Page 34 of Strangers in Time

“Yes, theIstands for ‘Imogen.’ After she died, I took over running it. I haven’t done such a good job, and the war certainly has not helped.”

“I’m sorry about your wife. May I ask what happened to her?”

“The war happened to her, unfortunately.” He followed her gaze as it swept across the shop. “I see you are an avid reader,” he noted.

“How did you know that?” she asked in surprise.

“The eyes of a bibliophile are competent guides. They essentially sparkle when they alight upon books, as do a gourmand’s when he samples a chef’s fine creations, or those of a wine connoisseur when he is presented with a row of dusty Bordeaux bottles.”

“Doyouread a great many books?”

“Imogen read positively everything. And she would tell me about all that she read, in the greatest detail. She would also read aloud to me, in the most vivid voices. So, through her, I guess I am remarkably well-read, yes.”

“Idolove to read books. And you evidently have a great many here.”

“With little organization, I’m afraid. This was Imogen’s doing. I like to be a bit more orderly. But do you know what she once said?” he added eagerly.

“Tell me.”

“If you know where everything is, there is never a sense of surprise or discovery, which she believed were the most delightful sensations. Hence, the jumble here. It allows people to be freed from their areas of comfort, I suppose.” He eyed her nervously. “Am I rambling on?”

“No, not a’tall. I agree with getting out of one’s comfortable surroundings and discovering new things. I mean, isn’t that what life is for?”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Getting back to Charlie, do you have his address?”

He took up a fat pen and wrote something down on a slip of paper and handed it to her.

Molly gazed down at the writing:

The Honorable Charles Elias Matters, Flat 4a, 13 Dapleton Terrace, Bethnal Green, London E2

“I understand that Bethnal Green has been badly damaged by the bombings.”

“Yes. The whole of the East End was heavily targeted during the Blitz,” noted Oliver.

“At least the bombing is not so bad as it was. I heard that on the wireless.”

“But the planes do still come. And people still lose loved ones. And along with them, perhaps they lose hope as well.”

“Charlie seems to have hope,” said Molly.

“I think Charlie has more hope than anyone.”

“Do you know him well, then?”

“Some people you can read more easily than others. But you also said just now that youheardof the bombings lessening on thewireless?”

Molly explained, “I was residing in a small village in Suffolk very near the water. I was sent there during the evacuation scheme. I’m just back.” When he looked puzzled, she added, “I know most have long since returned, but… but my circumstances were a bit… different.”

“As you say,” he replied graciously.

She gazed around at the wealth of books once more.

He said, “Please, set forth and discover. Imogen always said that there can never be too much reading of books. It’s like saying that too much bracing air to breathe is a problem.”

“Iwilltake a look around, thank you.”

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