(9/13)The School at Thrush Green by Miss Read

Thrush Green
    THE long doleful winter seemed to be coming to an end when a welcome warmth crept across the land, the daffodils lengthened their stems, and lambs bleated in the fields near Thrush Green.
    Hopeful gardeners itched to put out from their greenhouses the waiting trays of annuals. The vegetable plots were raked over in readiness for early potatoes, peas and runner beans. Older and wiser gardeners did their best to restrain these optimists, and took gloomy pleasure in pointing out the late snowfalls of yester-year and the innumerable frosts which April and May could bring with doom in their wake.
    The ladies of Lulling and Thrush Green hastened to the two dress shops in the High Street to replenish their wardrobes with cotton frocks, only to be told, with considerable satisfaction on the part of the assistants, that all summer clothing should have been bought last October, and that now they were showing winter wear only.
    'But surely that's rather silly,' commented Winnie Bailey, wondering if she would find a Viyella button-through frock a good investment, and deciding, on looking at the price ticket, that it might be wiser to invest in a few dozen gold bars instead.
    'The Trade has always followed this traditional pattern,' said the assistant loftily.
    Some rock music was blaring round them making conversation difficult.
    'Do you think we could have that switched off?' asked Winnie.
    The assistant looked shocked. 'Quite out of the question,' she replied. 'It's Company Policy to have background music. The customers like it.'
    'Well, here's one who doesn't,' retorted Winnie with spirit, casting the Viyella frock across the counter.
    She strode out into Lulling High Street, vowing never to darken the doors of that insufferable shop again, and noticed a fluttering of hands at the windows of the Lovelocks' house.
    She responded vigorously, crossed the road, and was welcomed indoors by the three sisters.

    'I don't know what's come over that shop,' commiserated Ada. 'Ever since that new woman came and called it "Suzilou" it has gone downhill.'
    'We always bought our stays there,' volunteered Violet. 'Right from girlhood, but now they say they aren't stocking foundation garments ! Would you believe it?'
    'I believe it readily,' said Winnie. 'Also I am getting heartily tired of asking for a size sixteen or eighteen only to be told that those sizes are so popular that they have sold out.'
    'Most trying,' agreed Bertha. 'If that is so, why don't the manufacturers make more of those sizes?'
    All four ladies sighed and shook their heads.
    'A cup of coffee, Winnie dear?'
    'Or a glass of sherry?'
    'Or we have some madeira somewhere, if you prefer it?'
    'Nothing, thank you. Tell me, how are you faring at The Fuchsia Bush, and have you been able to get help in the house?'
    Ada, as the eldest, took it upon herself to answer.
    'On the whole,' she began judicially, 'we are being well served at The Fuchsia Bush. We go every Wednesday, and sometimes, when we feel we can afford it, on a Thursday as well.'
    Winnie Bailey, who had known the sisters' parsimony for almost half a century, was not affected by the pathos of the Thursday decision.
    'Of course, we always let Mrs Peters or Nelly know on the Wednesday, if we shall be requiring lunch on the Thursday ,' explained Bertha.
    'The food is excellent,' added Violet.
    'But expensive,' reproved Ada.
    'It's far dearer at The Fleece,' responded Violet, sounding militant. 'I looked at the menu outside when I was passing yesterday, and their set lunch is twice the price of Mrs Peters'.'
    'We were not considering The Fleece,' retorted Ada. 'For one thing it is far too far to walk there, particularly if the weather is inclement. I can't think why you troubled to pry into their tariff at all.'
    Winnie hastened to break into this family squabble. 'Well, I'm sure you are wise to go next door occasionally. They were so obliging to you when you were all ill. It's a good thing to repay their kindness, by