Read The Mirror Crack'd: from Side to Side for Free Online Page B

“Iwant to stay here always,” she said. “Oh, I don’t mean that I shan’t have to go away a lot. I shall, of course. There’s a possibility of making a film in North Africa next year although nothing’s settled yet. No, but this will be my home. I shall come back here. I shall always be able to come back here.” She sighed. “That’s what’s so wonderful. To have found a home at last.”
    â€œI see,” said Mrs. Bantry, but at the same time she thought to herself, “All the same I don’t believe for a moment that it will be like that. I don’t believe you’re the kind that can ever settle down.”
    Again she shot a quick surreptitious glance at Jason Rudd. He was not scowling now. Instead he was smiling, a sudden very sweet and unexpected smile, but it was a sad smile. “He knows it too,” thought Mrs. Bantry.
    The door opened and a woman came in. “Bartletts want you on the telephone, Jason,” she said.
    â€œTell them to call back.”
    â€œThey said it was urgent.”
    He sighed and rose. “Let me introduce you to Mrs. Bantry,” he said. “Ella Zielinsky, my secretary.”
    â€œHave a cup of tea, Ella,” said Marina as Ella Zielinsky acknowledged the introduction with a smiling “Pleased to meet you.”
    â€œI’ll have a sandwich,” said Ella. “I don’t go for China tea.”
    Ella Zielinsky was at a guess thirty-five. She wore a well cut suit, a ruffled blouse and appeared to breathe self-confidence. She had short-cut black hair and a wide forehead.
    â€œYou used to live here, so they tell me,” she said to Mrs. Bantry.
    â€œIt’s a good many years ago now,” said Mrs. Bantry. “After my husband’s death I sold it and it’s passed through several hands since then.”
    â€œMrs. Bantry really says she doesn’t hate the things we’ve done to it,” said Marina.
    â€œI should be frightfully disappointed if you hadn’t,” said Mrs. Bantry. “I came up here all agog. I can tell you the most splendid rumours have been going around the village.”
    â€œNever knew how difficult it was to get hold of plumbers in this country,” said Miss Zielinsky, champing a sandwich in a businesslike way. “Not that that’s been really my job,” she went on.
    â€œEverything is your job,” said Marina, “and you know it is, Ella. The domestic staff and the plumbing and arguing with the builders.”
    â€œThey don’t seem ever to have heard of a picture window in this country.”
    Ella looked towards the window. “It’s a nice view, I must admit.”
    â€œA lovely old-fashioned rural English scene,” said Marina. “This house has got atmosphere .”
    â€œIt wouldn’t look so rural if it wasn’t for the trees,” said Ella Zielinsky. “That housing estate down there grows while you look at it.”
    â€œThat’s new since my time,” said Mrs. Bantry.
    â€œYou mean there was nothing but the village when you lived here?”
    Mrs. Bantry nodded.
    â€œIt must have been hard to do your shopping.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” said Mrs. Bantry. “I think it was frightfully easy.”
    â€œI understand having a flower garden,” said Ella Zielinsky, “but you folk over here seem to grow all your vegetables as well. Wouldn’t it be much easier to buy them—there’s a supermarket?”
    â€œIt’s probably coming to that,” said Mrs. Bantry, with a sigh. “They don’t taste the same, though.”
    â€œDon’t spoil the atmosphere, Ella,” said Marina.
    The door opened and Jason looked in. “Darling,” he said to Marina, “I hate to bother you but would you mind? They just want your private view about this.”
    Marina sighed and rose. She trailed languidly towards the door. “Always