Susan in NC’s Reviews > Before Lunch > Status Update

“ Mrs Middleton, who rarely made intimate friends, was finding in Mrs Stonor what she had always hoped to find, an intimacy untouched by sentiment.”

Remembering now why this wasn’t a favorite-some funny bits, but too much of one of Thirkell’s favorite plot devices, “wrong partners getting together, will they sort it out?” In this one…

“Mr Middleton called loudly for Flora who was sleeping off her dinner in the sun. She got up and sauntered towards her master, but suddenly realizing that she was pampering him sat down with her back to him and thought of other things.” Love Flora the spaniel!😂

Such a pleasure to be back in Barsetshire! Trying to hold myself to a chapter or two a day rereading this, I feel these early Thirkell books really are the best, I find myself laughing aloud at the ridiculous Mr. Middleton, spoiled, self-centered blowhard, like George Knox in “High Rising”!