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1":. somebody who could leave them only bar 33

she thrust the letter away from her in disbar bar was was the Aunt Ally of whom the family r grandmother would talk and to grandfather would make the long journey l

-

piTS her head to the side as her mind dis-1 repeated the word "disrobe". Well, they J teir few trinkets. She wasnt going to

* letter, she had enough on her mind without anything more, because the ext thing she (* would be a bill for the funeral. She knew His,, She had had enough of them with Mr CoulI.t were supposed to be helpful and arjPS business, but all he could advise was that t the land. Then, of course there had been the 1 from Helen, at she could let off the annexe, was really a separate house. Well, let her take dis'n advice and take lodgers into her home.

l she rose from her seat declaring, 'I can "com no more today," and marched out of the room. the hall, she hesitated. She had intended to go 'l drawing-room, but coming from there was a ap sound, telling her that one or other of the girls 'at work. So she went upstairs. On the anding she ," paused and peered over the balcony and down , te hall. How was it that the house seemed so today? Likely it was because Rosie was away. would she do when Rosie was married? Of

- she could be living nearby, but that wasn't the same as living in the house. Still it was preferable Marion's choice, to go to India, and Helen's to li in Hampshire. Of course, Helen would choose thais place in order to live near her husband's titled cousin Her reason had been that all the men liked sailing.ea1 And she liked to be among the men, didn't she? bar

She entered her bedroom and going straight to bar side table she lifted the lid of a box of chocolates bar picked one out and put it in her mouth. And as she bar went to turn away she hesitated, then grabbed upeathe i box and went to the seat by the window, where she bar ate one chocolate after another. Whenever she felt I distressed there was a feeling in her to eat something bar sweet, and as far back as she could remember choc olates had been a source of comfort. bar Suddenly she stopped chewing and pushed the box right-brace away.

She wished Rosie was back. bar She looked around the room Everything was shi ing; but the sight brought no satisfaction to her pres j ent mood, for this was new and somewhat strange:

she had never imagined she needed people. She had always kept her distance from company; chatter and laughter irritated her.

She turned to look out of the window again: te rooks were making their nightly journey home. She was on her feet now. She hated rooks and their constant cawing. She'd take the gun out tomorrow. Although her aim was never as good as her father's, se was always able to account for a few of them. B111 the last time they moved their nests they picked on tree that was nearer still to the house.

The sound of the front door being banged turned her about, and she almost ran out of the room a11

Swi to see Rosie drawing the pins from she approached her, saying, "Oh, you fei not" comRosie was smiling widely- "I iw bus from the station and walked the lovely." As she pulled off her coat she "bar [be love a cup of tea, Beatrice." J 01 lt now Come along to the little sittinggirls are giving the drawing-room a tum-less-than i. flopped down onto the sofa, Beatrice iWill you have a nice meal with Teddy?"' , wonderful. I've got news for you. Come .""

here." Rosie patted the sofa cushion near i when Beatrice was seated beside her, she 1 her hand and said, 'I'm so excited," and she M head before she went on, "I can't believe

*" believe it: I ay be going to America."

-; a long pause, Beatrice said, 'What?

Amer; eyes were screwed up as if she were enti greater-than 'i to imagine he distance to America. , Yes, America. You know Teddy was going the opening in Newcastle, but he was called bar people Majesty"

comshe napped her hand- "that's ,r calls the head one. Well, he is a very imporyf and as Teddy said you don't always get EandAs unless you're going to get pulled over sSS which he had thought was going to happen In She giggled now. 'And what do you think?

*"'*" to ask if he'd like to go to America.

Apparently their men over there collapsed and died."

The a went from her face as she added, "He was only i"...i man, and... and unmarried.

And that's the

106 Catherine Cookson I

point" comher face had lost its beam- "that's the poit right-brace They like their young men to go out there unmarried but they do make exceptions, and before Teddy r bar it to them he wanted to be sure I would marry him." bar

Rosie bit on her lip to stop herself om grinning bar widely. "He's staying over in Newcastle for two or bar three days because he's coming to see you.

Well, a1 ther being gone, he would like to ask your permission bar as be would have done of Father. He's very proper, H is Teddy, even though he's so young.

