You are entirely up to youDie, my dear? Why, that’s the last thing I’ll do‘Groucho Marx. A great philosopher,’ Lola said, returning to the bench and pouring the water from the kettle into the pot. ‘Sugar?’ She took a small plate from the cupboard to her left and placed on it two slices from a jar on the bench and brought pot and plate to the table.
‘No sugar, thanks. Is Hibernia a good place to live then?’ Audrey said, as Lola took her seat.
The woman paused. ‘Oh, it is. But it has its idiosyncrasies, that’s for sure. And perhaps now I’m one of them!’ She laughed, then, just as Audrey was thinking that this would be the way with her—to laugh and to be light—Lola’s expression suddenly became more serious. ‘It’s a very precious place,’ she said and leaning forward, added in a quiet, conspi
