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 h

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