Mrs Partridge had come to a decision, 'No use trying to dissuade me My Dear,' she had told her son, 'I've made my mind up, you can have the house but I'm giving the wood and the farm to The Trust, that way it will be safe as a haven for everyone.' As we know, what she really meant was that the wood would continue to be a safe home for her friends the gnomes! Though this may sound a bit tough on Mrs Partridge's son, he too felt that the wood was a special place and was relieved that he wouldn't have to look after it on his own.
Mrs Partridge had made sure that even if the wood was managed as a nature reserve, that certain areas would be out of bounds to visitors. As she put it to Aunt Mildred over a morning cup of tea, 'No need to worry My Dear, think of all the new visitors and their dogs enjoying the peace of the wood - and imagine the benefits of a cafe!'
Mrs Partridge and Aunt Mildred had taken to sitting together for a morning cup of tea since the warm weather had arrived. Serving Aunt Mildred with a cup of tea had initially proved rather problematic. Mrs Partridge had tried filling an egg cup with tea, but could see that Aunt Mildred, however polite she was trying to be, was finding the experience of trying to sip hot tea from an egg cup rather daunting.
Then as she woke up one Saturday morning, she had what she thought was a brilliant idea. 'By Jingo, why haven't I thought of it before?' She had lept out of bed, put on her glasses and hobbled up to the attic. As she had pulled off the old sheet that covered the dolls house, Mrs Partridge had felt a sudden pang of sadness. 'I remember playing with it myself, always hoped that I would have grandchildren to enjoy it too one day, but goodness me, won't the gnomes find it useful?' She had fumbled about in the dainty kitchen and retrieved a miniature cup and saucer from the sideboard, 'just the ticket for Aunt Mildred' she had proclaimed as she rushed to wash and dress in time.
Well as you can imagine Aunt Mildred was shocked at the kindness of being presented with her very own cup and saucer. She had news for Mrs Partridge too, the gnomes were going to hold a meeting of the Council of Elders that very afternoon, 'and you are invited as our guest of honour!' Mrs Partridge was still for a moment, 'are you sure the others will want me to come to the meeting, to stay awake and be part of your Circle? ' For as we all know, most humans fall asleep when anywhere near a gnome.
Aunt Mildred was firm in her reply, 'we want to hear what you have planned in your very own words!' Aunt Mildred knew that the other gnomes of the Council wanted to thank Mrs Partridge and to give her a gift. She knew better than to mention this in advance, for as she said to Hortensia later,' she would never have agreed to come if she had known about the gift, far too embarrassing, best to surprise her!'
So that was that, Mrs Partridge went upstairs again to retrieve more useful items from the old dolls house to bring to the meeting as a gift, and the gnomes rushed about gathering bracken and moss to make into a soft cushion and nest for Mrs Partridge to sit in, so that she could be comfortable during the meeting.
'What a day Hortie,' Archibold had puffed, 'imagine the kindness of a human safe-guarding our future!' Hortensia had smiled, for she knew that a good heart surpasses all difference, and that old Mrs Partridge had a very good heart indeed.
