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811past five years, because, as I remember him, he couldn't suffer fools gladly . . , I sound big-headed, don't I? But that was one job I knew, the only job. And I certainly would have been a dud-head if I hadn't carried it out with some efficiency, because after leaving school at sixteen I went for three years to a Secretarial College. Anyway, why am I giving you the story of my life? You called in just to say thank you, and now you are being burdened, and bored . . .''I am certainly not being either burdened or bored.

Now I'm going to tell you something. I've never felt so relaxed or at ease anywhere for a long time. The day I found myself in this room things were hazy, yet during the week or so that followed they seemed to clarify themselves, and I've often found myself thinking about it and the two kind ladies who saw to me.

And there was a gentleman, too, wasn't there?''Yes, Bill. He was a friend of my father's and has remained my mother's friend since.'At this point Mrs Dunn entered the kitchen, saying, 'That was a shipping order, a packet of Woodbines, a packet of Player's Weights, and five empties brought back, with

812a pound's worth of gossip from Mrs Chaytors,' and without seeming even to draw breath she was addressing Joseph directly: 'Will you stay and have a bite? Liz has got a hot-pot on and although some of her cooking I wouldn't give to a dog, I can vouch for her hot-pot.'Laughing, he rose to his feet, the cup still in his hand, and he handed it to the older woman, saying, 'She also makes a good cup of coffee; I'll vouch for that. Thank you for the invitation, but I must be off. I, too, have got to earn a living, you know/

He was glancing at the young woman now, and her reply was, 'And I'm sure you are worked to death.''Eeh! She's a cheeky monkey, is my daughter. And I must apologize for her. But there you are; you are welcome any time you are passing.''Well, I can assure you now, Mrs Dunn, I'll take up your invitation whenever I'm this way, and that will be quite often, I should imagine, when I'm seeing to the alterations of the villa. But now I'll say again, the reason for this particular visit was to thank you for your kindness, both of you.' And at this,

813saying, 'Good-bye, Mrs Lilburn,' he turned and, accompanied by Mrs Dunn, went from the room . .

.A minute or so later Janet Dunn had returned to the kitchen and said to her daughter, 'By! isn't he a nice man.''Mother!''All right, all right, girl. I was just saying, isn't he a nice man.''Yes, and I've heard you say that before. Well, don't forget that this one is married and has six children.''Well, lass, the Bible's a good book and in it it says, Solomon had quite a number of wives.'When her daughter pushed at her none too gently, then had to steady her against falling, their laughter joined . . .Out in the street Joseph walked slowly to his car, but it was odd that he should feel reluctant to get into it. He had the desire to walk, even back across the field towards the villa, for he had the impression that the iron gates of The Grove had opened and he had passed through into freedom. It was an odd feeling like that which overcame him at

814times, as if he were in a dream, yet knowing that it was no dream, and often that had been the frightening part of it. But not this time.

It's scandalous! It shouldn't be allowed,' 'Oh, Bridget, Bridget, my dear.' 'Don't use that tone to me, as if I was a narrow-minded woman. Don't you realize that that young man is the grandson of your brother's mistress, and was for ten years or more, and must have cost poor Victoria real heartache?''My dear Bridget, if I'm to go by what Bright told me, Victoria was thankful that he had such a diversion, for it kept him out of the house and out of her sight, and she was certainly more than thankful that it kept him out of Henrietta's way. Anyway, my dear, Joseph is her father, and he likes the young man and he's given his consent, and Amy can do nothing whatever about it. Anyway, what's it to do with her? These 816outraged feelings are simply another way of expressing her frustration or whatever's happening to her at this time. She had no real knowledge of Victoria; in fact, I realized it, whether you did or not, my dear, that during the short time Victoria was with us before she died, Amy had taken a dislike to her. Perhaps it was because you were then showering your affection upon her and Henrietta. In a way, you were making up for the loss of Amy in your life, and our dear daughter was quick to recognize that she was being easily replaced.''Oh, Douglas, you file everything down to a hair's breadth.' >*•He bent forward and took her hand, saying, 'But you know inside that logical head of yours that I'm right; and I can tell you this much, and I can see it happening, our dear granddaughter, Alice, though a very sweet girl, has a strong streak in her that she may have inherited from'-he pulled a face now-'her grandmother, and should her mother lead her hell-oh yes, my dear Bridget, that's what Amy's doing at the present moment-well, I can see our granddaughter, who is verging on eighteen, just

