and his son was anxious to move in quickly as his wife is expecting their first baby shortly. It suited us too.'
'It's good news for us,' Isobel said. 'We've hated seeing the place standing empty. Is there much to do?'
'Basically no. The extension will simply have to be done while we are in residence, but in some ways that will be a good thing. We can keep an eye on affairs.'
'What we would like,' said Alan's wife, 'is somebody to give the place a good scrub out. Can you suggest anyone?'
'Domestic help is pretty thin on the ground at Thrush Green,' replied Isobel. She told her about Betty Bell, but Margaret Lester was adamant that she would not employ someone who was already heavily engaged.
'It's the quickest way to make enemies,' she said smiling, 'but perhaps she might know of someone? We want to move in in about ten days' time, and it would only be this one occasion. I don't think I shall need regular help.'
Isobel promised to make enquiries, and the conversation turned to such matters as milk deliveries, reliable grocers and butchers, the rarity of jobbing gardeners and the everlasting boon of The Two Pheasants.
The two men, followed by the little girls, then went on a tour of the Shoosmiths' garden, while Isobel and Margaret sat talking.
'I do so hope it will all work out,' said the latter. 'It's all been done in such a hurry, but Alan was worried about me, I know.'
'Do you have health problems?'
Margaret sighed. 'I've really not been quite as fit since Kate was born. There's nothing that the doctors can do, so they say, but I get the most appalling headaches, and they leave me terribly low and depressed.'
Isobel made sympathetic noises. Privately, she wondered if Margaret Lester was something of a hypochondriac; she seemed almost pleased to be discussing her symptoms.
'In that case,' said Isobel, 'I'm sure Alan is doing the right thing by moving here where you can be together so much more. And you will find Thrush Green people are very friendly. As for the air here, it's absolutely a tonic in itself. I'm sure you will all feel the benefit.'
'Well, I certainly hope so,' said Margaret wanly. 'I really can't face feeling like this for the rest of my life!'
'You won't have to,' replied Isobel sturdily. 'Come round here if you need anything while you are working next door; the telephone is here, and a couch if you feel like a rest.'
'You are so kind. We are having lunch at The Two Pheasants and Mr Jones has said exactly the same. I think we arc going to settle in nicely.'
'I'm sure of it,' said Isobel, and watched the woman making her way towards the family, and then next door to resume her labours.
Later that day, Isobel voiced her fears about Margaret Lester's possible hypochondria, but Harold was dismissive of such conjectures.
'I thought she was a very nice little woman. And after all, they are obviously having quite a lot of worry at the moment, with all the upheaval of moving, and getting the little girls used to the idea of going to the same school as their father. It's not surprising that she seems a little low at the moment.'
Isobel said no more, but reserved her judgement.
True to her word, Isobel spoke to Betty Bell about the cleaning of the school house.
'Well, now,' said Betty, 'I'd dearly like to take it on myself, but I've got my old auntie coming for a bit, and I shall be tied up with her.'
'Don't worry, Betty. Mrs Lester didn't really expect you to do it, just to suggest someone, if possible.'
Betty Bell ruminated, picking automatically at what appeared to be congealed marmalade on the edge of the kitchen table.
'Tell you what,' she said at last, 'have a word with Nelly Piggott. She might do it, and if not she'd know of someone, I don't doubt.'
That evening Nelly Piggott was busy frying what she termed 'a nice bit of rump' when Isobel called to make her request.
'Come in, come in,' cried Nelly, shifting the sizzling pan to one side of the stove, but Isobel made her request from the
'It's good news for us,' Isobel said. 'We've hated seeing the place standing empty. Is there much to do?'
'Basically no. The extension will simply have to be done while we are in residence, but in some ways that will be a good thing. We can keep an eye on affairs.'
'What we would like,' said Alan's wife, 'is somebody to give the place a good scrub out. Can you suggest anyone?'
'Domestic help is pretty thin on the ground at Thrush Green,' replied Isobel. She told her about Betty Bell, but Margaret Lester was adamant that she would not employ someone who was already heavily engaged.
'It's the quickest way to make enemies,' she said smiling, 'but perhaps she might know of someone? We want to move in in about ten days' time, and it would only be this one occasion. I don't think I shall need regular help.'
Isobel promised to make enquiries, and the conversation turned to such matters as milk deliveries, reliable grocers and butchers, the rarity of jobbing gardeners and the everlasting boon of The Two Pheasants.
The two men, followed by the little girls, then went on a tour of the Shoosmiths' garden, while Isobel and Margaret sat talking.
'I do so hope it will all work out,' said the latter. 'It's all been done in such a hurry, but Alan was worried about me, I know.'
'Do you have health problems?'
Margaret sighed. 'I've really not been quite as fit since Kate was born. There's nothing that the doctors can do, so they say, but I get the most appalling headaches, and they leave me terribly low and depressed.'
Isobel made sympathetic noises. Privately, she wondered if Margaret Lester was something of a hypochondriac; she seemed almost pleased to be discussing her symptoms.
'In that case,' said Isobel, 'I'm sure Alan is doing the right thing by moving here where you can be together so much more. And you will find Thrush Green people are very friendly. As for the air here, it's absolutely a tonic in itself. I'm sure you will all feel the benefit.'
'Well, I certainly hope so,' said Margaret wanly. 'I really can't face feeling like this for the rest of my life!'
'You won't have to,' replied Isobel sturdily. 'Come round here if you need anything while you are working next door; the telephone is here, and a couch if you feel like a rest.'
'You are so kind. We are having lunch at The Two Pheasants and Mr Jones has said exactly the same. I think we arc going to settle in nicely.'
'I'm sure of it,' said Isobel, and watched the woman making her way towards the family, and then next door to resume her labours.
Later that day, Isobel voiced her fears about Margaret Lester's possible hypochondria, but Harold was dismissive of such conjectures.
'I thought she was a very nice little woman. And after all, they are obviously having quite a lot of worry at the moment, with all the upheaval of moving, and getting the little girls used to the idea of going to the same school as their father. It's not surprising that she seems a little low at the moment.'
Isobel said no more, but reserved her judgement.
True to her word, Isobel spoke to Betty Bell about the cleaning of the school house.
'Well, now,' said Betty, 'I'd dearly like to take it on myself, but I've got my old auntie coming for a bit, and I shall be tied up with her.'
'Don't worry, Betty. Mrs Lester didn't really expect you to do it, just to suggest someone, if possible.'
Betty Bell ruminated, picking automatically at what appeared to be congealed marmalade on the edge of the kitchen table.
'Tell you what,' she said at last, 'have a word with Nelly Piggott. She might do it, and if not she'd know of someone, I don't doubt.'
That evening Nelly Piggott was busy frying what she termed 'a nice bit of rump' when Isobel called to make her request.
'Come in, come in,' cried Nelly, shifting the sizzling pan to one side of the stove, but Isobel made her request from the
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