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Sears Wolf Web Example

Barbara Petrie 11 was carrying a basket that almost certainly contained the scones she’d baked that morning. Clover felt a pang of guilt—but it wasn’t too late to help. She hurried down the wooden steps and rushed across the yard. ‘I’ll come with you, Mum,’ she called. Before long the two of them were standing at the Randals’ door and Mrs Randal was inviting them in. Inside, the English woman introduced her two youngest daughters, Ella and Lola; the oldest sister and Mr Randal were not about. Mrs Randal offered to make Clover’s mother a cup of tea, and put the kettle on. Then she took a bottle from a cupboard and turned to Clover. ‘Do you like orange cordial, Clover?’ she said. ‘Yes please,’ Clover said. Mrs Randal poured the cordial into three glasses, adding water from the tap. When the girls had finished their drinks, Clover followed Ella and Lola out into the garden with a skipping rope, leaving the two women chatting over their tea. Clover wished she could have stayed on at the kitchen table: she thought Mrs Randal might be a really interesting adult; not only that, she sensed (and had from the first moments) that in Mrs Randal’s company, she could unlock something important about the whole family. When it was time to go, Mrs Randal invited Clover back to play with the girls. Clover was all too ready to say, ‘yes’, but did the proper thing and asked permission. ‘Is that all right Mum, can I?’ she said. ‘Yes of course,’ said Clover’s mother. Then, looking at the Randal sisters, she said, ‘Do you like dressing up? I’ll send some dressing-up clothes over with Clover next time if you like.’ ‘Oh yes,’ the sisters replied. That evening Clover overheard her parents talking. ‘Irena Randal has really taken to Clover,’ said Maeve. ‘Not surprising,’ said Tim. ‘Clover’s probably taken a liking to her. What part of the old country are they from?’ ‘They’re from Yorkshire,’ said Maeve, ‘North Yorkshire. Their speech is very broad.’

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