817picking up her skirts and walking out, if not actually running out. Apparently she said as much to her father.''Has . . . has Joseph been talking about this to you?''Of course, my dear, he's been talking about this to me. Who else would he discuss it with? Amy is up in arms at the very thought of it. By the way, as we are mentioning Joseph, I think my . . . our . . . your decision to give him a free hand was a very good move, at least for him, because he's changed, hasn't he? He's not so cool or taciturn as he has been of late, more free and easy. Has Amy said anything to you? Oh, come on, come on, she talks to you, as Joseph talks to me.''Yes, she talks to me but about nothing of importance with regard to Joseph, except that since he has taken up the business on his own, he is hardly ever at home.''Well, why don't you point out to her, dear, that he would stay at home if there was . . . well, less quarrelling.''It takes two to make a quarrel, Douglas.''Yes, I suppose so. Anyway, there's more news, good and bad, that I can tell you. I 818saw Joseph this morning. I ran across him as I was going to pick you up, but there was plenty of time, so we had a coffee together, and he told me rather gleefully that there was another courting in the offing. Malcolm has apparently been introduced to James Fordyce's cousin Delia. She is, by the way, Lady Delia, the only daughter of Lord Breck. So, of course, that would please Amy, wouldn't it? But the bad news is, Amy says if he doesn't do something to stop Henrietta coming over to the house, evidently just to see him, then the next time she appears she will lock the doors on her. Now, it was natural for Joseph at this stage to ask me what I was going to do about it, and now I ask you, dear, what are we going to do about it? She slipped Nell's coils last week and we thought that was impossible . . . Bridget-'

He took hold of both her hands and looking fully into her face he said, 'I'll soon be sixtyseven years old, and you are sixty-three, so have you thought what will happen to her when we go, as go we must, sooner or later? And she's likely to go on living for many more years yet. So, I ask you, what will hap-819pen to her? She'll have to be put under some restraint.''Yes, I know, Douglas. I've thought of that; in fact I've thought about it a lot.''Oh, I'm glad to hear that, dear. I know how fond you are of her.'She smiled at him now as she said, 'Not as fond as I once was. I suppose it's age, but I find her a trial at times. At the same time, though, I cannot bear to think of her incarcerated in any asylum, not as I know them to be.'There are private places, dear.''Yes, I have thought of that, too.'*Well now, dear'-he gripped her hands more tightly-'when we are on these serious subjects I must tell you what has been in my mind for some time, too, and that is, I think the house . . . The Grove, should be left entirely to Joseph. I've always thought it to be his by rights, and so , . .''Oh, no! Douglas. What about Amy?''She is his wife, dear, and naturally her son would inherit.''But she expects him to inherit in any case, I mean . .

,''Dearest'-he let go of her hands-'I

820know what you mean, but Joseph is a strongwilled man; I wouldn't like to come up against him in a Court of Justice. And there is something afoot in Parliament. I think it's merely at the discussion stage, but

. . . but there are, I surmise, a number of men up there, you know, with offspring in the same position as Joseph, and they are men of some honour who want to see justice done, and so it is they who will be putting this bill forward, which will allow an illegitimate son the right to inherit, at least, where an estate is entailed, give the owner of that estate the power to will it in specific words to his illegitimate son. But, in the case of Joseph, should he take it into his head to press his claim, then I would be the only one standing in his way. And just think, dear, if my ancestors hadn't willed it that the estate should pass to the male line, it could have gone to Henrietta, God forbid.''Would you have said "God forbid" if it was to pass to your own daughter?''No, I wouldn't.''Well, in that case it should pass to her son.''It will in time, dear.'821'I don't agree with you in this, Douglas, so let us think it over. Shall we?''Yes, dear, just as you wish.' He dare not say at this point, I've already put the wheels in motion, because he knew she was definitely playing for time to talk him round to her way of thinking, which she usually managed to do ...

But not this time.She was sitting now with her hands tightly clasped on her knees as she said, 'I hate age.

I hate getting old. It changes so many things. I never thought, for instance, we would sell the factories. I miss going there, you know.'He nodded at her, and was saying, 'Yes, I know, dear,' when the door was thrust open and in the framework a tall woman stood silently looking at them, and this brought Bridget swiftly to her feet, saying, 'Oh, no!Nell. No!''We were near the bus station, madam. I had turned to the flower stall and said, "Wouldn't it be nice to take your aunt some flowers back?" and when she didn't answer I looked round and'-the woman now shook her head-'the bus was moving off and I saw her jumping on to it. She'll be making for theM^

822house again. I'm so sorry, madam, but at times I think she's really getting beyond me.'Bridget was hurrying from the room now, saying, 'I must phone Amy,' but Douglas stopped her, calling, 'No! No, don't. Amy will do as she said, she won't let her in. I'll go and get her, don't worry. I'll likely get there as quick as the bus, that's if she hasn't taken the through one. Did you see what bus she took, Nell?''No, sir.

