Anne Severn and the Fieldings
t Nicky w
ep, pushing it back and back b
mething that had hung o
to wake and find it
remem
s what it was; that was what he had hated to
ng wrong with Daddy-only indi
a sky pale with dawn. In her room across the passage Anne would be sitting up
see if she were still awake. Her voice a
old. May
ring the light in
f her body sitting upright in a chair. She glimmered there in her white wrapper and he made out so
and a sheet of watery looking-glass. Nicky's saucer of milk gleamed white on the dark floor at Anne's feet. The pale ceiling lightened; and with a
ith the great rope of her black hair, plaited, hanging down her ba
angely. She spoke and her
and couldn't. And I took him up and he was quiet then. I think he was pleased that I took him
l die in h
her for the first time. This, this was what he wanted, this mysterious, strangely smiling Anne, t
get you some
-ring and made the tea and brought it to her with cake and bread and butter on a little tray. He se
t him. Do you thin
od up on his bulging, frowning forehead. His little, flat cat's face was drawn to a point with a l
fully afraid
w long. Once he said to her, "Would you rather I went
lds of charlock warm in the risen sun
er quacking sound. Jerrold went to h
He couldn't drink it." And w
t cry. Don't cr
and stroked it. He stooped suddenly and kissed her face
had kissed her f
hiding her face on his shoulder. Then suddenly she loosed herself
ease, Jerry, so th
ok hi
uch of her smooth rose-leaf skin. That was Anne, that strangeness, that beauty of the clear, cold dawn, that scent, that warm sweet smoo
er sweet flesh; to hold her body tight, tight, crushed in his arms.
rrow, he would k