She was lying on her bed, which was long and narrow as the path to heaven, and yet seemed to have grown too short for her, since she was obliged to perch her feet upon the brass bar across the end.
"Then what have you been doing, in the name of goodness me?"
"Nothing ... just thinking ... pour it out and come and sit by me here.... I haven't had a word with you yet."
Kykie poured out the tea, and put some little toasted cakes on a plate, using her fat, yellow hands with extraordinary delicacy. Afterwards she sat in a chair with the things in her lap, waiting until Poppy should be ready.
"What is it like here in Durban, Kykie?... How long have you been here?"
Kykie became very important, waggling her shoulders and rolling her eyeballs.
"More than six months getting this house ready for habitation ... men working in the garden day and night, for it was a wilderness and the poor old place all gone to pot, dearest me."
"It looks all right now; I should think Luce was pleased?"
"Never so much as a thank you extremingly."
"Oh well, you know his ways ... but I am sure he appreciates all you do. He has often said to me while we were away that he wished you were with us."