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And then the doctor came and told Rosie that they were waiting for her to sit down. The tables were arranged like a horseshoe. Anyway, I was making for the door when the doctor was back again and saying, "Where are you off to, Mary?" And then he didn't wait for me to tell him, but he took my hand and pulled me through all the bustle to the bottom of one side of the table. And he pulled a chair forward from against te wall and said, "You sit there, and enjoy yourself. It's Miss Rosie's special day. You understand?" He looked solemn for a moment and I said,

"Yes, Doctor." Then he laughed and again said,

"Enjoy yourself." Then amid all the noise and chatter he went up to the top table, and the meal began.

It was very nice, very nice. But I thought you Cook, could have done better." Tactfully, now, she nodded to her superior;

then she went on, "After that there was speeches and a lot of laughter. I couldn't hear what they were laughing at; I was too far down, you see. Robbie Macintosh didn't say much, and it sounded very solemn, until the end when he went into broad Scots

'sere was a lot of laughter then. And then" comher ice was slowing up now- "they cut the cake. His d was on top of hers. That finished me; I was all Soked up." Her lids blinking rapidly, she looked ffta one to the other, then dropped her head onto her lded arms on the table and she began to cry, and " others, rising to their feet, commiserated with her. jl"...d it was Cook who said,

'Come on now. Go up to ur room and wash your face and pull yourself toher. Then come down and have a cup of tea.?... They had been sitting in silence when Cook again (ke, saying quietly, "I've been thinkin" about her ,bar wig there all day. She must be goin' through hell." She's gone through two boxes of chocolates that .ibiow of," said Janie now. "She must spend a small une on them. Yet, she's cutting down on the store "board and us, isn't she?"'

Jl'I can't help but feel sorry for her, too Cook," dis.bar rances said; 'b she's asked for all she's got, if we y go by the bit we've heard and seen. She was a lUferent woman altogether when she first used to go bebar bar o the annexe. And Mrs Falconer and she got on so ell together. And look how she used to come into 'pa Cook, and get you to make the old girl special

jlallyes. Yes, we all know about that," Janie put in jw. "But, if you ask me, it was all a sprat to catch mackerel, because, there's no gettin"

away from it, e trailed the doctor: for him she put on a different e from the one she used for Miss Rosie; she was itt butter and sugar when he was about. And I'll tell u something else' comshe now leant down the table wards the cook- "As I've said to you Cook, I've

ia""

230Catherine Cookson

heard things upstairs, things here and there, that seemed very odd at times. And knowing her now makes me think she is one of those women who eat men alive."

"Oh! Oh! Janie Bluett. Be

quiet!" Frances had turned on her workmate now. he things you say."

he things I say? What have you been sayin" all along? Anyway, me mind's settled. I'm going to look out for a change. And if you had any sense you would do the same, "cos to my mind, she's going up the pole. I'll tell you something you didn't know.

I was putting her linen away the other day in the top drawer and I managed to feel something hard. I pulled it out, and it was one of the doctor's scarves, and it had knots in it from beginning to end, tight, tight knots."

"No!" Cook was now biting on her lower lip and Janie turned to her, saying, "Yes, Cook.

Tight, tight knots. Don't you think that means she intends to do him an injury? And I don't want to be here when it happens."

A bell attached to a board on the wall rang loudly, and Frances, rising with a sigh, said, "Here we go again. What now?"'

i-

- fScSo:

eonard was saying, "I should have been there. I was Hjquite capable..." when Helen cut him off by bending lover him and putting her lips to his brow as she said, II'YOU weren't quite capable and you know it.

So, Idon't let's be silly."

H 'If there's anyone silly in this menage, it isn't me. l could have made it couldn't I, John?"' t "No, you couldn't."

"Well, well." Leonard put his hand up to his thin , gaunt face and shook his head: "Not a Mend in the

world," he said.

"Poor soul!" When Helen again kissed his brow he caught her hand and said, hey looked so happy when they came in, didn't they? Joy personified."

'allyes, dear, joy personified."

