Ingenious pain, Andrew Miller [little red riding hood ebook .txt] 📗

Cole,' says the Reverend Lestrade, wiping his mouth, 'not only are you good enough to laugh at my stories but these are the juiciest pigeons in the world. I cannot think what we should do without you. Dr Dyer, will you not second me?'

James raises his glass. 'Mrs Cole is the finest cook in Devon. She is an artist.'

'An artist indeed!' The Reverend fills his glass. 'You have said the necessary thing, Doctor. Tabitha dear, will you pass the prawns. I thank you. Now tell me, is this sergeant of yours coming to see us before he embarks for the Americas?' Dido says: 'Leave the poor girl to eat her dinner, Julius.' The Reverend says: 'She may eat her dinner and talk, may she not? It was a simple question. I take an interest in the fellow's fortunes. He is a very able botanist. Did you know that? Nothing he cannot tell you about roses.'

'You are making her blush, Julius. Do give it it over.' A tear falls from Tabitha's downturned face, plops in the buttery gravy on her plate. Mrs Cole pulls a cloth from her sleeve and forces it roughly on to the end of Tabitha's nose. Tabitha blows. Dido scowls at her brother, who shrugs guiltily and sips his wine. James winks at Sam, who is sat opposite him.

321

It is Sam's birthday. In his honour the entire household - with the exception of George Pace, who would be uncomfortable in such company - is dining together. It is May. A light rain is falling. Mary is sitting next to Sam.

James says: 'Miss Lestrade tells me, Reverend, that you are going up to Bath.'

1 think we may. Astick wants to go with his daughter. My sister likes the place.'

Dido says: *I should like to go to the theatre again. They are performing The Merchant of Venice with Mr Barrett and Mr Death. Perhaps, Doctor, you should join us.'

The Reverend says: 'The doctor does not care for theatre.'

James says: 'I used to go sometimes, to the theatre in Orchard Street.'

'What did you see?' Dido asks.

James smiles. 'I am afraid I did not notice.'

'In the winter,' says Dido, 'I always have a dream of going to Bath. It is always a fine day, all the world dressed in their best clothes, and I am going to a ball.' She laughs, blushes. 'It is a very fooHsh dream, to be sure. Do you care for Bath, Dr Dyer?'

James reorders the pigeon bones on his plate. 'I find it somewhat . . .'

The Reverend claps his hands. 'Here come the puddings! I hope you have kept some room for these, Sam.'

Tabitha and Mrs Cole lay cakes and syllabubs on the table. There is a warm smeU of almonds and cinnamon. When the cakes are cut, Mrs Cole gives a large slice of the seed cake to Mary. The cook says: 'I know this is to her fancy. She likes the sweetness.'

Mary eats the cake, breaking pieces off with her fingers, rolling the crumbs into a pellet. James grins at her. She looks up at him, briefly.

Tabitha, recovered from her tears, says: 'There's a show over at Cow this afternoon.'

What is it?' asks the Reverend.

'It is a Negro,' says Mrs Cole, 'from Exeter.'

Sam says: 'He's going to wrestle. An' lift up a cart an' a horse an' two men on each of his arms.'

Tabitha says: 'His wife is there an' all. She's no bigger than your thumb.'

'And does the wife also wrestle?' enquires the Reverend.

Dido says: 'Tabitha could go with Sam to see it. It is not indecent, is it, Mrs Cole?'

'I do not believe it is,' says Mrs Cole, 'but I shall go with them in case. The boy is too young to know, and Tabitha has not the wit.'

The Reverend says: 'You are a female Solomon, Mrs Cole. Now then, Sam, if you wish for that last piece of cake we must have a song from you. I know the doctor likes your singing.'

James says: 'As it is his birthday, should we not sing to him?'

The Reverend nods. 'Then we shall all sing together. Sister, will you start us off on something?'

The rain stops. By the time they have drunk their tea, the afternoon is glittering with watery light. They go out into the garden. The Reverend inspects his yellow roses, his lilac and his wisteria. He says: 'There is some tying-in to be done on the creepers.'

Dido wraps a scarf around Sam's eyes. She turns him twice, says: 'Off you go!'

The others scatter, whistling and calling, all except Mary who, to James's great satisfaction, looks genuinely puzzled. He says: 'It is a game, Mary! You must not let him catch you.'

Sam, standing half a yard in front of her, senses a presence, reaches out both hands, then pauses, cocks his head, turns, and runs directly to where the Reverend is bent over his tulips.

Dido calls: 'He can see! Shame on you, Sam!'

'It was not that,' says James.

Sam takes off the blindfold and gives it to the Reverend. The boy looks at Mary. He laughs. The Reverend puts on the bHndfold. After several minutes he catches Mrs Cole. Mrs Cole catches Tabitha. Tabitha, surprisingly fast on her feet, catches James. James catches Dido. They are all flushed, slightly breathless. Tabitha, Mrs Cole and Sam set out for Cow. Dido goes into the house and comes out with a book in her hand. She holds it up. James recognises it: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy. The last volume. They have been reading the book aloud two or three evenings a week, sometimes Dido reading, but mostly James. He says: 'You wish to read some now. Miss Lestrade? In the garden?'

'I thought we might walk a httle first and read by the river. JuHus, will you walk off the effect of Mrs Cole's cakes with us? I will find your strong shoes.'

The Reverend says: 'The effect of Mrs Cole's cakes is entirely benign, my dear, which is more than I may