(12/13) The Year at Thrush Green (31 page)

At last the time for informal speeches and toasts arrived, and Edward gave a short, elegant and warm-hearted tribute to Carl and Elizabeth, amidst general applause.

Carl, flushed, happy and handsomer than ever, responded, his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. He spoke movingly of his mother who had waited at Woodstock for her American to return after the war to claim her as his wife.

'That wouldn't have happened,' he said, 'but for Mrs Curdle. In fact, I shouldn't be here at all, if it were not for her advice to my mother, as some of you know. So would you raise your glasses once more, my friends, to the immortal memory of the great Mrs Curdle.'

'Mrs Curdle,' came the hearty response.

'Thank you,' said Carl when the toast had been drunk.

He smiled at Elizabeth, and added: 'As you see, we Andersens always come to Woodstock for our wives.'