by Miss Read
Joan quickly got to her feet, and put a hand onto Derek’s arm. ‘Hang on a moment, and I’ll get your coats.’
The Burwells just stood there, seemingly oblivious to the spectacle they were creating. Jeremy’s young eyes were as big as saucers as he gazed at the apparition in mauve who was being firmly gripped by her husband. Those at the hall table were now totally silent and Edward, sensing from the dining-room that something was amiss, appeared in the doorway in time to witness the Burwells’ stumbling exit. Joan shut the front door behind them, leaned against it and said, ‘I’m so sorry about that, everyone. I think it’s time to pull the crackers. Let battle commence!’
It was just what was needed to get everyone back into the swing of the party, and after bangs and oohs and aahs, and ‘oh, it’s not fair, you’ve won again,’ all the guests seemed to sport a splendid paper hat on their heads and were soon tucking into the puddings.
It was when the cheese was on the table, and the decanters of port were being passed round, that Robert moved his chair a little closer to Ella.
She stayed her hand that was halfway to her mouth with a piece of cheese carefully balanced on a biscuit. ‘I’m a bit blind, Robert, not deaf!’
‘I know, Ella, forgive me, but I didn’t want to shout this out.’
‘Shout what out?’ asked Ella, crunching on the biscuit.
‘I just wondered . . . Dulcie and I wondered . . .’
Ella turned her head towards him. ‘What did you wonder?’
‘If you get all the necessary permissions from the planning department and the Church Commissioners to turn those rooms at the vicarage into an apartment so you live permanently with Charles and Dimity, we, er, wondered . . . would you then be selling your cottage?’
‘Have to, wouldn’t I? Got to have the cash to pay for the alterations and to pay my rent to Charles and Dim. Why?’ But before either Robert or Dulcie could answer, Ella continued, ‘Ah, is it because you two would like to buy it?’
They both nodded intensely.
‘Why?’ Ella repeated in her forthright manner.
‘As you may know, we sold my house in the Lake District a couple of years ago but I have to admit that I miss the country more than I thought I would. Then, with junior on the way, we would very much like to have a foot in the country again. That’s one of the reasons why we came down here now - to have a drive and look round. The estate agents won’t be open tomorrow, of course, but we might see a board or two. But nothing, nothing,’ Robert repeated vehemently, ‘would give us more pleasure than to bring our child up in the village where his or her great-great-grandfather was born.’
Ella gazed from one to the other. For once her vision was quite clear, and she could see the passion shining in their eyes.
‘Well, I have to say that it would please me, too, to know that someone I liked was going to live in the cottage that has meant so much to me all these years. I was only thinking earlier this evening how awful it would be if those excruciating Burwells, or someone like them, bought the place.’
‘So do you think it would be possible?’ asked Dulcie, leaning forward excitedly.
But before Ella could answer, Edward appeared in the doorway of the dining-room, calling out, ‘It’s very close to midnight. Come on, everyone into the hall. Molly, can you turn the kitchen radio to full volume so we can hear the chimes of Big Ben.’
With a great deal of chatter and laughter, the eighteen good friends gathered round the table in the hall and crossed hands. Seeing not only Molly and Ben standing near the door into the kitchen, but Winnie’s Jenny as well, Joan broke the circle of hands and called to them to join in. As the chimes of Big Ben echoed through the hall from the kitchen and then the first of twelve booms to indicate the New Year, Frank, in his fine voice, started everyone off on ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And as they rather raggedly reached this point, the circle broke up and in a moment everyone was hugging their neighbour. ‘Happy New Year!’ they called out. Husbands kissed wives and mothers kissed their sons, the men shook each other by the hand. Winnie embraced Jenny saying, ‘I had quite forgotten that I was supposed to be going home early. We’ve been having such a good time.’
Robert took Dulcie’s face in his hands. ‘Happy New Year, darling. It’s hard to think that this time next year we’ll be three. You’re going to make a wonderful mother.’ He kissed her gently on the lips.
The two of them then turned towards Ella. The large woman held out her good arm towards them. ‘Yes,’ she said, ‘if everything goes to plan, I think my little cottage would like to have you living there.’
‘Oh, Ella, how simply wonderful,’ Dulcie cried, and flung her arms round Robert. Over her shoulder, he mouthed those simple but such important words to Ella, ‘Thank you.’