Helen bit on her lip and her eyes became moist as she said on a shaky laugh, hey're looking round the kitchen garden I again, would you believe it? She's so interested in bar their future. And I can see them making quite a busi bar s of their bit of land, more so than it is now. Odd' bar comshe straightened up and looked at John- "she was

never happy unless she was over there: she loved that house and his mother."

"You say Robbie's mother's having a ceilidh tonight?"' Leonard said.

"Yes, she's entertaining all his friends. Her cousin and his wife are staying with her for the four days, and they are Scots, too."

"I always thought that a ceilidh was an Irish pastime."

No; it's a Gaelic name for a do. Of the two nationalities I wouldn't lay bets as to who makes the more noise, or drinks the more whiskey, or which one of them finishes up without a fight. But I doubt if the atter will happen with Robbie's mother about... Youre not going now?"' Leonard pulled himself up slightly from the back of the long lounge chair as John got to his feet.

Yes, because if I stay five minutes longer I'll be invited to dinner."

"Well, you haven't a surgery tonight; you said so."

"Yes, I know, but I've got a mother. I've had a number of late nights during the last few weeks, don't forget. Your gambling sesions have got me hooked."

Leonard lay back and smiled his gaunt, wide smile as he said, "Oh, yes. I reckoned up yesterday, you must have lost all of fifteen shillings; but what you shouldn't forget is mat you've aso had tuition for that amount"

Helen had said nothing during this jocular exchange, for she was used to such banter, but now she went from the room, saying, TU call that pair in to say goodbye. Anyway, it's almost dark and they won't be examining vegetables in (his light'

*bar eft alone for a moment, Leonard put his hand out rards John and beckoned him closer. And when ch"(B bent over him, it was to hear Leonard say, 'I

luid like to have a talk with you, in private."

Private?"'

bar bar Yes. Yes, private. She's

arranged to take them to

theatre on Monday; at least I forced her hand in coms they'll be leaving here any time after five. Could contBut make it?"' jallyes. Yes, of course."

n"...ey stared at each other for a moment, then closJI-GO his eyes, Leonard said, 'I'd be grateful." John could say nothing to this, but if he had voiced jg" thoughts, he would have said, he gratitude, rey, is on the other foot; a visit here is the only light JJB my life now," to which, in all honesty, he could j bar ave added, 'When, not only do I see Helen, but also jitajoy this friendship which has surprisingly grown up j bar ietween us." There was a time when perhaps thoughtessly he might have wished this man dead. But not bar toy more. The thought of his impending end was iinrul.

He had found Leonard Spears to be not only a good man, but also a gentleman of the first rank, in left-brace bar all ways.

bar bar He straightened up, and assuming his doctor' smanlffler, he said, "Now behave yourself Do as you're told bar g3tod no attempting to go outside until the sun starts to behave itself too."

He nodded sharply down at Leonj aid now; and when there was no response, he turned I abruptly and walked from the room.

j Helen was in the hall. She seemed to be waiting g for him, for she had his coat in her hands, and silently she helped him into it. Then, handing him his hat and

gloves, she said, "I'm going to the theatre with Rosie and Robbie on Monday night; I'm,.

.i'm being got out of the way." Her voice had a break in it. "I suppose he's asked you over because he wants to talk to you in private?"'

*Well... yes."

She gathered the front of her dress into her fist as if she were cold; then, turning to him, she peered at him through the twilight as she said, 'I don't know what I'll do when he goes. He is my life.

He has been my life for a long time now. You understand?"'

"Yes. Yes, I understand."

"It wasn't so at first." She swallowed deeply. "I liked him then, admired him, and he was a quick escape route. But...b that soon changed.

He...he's a wonderful man."

"Yes. I agree with you."

She turned from him now, muttering, "Why?

Why?"'

"Used in this context, that is the hardest word to give an answer to," John said quietly.

Her voice became a slight croak now as she said, "How long do you think he has?"'

He paused for a moment before he said, "His...

your doctor would surely have given you an indication."

"No, he hasn't. He thinks it would hurt me. Anyway I have eyes. And you know that this is the worst possible climate for him. But he won't budge, he likes this house. He says he wants me to be... settled here," and her head bounced back as she said "When he goes, I too go far away, miles away, across oceans..."

