Pay Me Tomorrow [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE Susan Laverhope paused in the doorway, surveying the scene before her. In all her thirteen years she had never had the pleasure of making such a sensational announcement as the one which now trembled on her lips, and she intended to enjoy the moment to the full. She looked at Ismay's beautiful fair head, bent slightly over the needlework she was doing, at Adrian idling in the window-seat with that air of picturesque grace common to all the Laverhopes, at Avril absorbed in one of her silly old books on art. Then, drawing a deep breath, she announced: *Aunt Georgina's dead.* The effect was instantaneous and gratifying. *Aunt Georgina I* *How do you know?' Tt isn't possible !* *Of course it's possible.* Susan was not going to have her moment spoilt by base incredulity. 'Everybody's got to die some time and-* 'Not the Aunt Geoi^nas of this world. They're immortal.' That was Adrian, who always said slightly shocking things with a specially languid air. 'That's blasphemy, I should think, now she's dead,' Susan remarked. 'Isn't it, Ismay?' She came and stood close beside her elder sister. 'No.' Ismay was comfortingly positive. 'But how did you know about Aunt Georgina? Who told you?' 5