Mary felt a bit giddy as, what seemed the whole world was looking. 'Yes, I be from down town way, and I...' Brian almost had a fit and was about to grab her when the lady turned and glared at him. 'That will be all, sire.' Brian sloped off, fuming. 'Hold out your hand, errm..' 'Mary,' she said, 'Mary Sumner.' 'Well, Miss Sumner, if you would be so kind as to lend me your hand.' Mary put her right arm out. The lady's long and slender fingers moved to her blackened nails. 'If I'm going to play the East Grinstead marble champion supreme, then it must be a tidy wager.' She placed a warm coin in the middle of Mary's tiny palm and closed her hand, cupping it and squeezing it gently. Then she smiled a smile of such warmth that Mary had never seen. 'Be lucky... and try not to fret over old grumpy guts over there.' Brian was almost hiding by the curtains. 'He is like, what you might say, a sour-faced old dog, and his bark is worse than his bite.' Mary felt very confident and alive. She put her hand to her face and whispered in the lady's ear, 'if my brother were alive right now, he would kick his fat bum around the farmyard.' next »