As her voice broke, he put in softly,

"Don't! Don't! He'll notice immediately and that'll upset him more.

1" P"...ment a face on things up till now; go on doing And I can say at this moment, Helen, that there

JB-ONE who hopes or would even pray for his surHN as much as I would."

t this point he happened to glance into the corBut where Bertram Johnson, Leonard's valet-cume was hovering. Strange, he thought, but the man Jys seemed to be hovering in his vicinity.

He had r taken to the man. He couldn't tell why, for gPntly he was good at his job and was very nec-Paxy to Leonard.

gEvery bar I must be going," he said now and made a motion

IJ-AKE her hand, although it got no further than a Bon; then he went out into the night and towards F stables where he knew Henry would have his JWS-EVERY and trap ready for hi.

JO-EVERY thing John was to remember about Rosie's edciing day had nothing to do with that happy girl JP1 her groom, but was something his mother had said Jl im the previous night.

g bar oth she and Mrs Atldnson had been somewhat

grised to see him back so early. And when he told g" Atkinson that he wasn't going out again and that Kwas sure she'd be glad of an eariy night, she thanky took him at his word.

j bar His mother wasn't in bed. hi fact as she said hersen greater-than her legs had taken a holiday and left her substi bar rotes and she had been walking around most of the I y She also insisted that she had no intention of bar iig until she had heard all his news.

I ley were settled in te sittingroom and she was sayig to him, "I was vexed this afternoon because I knew I could have been there, as I've said, I've ben bar on my pins all day. What d'you think's given me this

relief7"

*Oh, dont be silly." He jerked his head impatiently.

You know you have your good days, and that they are followed by bad ones. Se smiled now as she said, Say that again. I

didn't quite get it." He closed his eyes for a moment as he smiled

widely; then she said, Well, go on, tell me. Right fm te two of them going up the aisle."

'Oh, I told you that bit when I popped in before he reception." All right then, start from the reception. And so he started from the reception, even bringing in young Mary's appearance, which had pleased Rosie greatly. And be finished on a laugh when he related that the young couple had gone out to examine the kitchen garden once again, in deep twilight'

*It's been a good day then, for all conceed? Sh had stopped here; then, her head slightly bowed, she added, hat was the wrong conclusion," and she thumbed now towards the wall, adding quietly, 'She s been on the rampage.

Twice I heard her yellng at the girls. Then Mrs Atkinson had a word with torn Nee dier He said that the mistress had given Jimmy 0213kslash - ham that's the yard man, isnt it?

Well, she had given him order to clean the carriage, get it ready for outside. And the caage, you know. is torn s business. Anyway, as he said it hadn't been used now for some time, and what's the use of a carriage without a horse." She paused now while staring at him;

then said, I used to love living here. But the way Wshave tued out, I wish I had ever come. And oknow, if I hadn't, you wouldn't have been i the ass you are today."

1 H had got quickly to his feet, saying, We ve been

less-than oueb all this. Come on, get yourself to bed." Shedid not move, but went on, How did you leave

comSe patient?"'

I Leonard?"'

i bar Yes, Leonard."

H Well, he's not my patient."

bar bar "No, I know that, but youre across there enough Itaes as if he were." tTooldng down at her he said, Mother, he likes

ompany. And, as I told you, and he has said himself, bar heir socalled friends have faded away like snow in nshine, apart from one or two. Only one does he imd amusing. And not one of them plays cards.

B "I'm I'm not questioning you, John, or blaming tu onty L..well I get worried.

What I saw of him

5 know he's not long to go and there's going to be a great gap in that girls life when he does. But what firm going to say won't please you.

Nevertheless, 111

bar say it: she's not the kangaroo type; she won't ump bar ito somebody else's arms the

minute that he's gone. @. 'Mother He took two

steps back from her. Retaly"" The word might have been an instant repntmand, but her gaze remained steadfast and her voice calm as she said, Tm not blind, and I'm your mother. I I remember your telling me about that garden party,

and you could talk of nothing else, and the fat hat she was intending to mary a man old enough to be her father, or so you thought. And then you purposely didn't go to her wedding, and you were like a bear I* and.