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For answer, Robbie went to the back of the door, took down his coat and his cap, and for the first time he spoke, saying, 'I'll not go in. I have no desire ever to enter that house, but I'll be there to carry your things."

Rosie stared at him; then turning to John, she said quietly, "It's you Im sony for now; I...I feel free. It's.ddit's as if I'd lived all my life under that feeling of rejection and not knowing why, only that rejection makes you a lesser being to yourself. But... but you, you are tied to her."

"Don't worry about that. But get yourself away and finish the business, and then start your new life."

John looked from one to the other.

It was Robbie who answered him: "Yes, John, we'll start a new life, and not before time.

But there's still years ahead of us and we'll make up for it," and he took hold of Rosie's arm, saying, She knows how I feel... at long last."

When they had gone, Annie put out her hand and took hold of one of John's and, shaking it, said,

'I can say in all honesty, Jon, this is the happiest day of my life. My lad has come into his own at last and if anybody has worked and waited for it, 'tis he."

At the front door of the house, Robbie said quietly, "Try to keep calm. The least said is soonest mended, and this could be the last time you need ever see her," and Rosie answered him with a small nod of her head, then went inside.

Frances was coming down the stairs and Rosie ited until she reached the bottom before she asked, here is Miss Beatrice?"'

rances's voice had a slight stamer to it as she i Sh...she's in her Still...study, miss, and she's in it of a tear."

Will you come and help me pack?"' Pack?"'

Yes, Frances; I'm leaving home' comshe looked "ut her- "his house for good." Oh, miss; not you an' all, not you an' all." It's got to be, Frances. Will you?"' Oh, yes, miss.

Yes, miss," and she turned and foled Rosie up the stairs, where, as had happened y a short time before, drawers were pulled open clothes rammed into cases. And when at last three es were full, Frances picked up two of them and sie the third, and with loose garments hanging over free arm, without a backward glance she left the m that had been her own since she was ten years

rances had paced the cases at the foot of the tall ow from next door; then she was stepping back were the hall to take the other case and loose garments tn Rosie when, from along the passage, her miss appeared.

ieatrice's hair was dishevelled and there was a d look about her. The spring she made across the I towards Rosie bore out her appearance, for she led, 'What d'you think you're doing?"' he pushed Frances to one side and glared at the n standing outside the door, the cases at his feet, ore banging the door closed. Then her back against he cried, "What d'you think you're up to?"'

"You can see what I'm up to: I'm leaving."

"Oh, but you're not. Oh, but you're not. I've gone through too much for you to..."

"Shut up! What you have done is tried to ruin my life with your lying and your schemes. You're evil. You always have been."

At this Beatrice turned and yelled at Prances, "Get away? Get away!" And the girl actually ran now, down the hall and through the door leading to the kitchen.

But she didn't close it, and she could hear her mistress yelling, hat husband, or supposed husband of mine, is a liar: he's told you half-truth. What I did, I did for you, because..."

'allyou didn't do it for me. You did it because you couldn't bear to be left alone in this beastly house.

You weren't married then and there was no hope of anyone ever taking you. And I wondered why John had stepped in. But now I know it was through pity for you.

Anyway, I have no pity for you at this moment, but in a way, I should thank you for what you did. I have been haunted by the thought of rejection, but now I know where my true feelings lie. I know that I've always loved Robbie Macintosh, and what's more, I'm going to marry him and" comshe was almost screaming now-

"live next door! Do you hear?"'

A scream which outdid Rosie's came from Beatrice as she sprang again on her sister, almost knocking her off her balance as she yelled, Never!

Never! I'll see you dead first. Married to that coarse, ignorant..."

'Leave go of me!"

"I won't! You're not going. I'll see you dead first." When Rosie's doubled fist came up between Be-

"dis

I The Obsession 211

'f right-brace

bar ce's hands, which were gripping her sister's shoul bar so, and landed on her mouth, she was released

*tly. But Beatrice did not fall back, she just iggered a little ad put her hand quickly up to her ie.

And when she looked at her hand and saw the pod she gave a gasp of astonishment. Then it was this frenzied rage that she again attacked Rosie, and ould seem that she was intent on tearing the hair n her head when the front door was thrust open, also was the kitchen door, and Frances and Janie oett rushed into the hall, there to join Robbie as he a endeavouring to pull Rosie away from Beatrice's

fcnzied, clawing hands.

