"Cooper, Susan - Dark is Rising 01 - Over Sea, Under Stone" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cooper Susan)

'I couldn't help it. It just fell.'

'That comes of trying to take too much at once,' Father said.

'Well, you like it too.'

'Possibly. But I don't try to transport a quart in a pint pot.'

'What d'you mean?'

'Never mind,' Father said.

'Oh for heaven's sake, Simon, that's just making it worse.' Simon, in an attempt to retrieve the blob of cream with his spoon, had left a large yellow smear on the cloth.

'Sorry.'

'I should think so.'

'Did you go fishing today, Father?' Jane said hopefully from across the table, feeling that it was time to change the subject.

'No,' said Father.

'Don't be stupid,' Simon said ungratefully, still smarting. 'It was raining.'

'Well, Father does go fishing in the rain sometimes.'

'No, he doesn't.'

'Yes, he does.'

'If I may be allowed to explain my own actions,' Father said with heavy sarcasm. 'Occasionally I have been known to go fishing in the rain. Today I did not. Is that comprehensible ?'

'Have some apple tart, dear,' said Mother, handing him a plate.

'Hmmm,' Father said, glancing at her sideways, and he lapsed into silence. After a moment he said, hopefully: 'Might by an idea if we all went for a walk after supper. It seems to be clearing up.'

Everyone looked out of the window, and the temperature of the room rose several degrees. Over the sea the clouds had broken, leaving a deepening blue sky, and the opposite headland glowed suddenly a brighter green as the sinking sun shone for the first time that day.

Then they heard the doorbell ring.

'Bother,' Mother said wearily. 'Whoever can that be?'

Mrs Palk's footsteps rang briskly past the door, and then back again. She put her head in.

'Tis some people for you, Dr Drew.'

'Stand by to repel boarders,' Father said, and he went out into the hall. In a few moments he was back, talking to someone over his shoulder as he came through the door. '... very kind of you indeed, we hadn't really thought what we were going to do tomorrow. They're an independent lot, you know. Well, here we are.' He beamed heartily round with what the family called his public face. 'My wife, Simon, Jane, Barney ... this is Mr and Miss - er - Withers. From that yacht you admire so much, Simon. We met in the harbour this morning.'

A man and a girl stood behind him in the doorway. Both were dark-haired, with beaming smiles bright in sun-tanned faces. They looked like beings suddenly materialised from another very tidy planet. The man stepped forward, holding out his hand: 'How do you do, Mrs Drew ? '