for heaven's sake, stop talking nonsense, Rosaleen." "You saw her again later, didn't you?" "I happened to bump into her one morning when I was riding."

"You will definitely see her again." "Of course we will! It's such a small place, and you'll run into the Cloades within two steps. But if you think I'm in love with Lynn Marchmont, you're wrong. She's proud, pompous, And nasty, and not at all polite. Hope old Rowley will like her. No, Rosaleen, she's not my kind of girl." She said suspiciously, "Are you sure, David." "certainly!" She said a little timidly: "I know you don't like my showdown - but it's true, really. There's a girl who's brought trouble and sorrow - a girl from overseas, and a mysterious stranger gone Comes into our lives, and with it comes danger. There's a dead card, and..."

"Okay, okay, you mysterious strangers!" David laughed: "You are so superstitious. I advise you not to deal with any mysterious strangers." He strode out laughing, but when he was outside his face darkened, and he frowned and said to himself, "You're out of luck, Lynn. Coming back from abroad ruined our whole plan." He knew that at this moment he was deliberately heading down a road, hoping to meet the girl they had just mentioned. Rosalind watched him stride across the garden, through a small door that led out into the clearing, and back into his bedroom to look at the clothes in the wardrobe.She never tires of looking at and touching that new Shao fur coat, and it's amazing that she also owns a Shao fur coat.Just then the maid came up to announce Mrs. Marchmont's visit.

Adele sat in the living room with her mouth tightly shut, her heart beating twice as fast as usual.For several days, she had been wanting to ask Rosalind for help, but she had been putting it off.What puzzled her was that Xu Si's attitude changed inexplicably, and now she firmly opposed her mother's emergency loan from Gordon's widow. But this morning she had another letter from the bank manager, so Mrs. Marchmont was still determined to disobey her daughter, and there was no longer any delay.Lynn was out early, and Mrs. Marchmont saw David Hunter walking up the walk—in other words, the timing was perfect.She thought it would be easier if Rosaleen were alone—and she was right.

Even so, waiting alone in the sun-filled living room was nerve-wracking.When she saw Rosalind's more obvious "idiot-like expression" than usual, she felt a little relieved. Adela thought to herself: I wonder if that explosion made her look like this?Or is she just born that way? Rosalin stammered, "Well, good morning...good morning, what's the matter? Please... please sit down." "It's a lovely morning," said Mrs. Marchmont cheerfully. "My tulips are in full bloom. How about yours?" The girl looked at her blankly. "I have no idea." Adele thought to herself: What's a different topic to talk to someone who doesn't talk about home gardening? She couldn't restrain the sourness in her heart for a while, and blurted out: "Of course, you have so many gardeners, you don't have to worry about anything." "I think we don't have enough manpower. The old horse said that we need to find two more people. But workers seem to be very difficult to find," The words were as if spoken by a parrot—or as a child repeating what he had heard from a grown-up. Yes, she is like a child.Adele wondered, could this be her charm?Was it this that attracted obstinate and shrewd old Gordon, and made it impossible for him to see that she was stupid and ill-bred?In any case, it's not just for her good looks, because there are too many beautiful women that he doesn't like. But to a man of sixty-two, childishness can be very attractive.This is her nature?Or has she unconsciously become second nature because she poses so often? Rosaleen said again, "David is out, I'm afraid..." Mrs. Marchmont immediately recalled the purpose of her trip.Maybe David would be back in a moment, and now she had to take her chance.She found it a bit difficult to speak, but she finally managed to speak out. "I don't know...can you help me a little?" "Help you?" Rosalind seemed surprised, not understanding. "I... things are different now... You know, things are different for all of us when Gordon dies." She thought: You idiot, do you have to force me like this?You know exactly what I mean!Must know!Haven't you been poor yourself? She really hated Rosaleen at this moment because she—Adela Marchmont had to sit here and beg Rosaleen for money.She thought: I can't do this - not at all. suddenly.The long-standing thoughts and all the vague plans flashed through her mind again: Sell ​​the house... (but move to where? There are no small houses around - certainly not any cheap ones).Take some tenants—(But she can't handle that much cooking and housework, if Lynn can help... But she's going to marry Rowley soon).Move in with Luo Li and Xu En? (No, she would never do that!) Get a job? (What job? Who would hire an untrained, old, tired woman?) She hears her own voice speak... yet wrestles with herself and despises herself. "I mean money," she said. "Money?" Rosaleen asked. She seemed genuinely surprised, as if she hadn't thought about it at all. Adela stammered and insisted on saying: "I've overspent in the bank and I've got some bills behind - money to fix the house, and the taxes haven't been paid. You know, everything's cut in half, I mean my income, maybe taxes. You know, Gordon's been a help to us all the time - the house needs repairs, the paint, he's always been in charge of it. He also gives us some pocket money and puts some money in the bank for us on a regular basis. He's always calling us Don't worry, I never worried about it. I mean, when he was alive, everything was fine, but now..." She paused, embarrassed, but relieved at the same time.After all, the worst is over.If the girl in front of you wants to refuse, let her refuse, at most it's nothing more than that. Rosalind looked uncomfortable. "Oh, my God," she said, "I don't know, I never thought... I... er, well, sure, I'll ask David." Adela grabbed the arm of the chair unhappily, and said desperately: "Can't you give me a check?...Can't you now?" "But... yes, I think so," Rosalind seemed taken aback, she got up and went to the desk, groped in several drawers for a long time, and finally took out a checkbook, "Do you want me... How much is it?" ?” "Five...five hundred pounds... is that okay?" Adele blurted out. "Five hundred pounds." Rosalind obediently wrote the check. Adele felt relieved.Isn't it easy?She was a little disappointed to find that she had little gratitude in her heart, but felt a little contemptuous of the easy victory.Rosalind was surprisingly simple-minded! The girl stood up from the desk and walked over to her, handing the check awkwardly.At this moment, the embarrassing person seemed to be her instead. "Hope this works out, I'm so sorry." Adele took the check, and on the pink paper was scrawled childishly: Mrs Marchmont, £500, Rosaleen Cloade. "It's very kind of you, Rosalind, thank you." "Oh please...I mean...I should have thought of..." "It's very kind of you, dear." With that check in her handbag, Adela Marchmont was a completely different person.The girl was so kind, and if it was delayed any longer, the meeting would be a bit awkward, so she said goodbye to her master and left. She met David in the aisle, said good morning to him cheerfully, and walked briskly on.