'Mistress! Mistress! Stop it! Stop it!"

The girls were ding on to Beatrice now. Blood was running from

ar mouth and over her chin onto their hands as they bar ontinued to hold her back for, still consumed with Ethe sight of Robbie Macintosh was infuriating urther, and she screamed at the top of her voice, out! Get out, you! Out of my house!" fe But he, one arm around Rosie's quivering body, W case in the other, her coat over his shoulder ttused and, casting a withering glance at Beatrice, Sried back at her, 'allyes, I'll get out, and your sister "this me for good and all. And I'll say this to you, man: if there's anyone inherited insane traits in our family, it's yourself!"

This statement, one would have expected would greater-than ave torn Beatrice from the servants'

hold; instead, it d the opposite effect, for they fet their mistress oing limp under their hand, and then her body bening to shake as if with ague.

torn Needier had appeared on the drive and Robbie

called to him, "Would you mind hauling the rest of her luggage down, Tom!" And Tom, his eyes wide, hurried forward, saying, "Yes, laddie.

Yes. Don't worry about it; I'll bring the lot to the gate."

Rosie's face was bleeding from two nail scratches down the side of her right cheek. Her body, too, was shaking, but this was due to her shuddering crying.

When they reached the gate, Robbie called back to Tom, "Just leave them there, Tom. I'll come back for them."

"From what I saw of her," torn Needier called, "she won't be on the look-out to see what I'm up to for some little time. So leave the lot and I'll get them along to your place."

Rosie was awake, but she hadn't yet opened her eyes. She knew that she was lying in Robbie's bed and her mind was perfectly clear as to what had transpired last night. She could recall that she had been unable to stop crying. Mrs. Annie had held her and Robbie had held her, but still she couldn't stop. Then John had arrived and he had seen to the scratches on her face. He had said soothing words to her about her future, and of how happy she was going to be. But still she had been unable to stop crying. Then he had made her drink something and she must have gone to sleep. But now, when she felt a hand lift hers from the counterpane, she opened her eyes and looked at Robbie. He was bending towards her, and he smiled softly as he said, "You've had a good sleep. D'you feel better now?"'

She did not answer for some time. She didn't know whether she felt better or not. Her face was paining;

*3 she put up her other hand to it, asking quietly,

it much?"'

H'lt's enough," he answered in his blunt way. "But

im says it isn't very deep, which is a good thing.

It

jgl soon heal."

She found it painful to turn her head to the side in

"er to see him the better; and then quietly she said,

@l"" i over." Sfes, love, it's over."

be watched im lower his head for a moment, sn look at her again and say, I heard it all from fMside.

Was it true what you said?"' There was no coyness about the answer, just a j bar ain, 'allyes, Robbie, it was true." jlAnd not as a brother, or a...?"'

y'ationo, not as a brother, or anything else. But as it lould have been years ago, if I'd...if I'd had any nse.

*j bar He lifted her hand and brought it to his chest. .1 'How long have you felt this way... about me, I ean?"'

JO-HAVE, for some time. But I...I don't think I could disJ have told you, because I was still carrying that Peadfiil feeling of rejection."

11 'Oh, my dear. You must have known you would jggve found no rejection in me, because I've loved you Still your life. When you were a child I loved you. yien I loved you as a young girl, and that was a bar bar ainful time, because I knew how you viewed me. bar put not so painful as when you became a young fomait and were about to marry." I "Oh, Robbie, Robbie." She had raised herself from JlSbe pillows now and, bringing her face close to his, she said, "You know something? You have never kissed me. Patted me, hugged me, but you've never kissed me."

"Oh, Rosie, Rosie." His face looked on the point of laughter; then his lips fell gently on hers and he held the kiss for some dme. Now, pressing her face from him, he said, hat's merely an introduction. When your cheek is better I'll do it properly." And attempting to smile now, she murmured, 'Oh, Robbie, Robbie. I love you. I do, I do. I... I never felt like this with... well, I can say, with Teddy. Looking back, that seems like a girlish dream, something that all girls have to go through. You... you believe me?"'

"I believe you, love. Oh, yes, I believe you. And all I want to know now is, how soon d'you think it will be before we can get married?"'