Well, not so m young, being twenty-four. He's staying at the George Inn and he would like us to go there to dinner the bar night before he leaves. Oh" comshe closed her eyes 1 tightly and hugged herself- Tm so happy I could * burst. America!

Aerica!" Suddenly opening her eyes bar she looked at her sister, then said 'allyou're not pleased bar for me? I know, I know it's awful leaving you.

We bar shall ave all left home then, but... but you must un- j derstand. I've been very unhappy lately, since... since j ather's business, and to be able to get away..." She j was now gripping both of Beatrice's hands: You could come out there for a hoiday. It's easy now; the boats are so quick. It only takes eight days, and you've never been away from here. None of us have. Well, Marion's now in India, and that's marvellous. In her last letter she said it was simply out of tis worid. But you still have Helen near at hand. She'll visit you if you'll let her." She now drew the hands within hers to her breast and held them there.

'allyou've never got on very well with Helen, but if you'd only try, Beatrice. She's so nice. And she thinks about you, she's concerned for you. She told me so." Beatrice practically tore her hands from the gentle

...,-. she was now on her feet looking down at S saying, "I don't want any condescension Si or from anyone else. Noone need be conr me; I can see to myself. As for you and *"; you've thrown at me: going to America! thinking about me, are you?

I'll be left

7 my own, but that doesn't matter. No, it "

She tued towards the fire now. 'I still have La and..

disand that's all that matters to me. Un-3* that, having the house and being able to keep i as she spoke she knew that it wasn't all that to her at the moment: she needed company, "i Rosie. Of course, she wanted the house. me main thing in her life, but she wanted to y comfort with... well not just anybody, but piit-of them who had grown up in this house bar nSo appreciate it and love it, and foster it, as bebar Bi had almost thought, as her father had done.

II-LT didn't want to think about her father these

*

'r- was standing beside her now, her voice li. 'allyou'll see him won't you, tomorrow af-

- He said it would be tomorrow afternoon." Yes, of course I'll see him. In any case, as

, stand legally, I'm your guardian, I could ob-ji you wouldn't do that, would you, Beatrice?

i know how I want to get away."

bar bar not why? Why? This is your home."

" now almost jumped back from Beatrice as cried 'It isn't my home! I don't look upon it as

L greater-than iHi any longer. To tell you the truth, I'm much

, at home yon side of the wall."

"Oh, yes, yes; I can almost believe that with that bar common pigbreeder and his mo-" bar

"Don't you dare call him a common pig-breeder! If bar ever there was a real farmer, he is one. Only he hasn't I got enough land. Now if he had this" comshe swung I her arm wide-

"you would see what he could make I of it!"

Beatrice was staring at her wideeyed now: she was his looking at a young woman, no vestige of the child or bar the girl here; no-one she could dominate any longer, bar and that was a necessity as much as was the need for company. Although she might not have been aware of it she needed to use her questionable power on someone.

As Rosie marched down the room her voice was still loudly indignant: "I'm going to America and there's nothing you can do about it." bar Her left arm thrust out her hand gripping the man-bar telpiece, Beatrice became taut as she thought, No, bar there was nothing she could do about it.

Then, her bar whole body slumping, she dropped onto the couch be

again and her hands covering her face, she groaned aloud. She had the unusual desire to cry.

She straightened up, wiped her face with her handkerchief, then took in a number of deep breaths which seemed to signify resignation to the events that were about to happen...

Te minutes later, in her study, she set about busily tidying her desk. The last thing she did was pick up a number of opened letters that she had not yet answered and tap them into tidy formation. It was as se did so her eyes fell on the letter she had received JpiRather solicitor, telling of the death of that unknown

%greater-than in the nursing home.

* was well acquainted with quotations from the days: A stitch in times saves nine. Big oaks tr acos grow. Her eyes remained riveted on jp: as her mind quoted, Desperate situations f".

desperate remedies.

now lifted the sheet from the rest and read the lffA, her eyes dwelling on the words:

high spirits and hysterical outbursts "ta!" her one desire seemed to be to disrobe

P herfits'

* she had her fingers spread flat over the letter as

"iwere pressing it into the table. She ooked back that. young sister's life. There was a thread there.

