Страница 6 из 10
“Yes, yes,” Poorchick almost moaned, “but it don’t feel right, that’s what we’re saying. Her going round being nice, a man don’t know if he’s got a leg to stand on.”
“Or hop on,” said Hampicker darkly.
“All right, all right, I’ll see about it,” said Na
“People shouldn’t go around not doin’ what you expect,” said Poorchick weakly. “It gets people on edge.”
“And we’ll keep an eye on your sti —” Hampicker said, and then staggered backwards grasping his stomach and wheezing.
“Don’t mind him, it’s the stress,” said Poorchick, rubbing his elbow. “Been picking herbs, Mrs Ogg?”
“That’s right,” said Na
“So shall I put the fire out for you, then?” Poorchick shouted.
Gra
And she was humming. Na
And she smiled when she saw Na
“Why, Gytha, how nice to see you!”
“You all right, Esme?”
“Never felt better, dear.” The humming continued.
“Er ... sorting out rags, are you? said Na
It was one of Gra
“It’s in here somewhere ...” Gra
She flourished a garment. It was basically pink.
“Knew it was here,” she went on. “Hardly worn, either. And about my size, too.”
“You’re going to wear it?” said Na
Gra
“You don’t think it’d suit me?”
There was lace around the collar. Na
“You usually wear black. Well, a bit more than usually. More like always.”
“And a very sad sight I look too,” said Gra
“And it’s so very ... pink.”
Gra
“Bitch-in-the-manger,” said Na
For a moment Gra
“What?”
“Er ... you’d be a bitch-in-the-manger,” Na
“Ah? Oh, yes. Thank you for pointing that out. Well, I thought, it is time I stepped back a bit, and went along and cheered on the younger folks. I mean, I have to say, I ... really haven’t been very nice to people, have I ...”
“Er ...”
“I’ve tried being nice,” Gra
“You’ve never been really ... good at nice,” said Na
“Perhaps I’ll get better with practice,” she said.
She patted Na
“It’s just that everyone’s more used to you being ... firm,” she said.
“I thought I might make some jam and cakes for the produce stall,” said Gra
“Oh ... good.”
“Are there any sick people want visitin’?”
Na
When it came to practical psychology and the more robust type of folk physiotherapy Gra
“Everyone’s pretty well at the moment,” said Na
“Any old folk want cheerin’ up?”
It was taken for granted by both women that old people did not include them. A witch aged ninety-seven would not have included herself. Old people happened to other people.
“All fairly cheerful right now,” said Na
“Maybe I could tell stories to the kiddies?”
Na
“I could sit in a rocking chair while tell ’em,” Gra
Na
“Toffee,” she said. “Would that be the sort you did that shatters like glass, or that sort where our boy Pewsey had to have his mouth levered open with a spoon?”
“I reckon I know what I did wrong last time.”
“You know you and sugar don’t get along, Esme. Remember them all-day suckers you made?”
“They did last all day, Gytha.”
“Only ’cos our Pewsey couldn’t get it out of his little mouth until we pulled two of his teeth, Esme. You ought to stick to pickles. You and pickles goes well.”
“I’ve got to do something, Gytha. I can’t be an old grump all the time. I know! I’ll help at the Trials. Bound to be a lot that needs doing, eh?”
Na
“Why, yes. I’m sure Mrs Earwig will be happy to tell you what to do.” And more fool her if she does, she thought, because I can tell you’re pla
“I shall talk to her,” said Gra
“And I’m sure you will,” said Na
Gra
“Me?” said Na
Na
What there was, was bunting. It was hanging from tree to tree in terrible brightly-coloured loops as she walked towards the Trials.
There was something oddly familiar about it, too. It should not technically be possible for anyone with a pair of scissors to be unable to cut out a triangle, but someone had managed it. And it was also obvious that the flags had been made from old clothes, painstakingly cut up. Na
In the trials field, people were setting up stalls and falling over children. The committee were standing uncertainly under a tree, occasionally glancing up at a pink figure at the top of a very long ladder.
“She was here before it was light,” said Letice, as Na
“Tell her about the cakes,” said Gammer Beavis darkly.