She brought a deep gurgling laugh from him when she said, "Make it tomorrow, or a week at most. In any case, as soon as we can. But I would like it to be in church."

"So would I, dear; although the lady downstairs"

-- he laughed- "will call me a hypocrite. But there's something in what you say,

'cos the quicker it's done, the quicker we'll get the winter cabbage in."

The bed shook through their mingled laughter and Annie Macintosh, who had been about to enter the room, stopped with her hand on the door knob, hesitated a moment, then turned about and went slowly downstairs again. But when she reached the bottom, she lifted her eyes to the ceiling, and said, "At last; thanks be to God. But not afore time."

M

,Vhen he first saw the house from the drive, John Js asking himse why he had offered to bring them

the trap. Robbie could have brought Rosie on the be*ment She would't have cared how she had got he long as he wa wlm hr.

Robbie's voic came softly at him now, saying, bar Knowledge's a bonny hoi Lovely." i bar dis'It's better insid" Rosie said, and he smiled at her

Jaiade no further comment. hn drew this horse to a stop at the foot of four ow steps; but before moving from his seat, he ed to wher Helen was standing almost at eyevel at the top, and his heart jerked against his ribs. g"...viving the old pa and making him chastise himH She ran dowo the steps, hugging Rosie to her, bel1 she turned to Robbie, saying, "How nice to see lou Robbie."

I ohn still had11' ft his seat and she looked up at n and her vo changed as she said, "Hello, John." "i 'Hello, Hele" e forced himself to smile as he

pointed to the horse's head, saying, "Where am I to put this?"'

"Oh, Henry will see to it. Look, here he comes."

A small, thick-set man appeared, and she pointed to the horse, saying, "Stable him, will you Henry, please?"'

"Yes, ma'am." There was a broad smile on the man's face; but then his head tued sharply as John, descending from the trap, said, "Oh, I won't be able to stay long. Just put him under shelter because I fear" comhe looked up at the sky- we're in for a shower, or a thunderstorm."

'Good enough, sir. Good enough, sir," and the man led the horse and trap away.

Walking side by side with Robbie, John followed the two sisters and for the first time he entered Col Mount.

He recalled the day that Helen had pointed it out to him from Craig's Tor, and it came to him that the name didn't really suit the house. It was a harshsounding name whereas this hall, with its rose wallpaper, gilt-framed pictures, polished floor, scattered rugs and soft pinkish upholstered chairs and curtains appeared anything but masculine. Perhaps panelled walls and a broad oak stairway would have better suited the entrance to such a named house.

They were in the drawing-room now and here the femininity was even more emphasised. But at the moment it did not impinge upon him for he was staring at the man who had pulled himself up from a chair and was shaking hands with Robbie. And he could not believe that this was the man whom he had continued to envy over the years, thinking of him always

tall man with a military bearing. This man was JE tall, but he looked emaciated.

ello, Doctor, so nice to see you again. It's a long

3 since we met."

JSY-ES, sir. Yes, it is a long time since we met." He "ped himself from adding,

"How are you?"'

bar bar WeUs, don't let us stand here like stoks, as Cook dd say. Sit yourself down...

Hello, my dear." He bar 1 turned to Rosie but didn't kiss her or put his arms ut her. Instead, his hand went out and gently jlched her cheek.

bar Sfohn had not sat down, and Helen repeated her hus'jpd's words: 'Do sit down, John."

He had been askimself why he hadn't sat down and was still lding like a stok, and he put it down to the change was seeing in this military man because he recog, .3d impending death when it stared him in the face, fss from a distance.

.has he sat down, he heard Helen say,

"I'll ring for Jine tea," and he realised that she was very ill-at less-than "ae; also that she too had changed: she looked older, even more beautiful.

Afterwards, he couldn't remember what he had ten for that tea. All he recalled of it was that Leonjoked with the two maids who brought it in, Han.h and Betty, and that they were rosy-cheeked, ight-eyed, middle-aged women. After the tea had Sen cleared away, a silence had fallen on the five of im until it was broken by Rosie excitedly saying, bar Xin... we're going to be married, Robbie and I." She tt her hand out and gripped Robbie's hand. Sandut...b it all happened quite suddenly, and I'm goJig to let John tell you about it." She now turned to him, saying, "Tell... tell them John, everything. Please! Every word."