These Delights Read Free

mildly.
    Diana glanced at her sharply.
    “But you’re not going to have them, are you?” she asked.
    “Why not?”
    “Well—three children! It’s a bit of an undertaking.”
    “Oh, children usually find plenty to amuse them on a farm.”
    “But, Hester, you haven’t the facilities. Who will look after them when you and Luke are busy? You’ll find them terribly in the way.”
    “I imagine,” Hester replied a little dryly, “they are capable of looking after themselves to some extent. They aren’t babes-in-arms.”
    “How old are they?”
    “Well, I’m a bit vague,” Luke said. “I’ve only seen one of them, and that was years ago when she was a baby. Let me see, she must be about fourteen now, then there were the other two, so I imagine they range between fourteen and nine or ten. Their mother died when the boy was born. The older two are girls.”
    “But why,” asked Diana helplessly, “have we never heard of them before? It’s all so vague.”
    “Yes, I’m afraid it is a bit vague,” Luke admitted. “I hadn’t thought of them for years. They’ve lived mostly in Algeria, so we’ve never kept in touch.”
    “Are they still in Algeria?”
    “No. They’re in France now—in Douai. The situation in Algeria became a b it difficult, so they decided to leave. And now, Dennis tells me, he’s a sick man and has to go into a sanatorium for a time.”
    Diana looked a little flushed.
    “Well, I must say, I think it’s pretty cool,” she said. “After all these years to want to dump his family on you at a moment’s notice. Haven’t they any other relations they can go to?”
    “Not that I know of. There’s an aunt in a convent somewhere, and another cousin with a job and a two-roomed flat. We are the only possible people who can offer them a home. Besides, I like children. It will cheer the place up to have them about, and Hester doesn’t mind.”
    “Well, what about Corky? He’s the one who will have all the trouble and extra work.”
    “Corky doesn’t mind, either, do you Corky?” Luke said, as the little man came in with the pudding.
    “Mind wot, sir?” Corky sounded suspicious. “If it’s asking me to change me evening when I’m all fixed up for the darts match at the local, then I do mind, and tell you, straight.”
    “No, Corky, we wouldn’t dream of interfering with your evening off,” Luke laughed. “Miss Sale was asking if you minded the prospect of having the children here for the summer.”
    “Ow, kids ! That’s different. I like kids—liven the place up a bit and probably break all the bloomin’ crocks. ‘Ere’s your apple pud, and I swiped some cream off of the dairy when Mr. Bowden wasn’t looking.” Corky, sounding cheerful and much relieved that his evening off was safe, placed the pudding in front of Hester and departed to the kitchen, forgetting to hand round the plates.
    “Poor Corky!” laughed Hester. ‘You gave him quite a turn, as he would express it hims elf.”
    “Well, I think you’re both crazy,” Diana said, “and if you have any sense, Luke, you’ll refuse. Do be guided by me for once, and write a tactful letter explaining that it’s not a convenient moment.”
    “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” said Luke gently. “I’ve already sent a wire telling them to come.”
    “I see,” said Diana briefly, and her mouth set in uncompromising lines, making her look older and harder for the moment.
    Hester glanced at her a little curiously, but she said nothing, and presently, when, lapsing into a rather uncomfortable silence, they had finished the meal, she made some excuse to leave them together and went up to her room.
    There was a little loggia at the back of the house where Luke and Hester liked to sit on summer evenings and stare contentedly across the small but charming garden which Hester had made, to the fields and moor beyond. It was filled now with the bright May sunlight, and Luke set a chair for Diana, then sat down in his own