The House of Discontent Read Online Free Page A

you to do, isn’t it?” Patricia asked. “My recollection of it is that it is a huge garden.”
    “Oh, that was when we were still at the White House. We moved from there nearly five years ago. It was so sad having to leave it. We all minded it terribly—and still do.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Patricia said. “I didn’t know you had had to move. I had forgotten the name of the house.”
    “Yes, we were thinking of giving it up because we couldn’t afford to live there any more, and then Daddy got a wonderful offer for it from some people called Grey—the people who live there now. By the way, Camilla Grey is having a twenty-first birthday party in about three weeks’ time, and I’m going, and they’ve asked you, too. You will come, won’t you? She’s the daughter. Everybody thinks she is quite lovely. It will be my first dance. Mother doesn’t really want me to go, but Mrs. Grey has insisted. Mother says I’m too young, and she doesn’t like Mrs. Grey...” Johnny, that’s Camilla’s brother—he’s a year younger than she is—is probably going to be there. He’s doing his military service quite close here. And we hope Edward may be home by then, he’s due for leave any time now. But, of course, the only person Camilla really wants to come to her dance is Anthony Brierleigh. I don’t suppose for a moment he’ll come, though.”
    “Who is he?” Patricia asked.
    “Haven’t you heard of the Brierleighs? He is Sir Anthony Brierleigh who lives at Brierleigh Park and he’s the squire of the neighbourhood and owns all the manorial rights and that kind of thing. At least he doesn’t live in the big house any more now, as it was turned into a children’s hospital during the war and has never been turned back again. (Camilla works there running a library for the children.) Anthony and his mother live in a cottage on the estate now, and he’s got another big estate in Gloucestershire which he manages. He spends most of his time there. His father was killed in a motor accident and he inherited the title when he was a little boy. He’s as wild as anything, and he can’t bear girls and dances and all that sort of thing. Camilla will never catch him ... I think he’s awfully proud and rude and stuck-up as a matter of fact. But Lady Brierleigh has been very sweet to me although mother can’t stand her at any price ... Anthony’s done all sorts of mad things, and he’s travelled all over the world. I can’t tell you the things he’s done...”
    When Mary had first mentioned “Sir Anthony” Patricia had suddenly hoped and wondered. Surely there could not be many Sir Anthony’s with homes in Shropshire? But then, when she heard Mary’s description of him she knew that it could not be he, for could anyone be less proud and rude and stuck-up than her stranger of last evening?
    But she had begun to think of him again, and in so doing had lost the train of Mary’s chatter. However, Mary went on talking, partly because she was excited, and partly because it was so seldom that she was allowed to talk, or indeed allowed out by herself except to go by bus to her classes in Shrewsbury, that her unaccustomed freedom had gone to her head.

 
    CHAPTER THREE
    PATRICIA was not happy at The Knowle. She was oppressed by the atmosphere, and though Uncle Peter and Mary did all in their power to make her feel at home, she sensed her Aunt Dorothy’s hostility, but could not understand the reason for it. She did not realize that Dorothy was a woman perpetually at war with herself, and therefore her own worst enemy.
    If Patricia had shown meekness and humility, or had been easily driven into slavery, her aunt might have been nicer to her, for the will to dominate was horribly strong in her. But finding in Patricia a spirit she could not quell, she endeavoured to reduce her by small pinpricks and sarcastic innuendoes to the necessary state of subjection.
    Now that the neighbours, out of kindness and courtesy, took it