Читать книгу Unconditional Surrender онлайн

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"Coffee?"

"Yes, I can manage that."

"Let's stay in then."

"Nothing much to eat either. I've got some cod."

"No cod, thanks."

"I say, Virginia, you're pretty low."

"Dead flat. What's happened to everyone? London used to be full of chums. Now I don't seem to know anyone. Do you realise that since my brother was killed I haven't a single living relation?"

"My dear, I am sorry. I hadn't heard. In fact I didn't know you had a brother."

"He was called Tim--five years younger than me. We never got on. He was killed three years ago. You've such hundreds of children and parents and cousins, Kerstie. You can't imagine what it feels like to be quite alone. There's my step-mother in Switzerland. She never approved of me and I can't get at her now anyway. I'm scared, Kerstie."

"Tell."

Virginia was never one whose confidences needed drawing out.

"Money," she said. "I've never known what it was like to have no money. It's a very odd sensation indeed. Tim made a will leaving all he had to some girl. Papa never left me anything. He thought I was well provided for."