Philomena's Miracle. Бетти Нилс

helping Molly to prepare the lunch, but presently when she had done these things she got into slacks and a sweater, told Molly that she was going riding, and left the house. There was a riding stables close by and Mr Stiles who owned it was a good friend of hers; Bessy, the little grey mare she always rode, was saddled for her and she went out of the town towards Holton Heath. There was little traffic, it was still too early in the year for that, and what weekend traffic there was on its way to Bournemouth had passed through the day before. Only one car passed her as she crossed the Wool road from the stables to take a bridle path circumventing the town—a Khamsin with the doctor at the wheel. He was going in the direction of her home and she thought wryly that he would be lucky if he didn’t have to wait at least an hour for Miriam, since it would be she he was going to see. He braked hard when he saw her, but she didn’t stop, only raised a gloved hand in casual salute before she turned Bessy’s nose into the bridle path.

      She didn’t get back home until almost teatime, to find her stepmother and sisters out and Molly in the kitchen with her feet up taking a well-earned rest. ‘Your ma’s gone to the Pierces’, Miss Chloe went out after lunch with a bunch of young people, and Miss Miriam went out with that doctor.’ She peeped at Philomena as she spoke. ‘He didn’t sound too keen to take her, but she’s always able to get her own way. They said cold supper as they didn’t know when they would be back. There’s a nice tea for you, Miss Philly, you go along and change and I’ll bring it along to the sitting room. Are you going to be in for supper?’