Page 112 of The Sisters of Sea View
“Good day, Mr. Gwilt. I do hope you are enjoying your stay?”
“I am indeed. Parry is too.”
“I am glad to hear it. And where will you go after Sidmouth? Back home?”
“Heavens. Trying to get rid of us already?”
“Of course not!” she assured him on a laugh. “You have paid for six weeks, and six weeks you shall have.” She added more softly, “Longer, if you wish. I am only making conversation.”
“Ah. No, not home. To be honest-like, there is no home anylonger. I sold it. Didn’t like rattling around that old place, just Parry and me.”
“I see. Then, are you thinking of settling down in Sidmouth?”
“I don’t know about settling, but I may stay on a bet longer. What I’ve seen of the place so far I like, I do.”
“Which seems precious little to me, if you don’t mind my saying. You’ve hardly left the house.”
“True, true. It’s just that, well, I don’t like to leave Parry alone too long. He gets lonely.”
Sarah suspected it was the man who grew lonely, and said, “I have an idea. I will be walking into town in a little while. Perhaps you would like to accompany me? All I have planned is a visit to the greengrocer—you like fruit, I know—and perhaps we could stop at the library afterward?”
“Oh, that does sound pleasant. I like to read, I do.”
“Wallis’s is a circulating library as well as a shop. You can borrow a book for a reasonable fee. In fact, I have a subscription and have been too busy to use it. You would do me a favor by selecting a book. Emily will scold me otherwise for letting my account languish. She is a great reader.”
“So I have gathered. Yes, I’d like that, I would. And if it will help you, all the better. But ... Parry.”
She winced apologetically. “I don’t think they allow pets in shops like that. I know! We can leave him in the office here. Emily will be there for the next hour or so, finishing up some correspondence. She and Parry can keep each other company.”
“Excellent notion! Thank you, Miss Sarah. You are extremely obliging. Just give me a few minutes to prepare. We shall both be down shortly.”
He hurried happily up the stairs, while Sarah returned to the library.
“You are going to keep Parry company for the next hour or two. Please don’t make a fuss.”
“Parry?” Emily groaned. “You must be joking!”
“Shh ... It’s the only way I could convince Mr. Gwilt to venture into town.”
“Why do you care?”
“I just do.”
“Oh, very well. I’ve certainly spent time with less pleasant males. And at least Parry shan’t talk about himself incessantly.” She smirked. “I hope.”
Mr. Gwilt came back downstairs, hat on head and birdcage in hand.
“Here we are.” He set the cage on the desk. “Thank you, Miss Emily, for watching over him. I trust he shall not be too much trouble.”
Shedding her pique, Emily gave the man a friendly smile. “We will keep each other in line, never fear. Have a good walk.”
22
I have not wasted the little wealth I formerly possessed in self-indulgence, and am not ashamed to confess, that in this my old age I am poor.
—Captain Thomas Coram,
Foundling Hospital founder
