ChapterTheClarksonfamilylivedinthecountrynearCambridge，abouthalfamilefromthenearestvillageandaboutamilefromtheriver．Theyhadabig，oldhousewithabeautifulgarden，alotofflowersandmanyoldtrees．OneThursdaymorninginJuly，Jackiecameinfromthegarden．Shewasatall，fatwoman，thirtyyearsold．Itwasthehottestdayoftheyear，butsheworeawarmbrownskirtandyellowshirt．Shewentintothekitchentogetadrinkofwater．Justthenthephonerang．'Cambridge1379，'Jackiesaid．'Hello．ThisisDiane．IwanttotalktoMother．''Motherisn'there，'Jackiesaid．'She'satthedoctor's．''Why？What'sWrong？''Nothing'swrong，'Jackiesaid．'Whyareyoutelephoning？Youaregoingtocomethisweekend？Motherwantseveryonetobehere．''Yes，Iwanttocome，'Dianesaid．'I'mphoningbecauseIhavenomoneyforthetrainticket．''Nomoney！Motherisalwaysgivingyoumoney！''Thisphonecallisveryexpensive，'Dianesaidcoldly．'TellMotherplease．Ineedthemoney．'Jackieputthephonedown．Shetookacigarettefromherbagandbegantosmoke．Shefeltangrybecausehersisteral-waysaskedformoney．Dianewastwentyyearsold，theyoungestinthefamily．ShelivedinLondon，inoneroomofabighouse．Shewantedtobeasinger．Shesangverywellbutshecouldnevergetwork．Jackiewentbackintothekitchenandbegantomakesomesandwiches．Justthenthebackdooropened，andhermothercamein．'It'sveryhot！'Mollysaid．Shetookoffherhatandputitdownonthetable．Shewasatall，darkwomanwithbeautifuleyes．Twobig，blackdogscameintothekitchenafterherandranacrosstoher．Shesatdownandputherhandsontheirheads．Jackieputthesandwichesonthetable．'Mother，'shesaid，'Dianephoned．Shewantsmoneyforhertrainticket．'Mollyclosedhereyesforaminute．Thenshestoodup．'ThisafternoonIwantyoutogetthehousereadyfortheweekend，'shesaid．'Oh，andpleasegotothevillagelaterandgetmytablets．''Yes，Mother，'Jackiesaid．Mollywenttothedoor．'Mother，pleasewaitaminute，'Jackiesaid．'PeterHobbscameherethismorning．He'sveryangrywithyouaboutthatletter．Helosthisjob，youknow．Whydidyouwritetohisoffice？Hewantstotalktoyouaboutit．''Well，Idon'twanttotalktohim，'Mollysaid．Sheopenedthedoor．'ButMother，youdon'tunderstand．He'sseventeen，anditwashisfirstjob．He'svery，veryangry．Hesays…hesayshe'sgoingtokillyou！'Mollydidnotanswer．Shewentoutoftheroomandclosedthedoor．ChapterItwasseveno'clockonSaturdayevening．Jackiestoodatthewindow．Acardroveslowlyuptothefrontdoorandstopped．Atallmanwithwhitehairgotout，ItwasAlbert，thehusbandofMolly'ssister．'Here'sUncleAlbert，'Jackiesaid．'Alwayslate．'Shewentoutoftheroomandopenedthefrontdoor．AlbertcameinandwentatoncetoMolly．'Oh，dear．I'mverylate．Iamsorry，'Albertsaid．'Fiftyyearsoldtoday！Whatawonderfuldress！'Mollydidnotsmile．'Thankyou，Albert．We'reallgettingolder．'Tonightsheworealongblackdress，andthetwoblackdogssatatherfeet．'Everyoneisherenow．Let'sgointodinner，'shesaid．Everyonestoodupandwenttothetable．'Thetablelooksnice，Jackie．Whatwonderfulflowers！'Dianesaid．Shewasabeautifulgirl，withlongblackhairanddarkblueeyes．Sheworealongreddress．AlbertsatdownnexttoRogerRogerwasMolly'sson，hersecondchild．HelivedinCambridge，inanexpensivehouse．'SomeonecalledPeterstoppedmedowntheroad，'Albertsaid．'Whoishe？He'sveryangrywithyou，Molly．''That'sPeterHobbs，fromthehouseacrosstheroad，'Jackiesaidquickly．ShelookedacrossthetableatMolly．'Helosthisjoblastweekandhe'sangrywitheveryone．''It'sMollyhedoesn'tlike，'Albertsaid．Mollysaidnothing．...
