Miss Mary Martha Crawford (44 page)

"And have you considered my proposition?"

"Yes'I have."

"Well, come on, what is it? You're not usually so reticent."

Martha found that she, too, was waiting for Harry's answer and she

hoped it came before the dream faded, as it was apt to do.

"Well, it's as I have already said. If I were to accept it your home would be a very crowded house. You've been used to your own way of

life for so long; comings and goings would likely irritate you ... and you'd have to take into account' that when I, too, am irritated, I'll be an unpleasant customer to live with."

"Yes, I know all that, and your last remark I certainly have taken into account, but after weighing it all up 1 decided I'd choose the

irritation rather than live the rest of my years, few or many, with

only the port bottle for company, or comfort. And from that you'll

gather that when I put the proposition to you it wasn't really out of kindness but selfishness on my part...."

"But if I took the property up the street we'd only be six doors away.

Have you thought of that? "

"Yes, but six doors are six doors and I want people round me." The last words were muttered, then they rose to a smothered laugh as he

ended, "Even Aunt Sophie. And you know something? It's my belief she's not half as muddled in the head as she makes out at times.

Anyway, she had the sense to survive and is in fitter shape than any of you and it's thanks to her the little maid was saved too, for without her she wouldn't have stood a chance."

"Don't forget the duck."

The softly joined laughter floated round Martha as the dream faded;

then like an echo she heard Harry's voice, saying, "Well, thank you.

Thank you doctor, and for my part I'll see you never regret it. "

Regret it. regret it. regret it. regret it.

"Wake up. Wake up. That's a girl. Gome on."

"The water ... Harry ... the water."

"It's all gone. It's all over."

"Where am I?"

"In my home, Doctor Pippin's house." He paused a long moment before he said, "Our house."

She Stared back at him, then asked quietly, "Am I ill?"

'you have been. "

"How long?"

"Oh, a fortnight or more."

Aunt Sophie and Peg.

I.

I dreamed. "

He was bending down, his face close to hers now as he said softly, "You won't believe this but Aunt Sophie's alive and well." He raised his eyes towards the ceiling.

"She's upstairs in her room at this moment with Peg waiting on her."

They're alive? " That's wh^ ^sala) they're both alive."

"And... ao^ we're in Doctor Pippin's home?" He paused for a ^one nioment before he said softly, "Our home from now on. Your home when you're well enough to be mistress oflt Now! Now! you mustn't. Don't

cry, my dear. Don't cfY' You must save aA Y0111" energy and strength to get well b^311^ you know a doctor can't have a wife who's abed all day. Aw, please, please, don't cry like that. I never want to see you

"" Y again. If it lays with me you've done all the crying you'll ever do, because from now on I'm steering your ^e' do you hear? Look at me, Martha. " He put his hand gently " "der her chin.

"Did you hear what I said? I'm steering y0111' !" , Ad that's whether you like it or not. "

"But ..

but we can't all live here. "

"We can. The doctor wants it that way, and particularly he wants you.

A^d something more I'll tell you now, I've got the strong fee"" neis planned that you should come here and be rnistre58 of this house from the moment I came back after my firstvlslt to The Habitation. He's a wily old beggar is our Doctor Pippin. He always says he never does

anything without putting himself first. It's meant to be a joke, but since you're here, and I've tied myself for life to him as a partner I've got me doubts about the joke. "

Oh, doctor' "Harry:

"Harrv whst what am I expected to say?"

"Well you could say you liked me a little bit.... Well, don't you just Jjust a little?"

She was looking straight up into his eyes as she murmured, "More than a htt^e-.. : There came a quirk to her lips as she ended, " Well, at least at times. "

He out his head back now and laughed, saying, "That's my Miss Martha Mary Crawford. Oh, what a mouthful of a name that is. And I'm afraid it won't sound any better when it's Mrs. Martha Mary Fuller."

"It's an awf'I name... Martha Mary."

"No it isn't) " ^Y dear-' H" voice was gentle, his eyes held a 318

'.

soft depth.

"I was only teasing. It's a very special name, to be kept for special occasions. Ordinary times I'll merely address you as Martha, but on

special occasions when I'm flaming mad at you, then I'll bawl, Martha Mary! or as, like now, when I want to say to you, I love you, I'll say Martha Mary, do you hear me, I love you, Martha Mary." His face moved down to hers.

"Oh, Harry, Harry."

"Martha Mary. Martha Mary."

the end

A SELECTED LIST OF FINE NOVELS THAT APPEAR IN CORGI

D 09475 7 A RAGING CALM 0 09274 6 A KIND OF LOVING D 08419 o THE

FIFTEEN STREETS 008444 > MAGGIE ROWAN 009305 a THE INVITATION 0

08821 8

A GRAND MAN 0 o88aa 6 THE LORD AND MARY ANN 0 08823 4 THE DEVIL

AND

MARY ANN 0 08538 3 KATIE MULHOLLAND 0 08849 8 THE GLASS VIRGIN 0

7 THE DWELLING PLACE 0 09318 I FEATHERS IN THE FIRE D 09373 4 OUR

KATE

Dog6i72 THE CONSERVATORY 0 09904 X A VIEW OF THE SEA 0 09798 9

HOUSE OF

MEN 0 too74 9 THE FEN TIGER 0 Io27I 7 THE MARIGOLD FIELD 0 09140 5

SARAH WHITMAN 0 10312 8 THE RUNNING FOXES D 09462 3 LAKE LAND VET

009891 8 CHIA THE WILD CAT 0 09892 2 ZARA 0 09893 o BREED OF GIANTS 0

09431 5 THE BEL STONE FOX 0 oi42 7 HEAR NO EVIL D 10230 X NO PRECIOUS

TIME

All these books are available at four bookshop or news agent a ,

pulitisher. Just tick the titles ym wait and fill in the form behm.

Slat Bmstow 6o( H Stem Barstow 4op. aj Catherine Cwksm sop |J

Catherine Cookson 6spS Catherine Cookson 50tl| Catherine Cookson i

Catherine Cookson t Cat/urine Cookson;

Catherine Cookson 85 Catherine Cookson 73 Catherine Cookson 7$

Catherine Cookson t Catherine Cookson ;

Phyllis Hastings t Margaret Maddocks t Catherine Marchant;

Catherine Marchant t Dime Pearson Diane Peasson;

Joyce Stranger g Joyce Stranger ^ Joyce Stranger 4 Joyce Stranger t

Joyce Stranger t David! Rook g Jean Ure ^ Jean Unn 'i l be mama direct fraw'1

CORGI BOOKS, Cash Sales Department, P.

O.

Box ll, Fahnouth, Cornwall.

Please send cheque or postal order, no currency.

U.

K.

send t9p for first book plus 9p per copy for each additional book

ordered 1 maximum charge of 73p to cover the cost of postage and

packing.

B.

F.

P.

O.

and Eire allow igp for fir at book plus 9p per copy for the next 6 tx thereafter 3p per book.

Overseas Customers: Please allow aop for the first book and I op per copy for < additional book.

kame (Block letters)

ADDRESS .

(DEC.

? 6)

While every effort is made to keep prices low, it is sometimes

necessary to _ prices at short notice. Corgi Books reserve the right to show new retail prices on which may diner from those previously

advertised In the text or eUewhero. :|