Celia's House Read Free Page A

clearly of all. She was so gay and pretty—the baby of the family. I can remember other things too—things that I saw and did when I was young. I remember going to London by stagecoach and my father took me to see King William driving in the park. I’ve never forgotten that.”
    â€œIt’s—it’s astounding,” declared Humphrey, looking at the small, dainty old lady in amazement.
    â€œYes, I’ve seen a good many changes, but you’ll see more. These motorcars—noisy, smelly things—they’ve come to stay, I’m afraid.”
    â€œThey’ll improve,” Humphrey said thoughtfully.
    â€œThere’s much need of improvement,” Miss Dunne declared with spirit. “Maurice has bought one. You never saw such a hideous contraption in your life. It seems to me that all the new inventions are ugly and noisy.”
    Humphrey took a scone and buttered it—what lovely butter it was, rich and yellow and creamy!
    â€œThe hills don’t change, thank God,” continued Miss Dunne. “There’s Timperton Law—it looks the same today as it did before I was born, and it won’t look different when your children’s children are dead and buried. You shot your first grouse on Timperton Law, Humphrey.”
    â€œFancy you remembering that!” he exclaimed in surprise. He was rather touched that she would remember his first grouse. The day came back to him very clearly: it was in early September and the heather was a blaze of purple and humming with wild bees. Maurice had been staying at Dunnian and the two of them had driven over to Timperton in the dogcart. They had taken Johnson to carry the bags. Maurice had been very decent to Humphrey, showing him how to swing his gun, giving him the best chance. Maurice had been a good-natured sort of fellow; what was he like now, Humphrey wondered. Someday Dunnian would belong to Maurice…
    â€œHave you met Maurice’s wife?” Aunt Celia was asking.
    Humphrey shook his head. “I’ve been abroad so much. One’s friends are apt to drift away—it’s natural, I suppose. Have they any children, Aunt Celia?”
    â€œShe prefers dogs,” Aunt Celia said shortly.
    Humphrey chuckled. “They’re less trouble,” he said.
    â€œNina’s dogs are more trouble than children,” replied Aunt Celia. “She’s quite crazy about them. I like dogs myself, but not silly little toy dogs that yap all day. Do you remember old Boris?”
    â€œYes, of course.”
    â€œJohnson still has a granddaughter of old Boris. He wanted to give me one of her puppies, but I can’t walk far enough to exercise a spaniel. My dog days are over.” She sighed and added in a different tone, “It was good of you to come see me, Humphrey. I wanted to talk to you and there isn’t much time.”
    â€œI’ve got three days’ leave.”
    â€œI daresay, but how much leave have I got?” she asked, looking at him with a mischievous twinkle in her bright eyes.
    â€œYou mean—”
    â€œYou know what I mean, Humphrey. The doctors have a lot of long words for it, but it’s quite simple really. My poor old heart is worn out. Ninety years is a long time for a heart to go on beating.”
    â€œI don’t like to hear you say that!” he exclaimed.
    She smiled and said, “Some people think I’ve been here too long.”
    â€œAunt Celia!”
    â€œIt’s true. Maurice and that expensive wife of his are getting quite impatient. She’s made all her plans, of course. She’s decided to cut down part of the wood and open up a ‘vista.’ The lawn is to be cut up into round beds for bedding out—so I’m informed—and there’s to be a rock garden with alpine plants.”
    Humphrey gazed at her wide-eyed, but when he saw she was smiling, his face relaxed into a grin. “How do you know all