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Robbie goodnned at er

g Yes' sh o t him- "Which mas l all the wo" mat er good intentions aod were to no val

rose from i huers, saying, T have to e iown. Betsy9 foars coming."

ie's voice a expression changed as she sid, isn't due fo1a fortnight, you said."

i, I know. B11 e came ln tnls

afteoon aod

" there was something wrong. Well, she prac-spoke to m" so aa at she needs hlp1

have to get veterinary man, too."

y I come d less-than wn with 0"

as Annie who put i. "You've got your good his, lass," at which Rosie tued to her, a half n her fac as she said' But rve got my old ith me, if youve noticed."

bar Yes. Yes, you have"

Robbie helped et mto her the" handed heletter bar flie woollen hat a for a moment his hands indicated bar that he was goio to put it on her head; but tey paused halfway s he bn it to he bar Annie said notSo te while she watched her son pull on his coat ai People' pthis and on Rosie's bar elbow as he ed et out of the door. And a stroge ought ran throu1 her mind as she combined t0 quotations and p them into her own words, "God slow but He's saf"

aal e es a number of sideroads His miracls to perform."

It was three d later when Rosie received the letter.

She took it "P to e bedroom to read, a its

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, Catherine Cookson backslash

contents so stunned her hat after readin it for the bar third time, she let it nutter to the floor. And she sat bar on the bed staring aead of her, until a came on backslash the door t was opened by Beatrice. What is it were'

dear? se said. 'allyou've had news?"' bar Rosie looked at her, but she couldnt speak for the bar moment. She pointed to the flor, and Beatrice picked bar dg the letter. But before she began to ad ishe Ied to the window as if to see it i better lght. bar Then after a moment, she said. Oh. dear me!

Dear nrmsosoriystbutinsteadfturningabto at this dejected figure sitting on the side of the bed she addressed the window again saying Dear e!

Dear me! What a hing to happen." bar Only hen she turned towards Rosie, saying What

ateyougoingtodo"...Butthenwhatcanyoudo"...L..i never expected this of him" I She handed back the letter to Rosie who, after glancing at it again, folded it into four and put it back

mto its envelope. Then she too rose and walked past sister andout onto the landing. And tns very action puzzled Beatrice, because her sister wasn t cry-

*

she followed her along the landing, she said, Where are you going, dear?"' .

She had received no answer before tey reached bar te bottom f the stairs, but there, she added Let us

have a cup of coffee, and...and talk this ting over.

be

r the first time Rosie spoke. What is (here to talk ove? Nothing could be more final than this letter.'She lifted it up almost in front of Beatrice's face. In ftet Beatrice retreated a step in something of bar s she muttered, Y.. disy ustn't take it too These...^the things happen. Come and..." TO BROKE

off as she saw Rosie walk towards IL-IAS-LILike and she cried at her, "No!

No! You be going next door, not in that state."

*w." rushed across the hall and attempted to ln-old coat from Rosie's hand, at the same time .

It isn't right! Have some dignity, girl. One bar just greater-than @y go and spread one's troubles far and wide like iwii individual." Her voice now dropped as she Tff more rapidly, You expect that from the n class. But remember who you are; and you 5 to this house..." Beatrice could not have left-brace ii.i back quicker had a gun been pointed at her, Ts voice was menacing as she yelled, 'Damn W Blast the house!"

Beatrice found herself almost tumbling back me grandfaher clock as Rosie's arm thrust her . It was characteristic of Beatrice that she turned teadied the clock wih both hands, then looked into its brass face as if for assurance that it had been damaged before she turned again on her i who was now at the front door. But such was astonishment and more so her amazement when li emotion was streaked with fear and she asked if it could be possible. But her mind refused

J explain why it was asking mis... hen Rosie neared the cottage, it was to see Rob leading the horse and cart through the gate. but j

"comidn't notice her unti he left the animal to go back

I close the gate.

