Indeed that was a
general rule in Riseholme: anyone in an adjoining property could say,
"What an exciting game of lawn-tennis you had this afternoon!" having
followed it from his bedroom. That was part of the charm of Riseholme;
it was as if it contained just one happy family with common interests
and pursuits. What happened in the house was a more private matter, and
Mrs Quantock, for instance, would never look from the rising ground at
the end of her garden into Georgie's dining-room or, if she did she
would never tell anyone how many places were laid at table on that
particular day when she had asked if he could give her lunch, and he
had replied that to his great regret his table was full. But nobody
could help seeing into gardens from back windows: the "view" belonged
to everybody.
Georgie had had wonderful views.
"That very day," he said, "soon after lunch, I was looking for a letter
I thought I had left in my bedroom, and happening to glance out, I saw
the Indian sitting under Mrs Quantock's pear-tree. He was swaying a
little backwards and forwards."
"The brandy!" said Lucia excitedly. "He has his meals in his own room."
"No, _amica_, it was not the brandy. In fact I don't suppose the
brandy had gone to Mrs Quantock's then, for he did not take it from
Rush's, but asked that it should be sent...." He paused a moment--"Or
did he take it away? I declare I can't remember.
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