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the English language should really sound like. Take no notice of
Richard's attempts to lure you into reading Dickens. He only wants
you to fall under a railway train like a famous English retired officer,
Captain Brown, whose unhealthy interest in Boz led him to that
horrid end."
"That just shows how little you understand about it, Grannie.
Captain Brown was reading Pickwick and Pickwick's nothing to do
with the real Dickens. Anyhow it was Pickwick in weekly parts which
couldn't happen now."
"Isn' t it time you two stopped all this Who's Who in Literature"
said Edwin. "In any case, if Sven's going to waste his time on novels
surely he might read modern authors like Huxley or even Lawrence."
"Dear Edwin" replied Mrs. Rackham "Even I know that Huxley
or even Lawrence" and she imitated her son-in-Iaw's hesitant tones
"daring though they may be are not
modern
authors."
"In any case I am reading Rasselas because it is demanded for
the higher examination. I am not really so greatly interested to read
books." Sven lay back and stretched his arms out to a spot where the
sunlight had broken through "I think I prefer more to follow outdoor
games when the sun shines, like Elizabeth does" and he smiled lazily
towards the clearing where Elizabeth was staking little wooden sticks
around a clump of late bluebells.
Seen upside down it's more like a eat's than a satyr's, thought
Edwin.
Elizabeth only scowled. "This isn't an outdoor game" she said
"I'm just messing around. Come down to the stream with me, Mum–
mie" she called.
"May I come too?" said Mrs. Rackham. Elizabeth gave no answer
but Monica looked pleased and held out her hand to assist her mother
from the ground. The family likeness showed clearly as they walked
away- three generations-hand in hand.
"It's the most lovely stream, Mummie" said Elizabeth, squeezing
Monica's arm. "I wish we had it all for our own."
"Yes" said Monica "I would plant Japanese irises here-the
dark purple kind with the spear-like leaves to contrast with the yellow
flags. It's funny how profuse Nature is with yellow, now if I had
made the Universe I should have had much more contrast of colour