When the two disentangled themselves, they both embraced Ella, being careful not to squash her bad arm.
It had been agreed at Lulling Vicarage before the start of the evening that it would be wise not to discuss the Grand Plan and Ella had parried enquiries about her future all evening, as had Charles and Dimity.
‘Remember,’ Ella now said, shaking herself like an old spaniel, ‘not a word about this to anyone. There will be plenty of time in due course.’
The party continued unabated. The port decanter circulated, plates of walnuts and tangerines were placed on the table, and those who had been in the dining-room brought their chairs through to the hall. But, as always, good things have to come to an end.
The first to leave were John and Ruth Lovell since John was on call the following morning.
‘I’ll come round after breakfast,’ Ruth said to her sister, ‘and help you clear up. Thanks for a wonderful evening.’
Winnie was the next to leave, walking the short distance home with Jenny, her friend and companion. She stood for a moment outside the house where she had lived for so many years, and lifted her face to the almost full moon above. ‘It smells to me as though it’s going to be a very good new year,’ she said, her breath pluming out into the cold air.
An owl, flitting through the chestnut trees on the green, hooted in response.
‘Come along in,’ said Jenny. ‘I think a mug of warm cocoa will settle you nicely for the night.’
Harold and Isobel, with Dorothy Watson and little Agnes Fogerty, made their farewells shortly afterwards.
‘It’s at times like this that I really miss Thrush Green,’ said Dorothy, pulling her coat tightly round her as they set off across the green to the Shoosmiths’ house.
‘But we’re very happy in Barton,’ chimed in Agnes.
A voice called out through the dim light round the green. ‘Goodnight. An’ a very happy New Year to you all.’ It was Nelly Piggott, making her way home, having been relieved from baby-sitting duties by Ben and Molly.
‘Goodnight, Nelly,’ they all chorused. ‘And a happy New Year to you, too.’
As Harold closed the garden gate, he turned and leaned on it for a moment. Moonlight was shining down directly onto the statue of Nathaniel Patten a few yards away on the green.
‘And you, too, old chap. A happy New Year!’ he said, then turned and followed the others into the house.
Phil and Frank walked, arm in arm, the short distance back to Tullivers, the lad running ahead, eager to be reunited with young Alfie. He and Jeremy had made plans to meet the following day.
‘That was some evening!’ said Phil dreamily, leaning her head on Frank’s shoulder.
‘Pity about the Burwells,’ replied Frank. ‘It was a decent idea of Edward and Joan to have them, considering the trouble Paul had caused, but it goes to show that however much you try,
you can’t get a round peg to fit into a square hole.’
‘Shouldn’t that be the other way round?’ Phil asked.
‘I don’t know, and I don’t care,’ answered Frank. ‘It’s much too late, and I’m ready for my bed.’
The last to leave the Youngs’ house was the party heading for Lulling. They had come in Robert’s big car and Dulcie, who because of her expectant state had not drunk all evening, drove them home. As had been agreed, nothing was mentioned about Ella’s cottage but Ella noticed both turned their heads towards it as the car drove quietly past. She sensed the young couple were very excited.
When they got back to the vicarage, Robert and Dulcie said their goodnights. ‘It’s been a very long day for junior and his mother,’ said Robert. ‘It’s straight to bed for us.’
‘We’ll talk in the morning,’ was all Ella said, somewhat enigmatically as far as Charles and Dimity were concerned.
‘What a lovely evening,’ said Dimity and, sitting on the hall chair, she took off her shoes. She wriggled her toes in bliss. ‘Oooh, that’s much better.’
‘The best part of every good evening out,’ said Ella, ‘is coming home.’
‘Home?’ repeated Dimity, looking up at her old friend. ‘I can’t tell you how good it is to hear you say that word.’
‘Do you remember, Dim,’ Ella asked, ‘what you said when you were packing your things at the cottage, before you left to marry Charles?’
‘Remind me,’ Dimity said.
‘We’d been very happy there,’ continued Ella quietly, ‘but I knew some man would gather you up one day. As we were packing your china, I remember saying to you, “It was good while it lasted.” And you said to me . . .’ She paused.
Dimity smiled. ‘I remember now. I said, “It will go on lasting.” And so it has proved.’