I was so taken aback. It was too far away.'I'll come with you,' Bridget said, and he did nothing to stop her.They were standing in the hall. Amy was facing Henrietta, and she was mouthing in no small voice, I've , , . told . . , you, he . . . won't ... be in ... till . . . late. He works late in his office. I ... keep . . . telling

. , , you.'*I . . . want . . , to stay. I can , , . go . . . back . . , tomorrow.''You are not staying here, Henrietta. I've told you before.'Henrietta looked about her, to one side where stood Malcolm, then to the other to-823wards the green-baized door that led into the kitchen and where John was standing, and her words seemed to embrace them all as she cried, This was . . . my home , . . before . . , it was . . . yours. I ... I have . . . a right here ... I can stay ... as long as ... I like. It was . . . my grandfather's . . , house. It should

. . . have been . . . mine.' She had not mentioned her father. 'It ... is ... mine.'Amy came back at her, crying, 'It never was yours! It is my house and I say you can't stay here.' Amy now turned and looked at Malcolm and, lowering her voice, she said, 'Get your car out and take her back.''No, Mother. No.' His voice too was low, scarcely audible, but he forgot at the moment that the large objectionable creature, as he viewed her, was standing near him and could lip read, and he went on, 'I've promised to meet . . .

well, I'm going to Delia's for tea. As for having her in the car with her bulk, no! Mother. She shouldn't be at large anyway; she should be locked up. You've said all this, but if I had my way . . .'His voice trailed off as he saw his mother put her hand tightly over her mouth and 824John move swiftly from his position near the kitchen door. But it was too late.Henrietta had taken in only bits of what Malcolm had said, because he hadn't been facing her directly. But when she moved so that she was able to read his last words, she was lifted back into the past, and she saw the young man immediately change: he was taller and broader, but his face remained the same. It was that of her father and he was going to put her away, lock her up, take her from her mama. Her body jangling, she sprang: it became the continuation of the day she had encountered her father on the landing.As her nails tore down Malcolm's cheek she screamed, and so did he, and they were locked together for a while before John and Amy managed to drag her from him. John had gripped her throat and so had almost checked her breathing. This had loosened her hold, but in the ensuing struggle she slipped and fell on the floor; and as if handling a big bale, John rolled her onto her face, then put one knee on her back while he yelled at the two maids, who had made their1

825startled appearance on the stairs, 'Get the men! Ron, and one of the others.'Amy had pressed Malcolm onto a hall chair and was now wiping his face with a handkerchief, repeating as she did so, 'It's all right. It's all right;' but when he muttered, 'My eye,' she said, It's the blood running from your brow.

Don't worry. Don't worry, dear. Oh, my God! My God! I knew this would happen. She's a maniac, she's mad. Always has been. When I get to that telephone I'll make my mother see that this is the final straw.'But there was no need for her to get to the telephone to her mother, for almost at that instant, through the open door came both Bridget and Douglas, and Douglas, taking in the scene, muttered, *Oh, dear God! not again.'He went straight to where John still had his knee on the broad back and was now holding on to one of Henrietta's arms and when Douglas said, 'I'll see to her. I'll see to her/ reluctantly, it would seem, John released his hold on the big groaning form, then straightened up, pulled his tunic straight, stroked his hair back and dusted his

824John move swiftly from his position near the kitchen door. But it was too late.Henrietta had taken in only bits of what Malcolm had said, because he hadn't been facing her directly. But when she moved so that she was able to read his last words, she was lifted back into the past, and she saw the young man immediately change: he was taller and broader, but his face remained the same. It was that of her father and he was going to put her away, lock her up, take her from her mama. Her body jangling, she sprang: it became the continuation of the day she had encountered her father on the landing.As her nails tore down Malcolm's cheek she screamed, and so did he, and they were locked together for a while before John and Amy managed to drag her from him. John had gripped her throat and so had almost checked her breathing. This had loosened her hold, but in the ensuing struggle she slipped and fell on the floor; and as if handling a big bale, John rolled her onto her face, then put one knee on her back while he yelled at the two maids, who had made their