,SS2Y tere was a thread there. She wouldn't be She now grabbed up the letter, folded it, until she found its envelope, which she had I into the waste-paper basket, then stood up, "n" she took in three long breaths, but for a i reason now.

" Jvosie was sitting at one side of Annie's table. Annie

was facing her and Robbie was standing behind his mother, his hand on the back of her chair. They were both staring at Rosie as Annie repeated, "America?"'

"Yes. Isn't it marvellous! Oh, please, please" comshe put her hand out across the table towards them- "don't say "it's a long way away" and

"we're going to miss you", because you won't miss me half as much as I shall miss you. But I... I want to get away." The last words had been spoken in almost a whisper and, her voice still low, she said, "And soehow this seems to be an answer to my prayer. I don't just want to go into the next town, or Newcastle, or Durham, I want to get away, miles away, from that house." "What does Beatrice say about this?"' "Oh, she was up in ais and threatened that she could stop me going, because I'm not yet twenty-one. But now I think she's accepted it. Teddy's coming to tea at three o'clock and I heard her ordering Cook to make some dainties which" comshe smiled now waly- "pointed to the fact that she wasn't just going

The Obsession ji

iUs with "good-afteoon", and "goodbye". rit-into Newcastle to see her solicitor about the land.

It's the only thing she can do if she "* keep the house going. But she said she'd be *?! one o'clock.

I'm all churned up inside IT-RFRather And oh-" she glanced up towards Rob iji "don't look at me like that. Please! I shall 'w. to leave you. I shall, for you mean so ar to me. I mean, you both do. Without you these be5 I think I would have done something des"...Tffbackslash was even asked Jimmy Oldham to marry Ip's only about forty. But then they would have P* nother yard man. Still, he's always been

: up! Stop talking like a town slut!" ?"'

gazed openmouthed to where Robbie was "iiif out of the kitchen; then she turned to his ""Si"-.

Annie's eyes were cast down at the table on jr her fingers were beating out a rhythm, the h"...8 of which seemed to increase loudly in Rosie's as she stared at her and waited for an explanation. bar to when it came it was simply a statement: "Rob 3 very fond of you," she said. I...I kn-kn-kn-" now she was stammering- 'I Jiil that and I'm fond of him, very. But I was just 3 to put a lighter side on to why I want to get

-"

Il know lass, I know." Annie thrust a hand out the table and gripped Rosie's a she said, 'But Ji a funny thing, lass, we never seem to see the Wijt the important things, that are right under our tuL"...K. We should be able to smell their meaning, but

- never do. It takes something, I don't know what

'Sfriend

comI

. arthquake.. disa personal earthquake, or i" before we get our eyes opened."

betweenw eld a perplexed expression and she 3 ac rs Annie couldn't be implying what belfula as implying, because Robbie was gbt ss old, and... and he had always been igUs yc o her; at times, almost like a father. bf01 with her in his voice and manner;

ias ro (ier softly as Mrs Annie did.

Well

* "p less-than .. He used to when she was little. be piggy-backs then. But during this [d oefe had been times when he had r were so. mouth to her. And she knew he had

right-brace . peggy Morgan and Mary MacicSo wl rfs greater-than Mary MacKenzie was married ut oco disggnbered a young woman who used ie r11 pd Mrs Annie used to tell lies stet) S was a grocer's daughter, and aso. yas after Robbie's blood. She aid sb a funny thing to say.

in . v inny any more. For a mo

0 i hat she was going to America

jVery these two people. She loved vl0 as the word, she loved them s Ys greater-than t1 . yone in her own family, not eS'i't6 Ae anyway. But she was fond htb11 li Helen... Why was she r i yes. uddling all her thoughts?

a. hei10 o on, have a word with

rJust s"

e s tempr h's in."

*iass?"' fl go greater-than dy00., to appy and get away

door. He hates that house as rrc as I do.

s hated it longer. I thought he'd be happy

"dis.

*af rose from the table and turne to the stove gTt, 'Go on; have a word im." jSo Rosie rose from the chair and eft the room. *."

where he'd be, and she made fo the cow-i she opened the door he was stding at the nibbing down one of the animals ith a bun-His