I He looked at her openmouthed for a moment be bar [less-than * he said simply,

"Rosie!" Then going close up to s;

so.

and S ted her i a sh * go ie! What is it you. edtheSo drag off her coat a , Whee ofthekitcechai

er, and oole sa (the settle, ffom this 1 ere she

his W1' Rosie less-than did not tu ftepr nd trbled f$0

Robe can backslash you're io need of here, s8 she got up nd wet a'

feret , nothing was said ow; sp toe"...1

ouudianeru veri V01. he sd Conenn tTebb0'

Pcet of

My dear : klng hn halld

I dont L. erforo just better std i powers t SS "g to begin this yonger me * such a tunnol. so I had

hed the to have been d by the o that y do not ow their yg.

B CO, before the have es-

shouad. On the other hand . t y stop me from take this stp' then I

wl be deprived of promotion. Moreover I H be sent to some outlandish country, and'in y subordinate position. From what I underH1' mev have already made arrangements for l0 go to America to fill in this particular post l1w become available by the unexpected lm of a young member of the firm.

l0 OUT will see, my dear the position I'm in bar were lQe time you receive this letter I shall be on

j ay to America. But I can assure you, it is Bl1 sad and heavy heart, for you know, Rosie g bar have always held you in deep affection.

But

" Under the circumstances, it would be unfir UQ-WISE to hold you to any promise. As I've ained above, I don't know what my future US disln us new country. Try to understand ll0.

Rosie. All I can say is, I am too trou

. to wnte any more, but will always hold you H e highest affection and will never forget our I ship.

orgive me and think kindly of e bar 1I y011 can, my dear Rosie.

I Teddy.

An01 sat there" the letter stm m his d Until nme s voice demanded, "Well, what does it sa"

ld at this he handed her the letter. After readint sT011 was the same as his' silence. until she burst out less-than The swine of a more' 1

Hesa' of tales abot jiltmg but never read one.

n'ne0' It was a deep throaty demand of child to0 notice for she cried at him'

T not Keep me tongue quiet, not for you or any.

her he looked into her face. He didn't ask any questions, but said "Go on in; I'll be with you in a minute, after I've put her in the stable."

In the kitchen Annie greeted her in a similar way. On a high note, she said, "Rosie!

What is it?"'

Annie watched the girl drag off her coat and hat and throw them across one of the kitchen chairs, then go and sit in the omer of the settle, from where she stared into the fire.

When Annie sat beside her, Rosie did not turn to her, and so, in an embarrassed and troubled fashion, Annie muttered, "I think what you're in need of, girl, is a cup of tea." And at this she got up and went about the process of making it, and nothing was said until Robbie came hurrying into the room and to the settle where, sitting beside her, and in a manner quite different from that of his mother, he said "Come on now; spit it out! What's happened? You've heard from him?"'

For answer Rosie put her hand into the pocket of her house dress and, without looking at him, handed him the letter.

What he read was:

My dear Rosie,

I don't know how I am going to begin this letter, for my mind is in such a turmoil, so I had just better state facts. I have been told by the powers that be that they do not allow their younger members to marry before they have established themselves abroad. On the other hand I know that they couldn't really stop me from marrying. But should I take this step, then I

WnRather be deprived o promotion. Moreover, I bar llntt- be sent to some outlandish country, and inI ,12ar very subordinate position. Prom what I underf *ItetLike- they have alreay made anangements forj

E to go to Amrica to fill in this particular post bar has becoe available by the unexpected I of a young mber of the firm.j o, you wffl see, y dear'the position I'm in. the time you recei is etter I shall be onf, way to America. But I can assure you, it is bar a sad and heavy hart for you know, Rosieeaf ive always held y011 in affection.

B*bar ., under the circiiiO11'lt would be unfairj unwise to hold yo to anv promise. As I've Rfiff3t above, I don't know what my future

i in his new to understand myJust be bar ituation, Roie. All I can is.l am too trouj :

bled to write any more b w always hold youj I in the highest affectioO "ever forget our bar bar .

friendship, Fbrgive me and think kindly of me, be.

if you can, my dear Rsie.

Teddy.i

t be* tt *1 " Robbie sat there, the ltt1 sd in s hand until,;

s voice demanded, Well, what does it say?"'bar " at this he handed her t11 tt After reading itj L" response was the saffl as tus; silence, until she bar "tr.r"...tion burst out,

"Te uty swine of a man! I'vej "Tr plenty of tales abot Jilting but never read one.i ("sa..."'bar Mother'" It was a dep throaty demand, of whichj "will. took no notice, for she cried at him, 'I'm not bar to keep me togu q "ot for you or any-j

body else. I'll say again, he's a swine!" She now hur ied to where Rosie was sitting, her head bowed, and thrusting her doubled fist under Rosie's chin, she brought her face up with a jerk and, looking down into it she said

"He's not worth your spit."

