Part Two Chapter II

IIEdward Collins & Co., the Pagford solicitors, diligent the upper floor of a terraced brick house, with an opticians on the g speech rhythm floor. Edward Collins was dead person and his firm comprised two men Gavin Hughes who was the salaried partner, with one window in his office, and Miles Mollison, who was the equity partner, with two windows. They shared a secretary who was twenty-eight, single, plain precisely with a practiced figure. Shona laughed too massive at all(a) Miles jokes, and hard-boiled Gavin with a patronage that was almost offensive.Marys called. Theres a bit of a microbe with Barrys life insurance. She wants me to help her sort it.Right, well, you can handle that, cant you? Ill be spikelet at two, anyway.Miles slipped on his overcoat, jogged down the steep stairs and walked briskly up the rain-swept little street that led to the Square. A momentary break in the clouds ca employ sunlight to flood the glistening war memorial and the abatement baskets. Mile s go through a rush of atavistic pride as he locomote across the Square towards Mollison and Lowe, that Pagford institution, that classiest of emporia a pride that familiarity had never blighted, but quite a deepened and ripened.The bell tinkled at the door as Miles pushed it open. There was something of a lunch period rush on a queue of eight waited at the call and Howard, in his mercantile regalia, fishermans flies glinting in his deerstalker, was in dependable tongue. and a quarter of black olives, rosemary, to you. Nothing else, now? Nothing else for Rosemary thatll be eight pounds, sixty-two pence well call it eight, my love, in light of our long and fruitful association Giggles and gratitude the rattle and crash of the till.And heres my lawyer, come to check up on me, boomed Howard, winking and chuckling over the heads of the queue at Miles. If youll wait for me in the back, sir, Ill try not to say anything incriminating to Mrs Howson Miles smiled at the middle-aged lad ies, who beamed back. Tall, with thick, close-cropped greying hair, oversized round blue eyeball, his paunch disguised by his dark overcoat, Miles was a reasonably attractive addition to the hand-baked biscuits and local cheeses. He navigated his way carefully between the little tables piled high with delicacies and paused at the big arc hew out between delicatessen and the old shoe shop, which was denuded of its protective malleable curtain for the first time. Maureen (Miles recognized the handwriting) had put up a betoken on a sandwich board in the middle of the arch No Entry. Coming Soon The Copper Kettle. Miles peered through into the clean, spare topographic point that would soon be Pagfords newest and best cafe it was plastered and painted, with freshly seal black boards underfoot.He sidled around the corner of the counter and edged ult Maureen, who was operating the meat slicer, affording her the opportunity for a gruff and ribald laugh, hence ducked through the d oor that led into the dingy little back room. here(predicate) was a Formica table, on which Maureens Daily Mail lay folded Howard and Maureens coats hanging on hooks, and a door leading to the lavatory, which exuded a scent of mawkish lavender. Miles hung up his overcoat and drew up an old chair to the table.Howard appeared a minute or two later, bearing two heaped plates of delicatessen fare. emphatically decided on the Copper Kettle then? asked Miles.Well, Mo likes it, verbalize Howard, setting down a plate in front of his son.He lumbered out, returned with two bottles of ale, and closed the door with his foot so that the room was enveloped in a windowless gloom relieved only by the dim subject light. Howard sat down with a deep grunt. He had been conspiratorial on the telephone mid-morning, and kept Miles waiting a few moments longer small-arm he flipped off the lid of one bottle.Walls sent his forms in, he verbalise at last, handing over the beer.Ah, utter Miles.Im spill age to set a deadline. both weeks from today for everyone to declare.Fair enough, said Miles.Mum reckons this Price bloke is electrostatic interest. Have you asked Sam if she knows who he is yet?No, said Miles.Howard scratched an underfold of the stomach that rested close to his knees as he sat on the creaking chair.Everything all right with you and Sam?Miles admired, as always, his fathers almost psychic intuition.Not great.He would not have confessed it to his m different, because he tried not to fuel the everlasting cold war between Shirley and Samantha, in which he was both warrantor and prize.She doesnt like the idea of me standing, Miles elaborated. Howard raised his fair eyebrows, his jowls wobbling as he chewed. I dont bloody know whats got into her. Shes on one of her anti-Pagford kicks.Howard took his time swallowing. He dabbed at his mouth with a paper napkin and burped.Shell come round quickly enough formerly youre in, he said. The social side of it. mass for the wives. Functions at Sweetlove House. Shell be in her element. He took another swig of ale and scratched his belly again.I cant picture this Price, said Miles, returning to the essential point, but Ive got a feeling he had a kid in Lexies class at St Thomass.Fields-born, though, thats the thing, said Howard. Fields-born, which could work to our advantage. Split the pro-Fields vote between him and Wall.Yeah, said Miles. Makes sense.I havent heard of anyone else. Its possible, once details hit the website, someone elsell come forward. however Im confident about our chances. Im confident. Aubrey called, Howard added. There was always a touch of supererogatory portentousness in Howards tone when he used Aubrey Fawleys Christian name. Right shadower you, goes without saying. Hes back this neverthelessing. Hes been in town.Usually, when a Pagfordian said in town, they meant in Yarvil. Howard and Shirley used the phrase, in imitation of Aubrey Fawley, to mean in London.He mentioned some thing about us all getting together for a chat. Maybe tomorrow. Might even invite us over to the house. Samd like that.Miles had just taken a large bite of soda bread and liver pate, but he conveyed his agreement with an emphatic nod. He liked the idea that Aubrey Fawley was right behind him. Samantha aptitude jeer at his parents thraldom to the Fawleys, but Miles noticed that on those exalted occasions when Samantha came face to face with either Aubrey or Julia, her accent changed subtly and her demeanour became markedly more demure.Something else, said Howard, scratching his belly again. Got an netmail from the Yarvil and District Gazette this morning. Asking for my views on the Fields. As chair of the Parish Council.Youre kidding? I thought Fairbrother had stitched that one up Backfired, didnt it? said Howard, with immense satisfaction. Theyre going to run his article, and they want someone to argue against the following week. Give them the other side of the story. Id appreci ate a hand. Lawyers turn of phrase, and all that.No problem, said Miles. We could talk about that bloody addiction clinic. Thatd make the point.Yes very good idea excellent.In his enthusiasm, he had swallowed too much at once and Miles had to bang him on the back until his coughing had subsided. At last, dabbing his watering eyes with a napkin, Howard said breathlessly, Aubreys recommending the District cuts funding from their end, and Im going to put it to our band that its time to terminate the lease on the building. It wouldnt hurt to make the shell in the press. How much time and moneys gone into that bloody place with null to show for it. Ive got the figures. Howard burped sonorously. Bloody disgraceful. Pardon me.