"Shut up! Mother, will you?"' Robbie was on his feet now, pulling her away from Rosie's side.

"And listen to me for once. I feel there's something wrong here. There's more in that letter than meets the eye.

I've met that young bloke, and that letter and he don't match." He now turned to Rosie who was staring up at him and he demanded, "How was he when you last saw him? I mean, in his manner."

How was he? She turned her head to the side as if thinking. He had been wonderful, excited. After they had eaten they had walked in the park and he had pulled her into the shadow of some bushes and had kissed her. Oh, how he had kissed her. But nevertheless, besides all that, she knew he was ambitious. She knew he wanted to go to America, his heart was set on it. He had told her that one star had dropped from heaven into his hands and that was her. And now another had been presented to him, an opportunity he imagined would never happen for years. A position in America was a goal that those in the office were all aiming for.

They would be jealous, he had said; there would be a lot of talk. But God had spoken: he had raised his head and wagged his finger and had said You're to go to America, Golding.

Rtzsimmons has unfortunately died and you are to take his place as soon as possible."

She looked back into Robbie's eyes, as she said, 'He...he was as usual, kind and-" her head bowed

bar bar she muttered, "loving." Then as if her tongue ir loosened, she tued to Annie and wet i"...S I was excited, too. Oh, Mrs Annie, I was at the thought of leaving next door.

Never live there again. To get away from Beatrice.

comshe shook her head quickly now- to T? s been quite good over it. More ind than iThat she would be. But'

comher voice sank- rasi she's still Beatrice, and she has her Oh, yes. Yes' comher voice rose as she nodded so' to the other- her house. She's mad about lltli I told you, didn't I? Her and her feather and one mustn't do this and one mustn't do "*-

isn't done. It isn't done. What isn't done?"' She bar people." her feet now. "It isn't done to be happy; it isn't to want to be loved; it isn't done-" Her voice a crescendo, and then there came a sound ike

I from her lips and the tears spurted from her

***BH j''1"" 'ib"" had their arms about her pressing her down

was the settle again, sitting one on either side of her. : through her tears and sobbing, she cried, 'I...

I

to die. I...I feel dirty, used. He said friendship." bar i head was wagging on her shoulders now and neij of them could keep her still. 'It wasn't a friendi it was a courtship. It was, it was, it was a court." She turned her face towards Robbie and he

hishis back at her, saying gently, Yes, dear, it was g courthip all right a very good courtship."

bar bar A knock came on the door and a voice said, 'Anyy* at home?"' And when it was opened Annie ?"' up from the seat saying, Oh, come in Doctor. Ipre very welcome at this point, I can tel you."

"What is it? What's the matter? John lid his bag on the table and pulled off his overcoat as if he were at home, then went to the settle and sat down next to Rosie. And, looking across at Robbie over Rosie's 1 bent head, he enquired

'What's happened?"' tf.

Oh, quite a deal Doctor. Rosie's had...

well a his great disappointment. I'd like to talk to you about it'

"No! No!" Rosie's tearstained face came up now I and, looking first at one then the other, she said, "Let it rest! It's finished!

It's my business! Yes, it is, it's I over." 1

"Yes. Yes, dear, it's over. Don't worry. All right we won't talk about it. Come on, dry your eyes. Could you do with a cup of tea Doctor?"'

"I could that. Two cups, in fact. I've not been near the surgery since I left it this morning.

I" ve been looking for a place for Mother, as I told you, and my feet arc worn down to my knees.

I'm going to get a horse bar and trap. All right, all right, you did tell me should I have one ages ago." He rose from the seat now and I walked behind the settle to where Annie stood at the end of the table pouring out the tea and he jerked his head backwards, and in answer Annie reached out and picked up the letter from me end of the table and silently handed it to him.

As he read she watched his expression alter in disbelief, and then he shook his head slowly and muttered 'ationo, no! Not him." "Aye, rim."