i 024767349a4cae9a (11 page)

to look at her.

H'm sorry if I upset you by saying sily

*. it' He turned and went on with the job in Tt forget it. I... I'll liely be oing away than ever I thought I would. An no matter ril...ril miss you. You don't know rnriss you."

al why are you doing it?"' He had swg round, i the straw to one side, and now w io to face almost touching hers. And he demanded I Why are you doing it?"'

IA a sudden she coudn't answer him. e throat bar "n The tears spurted from her eye ad she bar people disz she gasped, 'allyou...y know vhy. You why. I just must get... get...

A want to get away, there are other means of

'That dis .

a hurricane, an earthquake... a personal earthquake, or just something, before we get our eyes opened."

Rosie's face held a perplexed expression and she told herself that Mrs Annie couldn't be implying what she thought she was implying, because Robbie was twenty-eight years old, and... and he had always been like a big brother to her; at times, almost like a father, And he was rough with her in his voice and manner; he never spoke to her softly as Mrs Annie did. Well, not now, he didn't. He used to when she was little. He would give her piggy-backs then.

But during this last year or so there had been times when he had hardly opened his mouth to her. And she knew he had gone dancing with Peggy Morgan and Mary MacKenzie. But of course, Mary MacKenzie was married now. And she remembered a young woman who used to call pretty often and Mrs Annie used to tell lies and say he was out. She was a grocer's daughter, and Mrs Annie said she was after Robbie's blood. She used to think that was a funny thing to say.

But nothing in life was funny any more. For a moment she was sorry that she was going to America because she would miss these two people. She loved them. Yes. Yes, that was the word, she loved them, like she hadn't loved anyone in her own family, not since her mother had died anyway. But she was fond of Helen.

Oh yes, she liked Helen... Why was she sitting here, her mind muddling all her thoughts?

Annie said suddenly, "Go on, have a word with him."

"He'll go for me, the temper he's in."

"Well, what d'you expect lass?"'

"I expect him to wish me to be happy and get away

door. He hates that house as much as I do.

I?? s hated it longer. I thought he'd be happy

His

*fc from the table and tued to the stove B (Jo on; have a word with him." Rosie rose from the chair and left the room. -. where he'd be, and she made for the cow-T she opened the door he was standing at the m nibbing down one of the animals with a bun-

'P*.i!

W to look at her.

m sorry if I upset you by saying such silly

"Hn-, "dis""

3! it." He turned and went on with the job in

,i l forget it. ...I" likely be oing away

i than ever I thought I would. And no matter happens I'll...I'll miss you. You don't know T miss you."

bar just bar 'wr why are you doing it?"' He had swung round, ."...i the straw to one side, and now was close to his face almost touching hers. Ad he demanded u 'Why are you doing it?"'

I*? a sudden she couldn't answer him. Her throat ftdl. The tears spurted from her eyes and she F as she gasped, "You...y Icnow why. You less-than why. I just must get...get..."

011 want to away, there are other means of i tilde so'

"*- *comcomcomcom

SsSSUSSS-SY else had asked me to

. *

"...them."

"Oh my God backslash girl." He now had his arms about her, holding her close. "Don't cry, love, don't cry. I unl derstand. I understand." Then in a whisper he said Nobody had asked you to marry them? Good God! I Bloody blind fool! Don't, love, don't cry like that I It's all right, I understand. Yes. Yes, I understand." 5

Her tears subsiding, she drew herself from him bar saying, Tm sorry...I'm sorry." bar He looked into her eyes, his voice still quiet.

"All bar I want is for you to be happy, Rosie. All I've ever bar wanted my rnain aim in life even, since I dragged bar you down from the tree, was that you shoud be happy bar and keep that youthful spirit that made you different j from everybody else. And it's sdll there, know it's bar still there.

It's concealed at the moment; growing up bar always does blanket it down for a bit, but it'll come back. You'll see. Wherever you are, in America or Timbuktu, it'll come back. Come on now!

t greater-than on't start 5 again, 'cos Main will knock me block off for upset ting you. You've had enough upsets lately. You wan bar a little happiness.

Believe that, Rosie, believe that's I all I want for you, to be happy." He now just stoppe himself from adding, "And me along with you. O1 yes, and me along with you."

He put an arm around her shoulders and led her out of the cowshed and back to the house. And in the kitchen once more he said to his mother, "You haven't guzzled the last of tat hard stuff, have you?"'

"What d'you mean?"' she came back at him; i don't guzzle any of it But I could put me name to wbdg does."

'Well, let's drink to America, eh?

Let's drink to America." He smiled at Rosie, then tued to bis

stbar he thought for a moment that she too was T; out crying, and he bawled at her, "Don't

- like a stuffed dummy, woman! Go and get 3"

iiKnowledge lifted the half bottle of whisky fro the icom sideboard, she bit tightly on her lip and

,.bar bar to SS3Every "Annie Macintosh, you've got a son

ft.ffi."

E1 dgf Beatrice entering the drawing-room

"llher best dress brought Rosie to her feet, say bar bar A1Like you do look nice, Beatrice, I've always liked

3Sl it suits you. And thank you for getting

"*apd for the tea. My goodness! In the kitchen,

"'j bar 5- think there was a party, the things that l done. What time is it?"'

was ooked at the clock. "Ten minutes to "

she said. "I hope he's a gentleman who keeps

bar bar i yes, he is. That's part of his work, aking

*mTonight and arranging board meetings and such. aa he feels like a Parliamentary Secretary at He made me laugh yesterday when he said he's " the bridesmaid but never the blushing bride." yu hair's hanging over your cheek." Beatrice put her hand and, with a finger, she lifted the strand JSSS-THAT

naletter fr01 Rosie's face and placed it behind v ear. It was such a tender action that Rosie leaned

*.J forward and kissed her sister on the cheek.

i.i sitting down, she murmured, "I'm nervous, you Si". This is going to be a formal meeting, isn't if" l bar Well, sort of...' II Three o'clock came.

Half-past three came. His,

And now Rosie, making for the door yet again, I said, He must have missed the train, or perhaps he i was unable to get a cab from the station. I told him be to take a cab." i

"There is plenty of time. Sit yourself down.

There's be

nothing spoiling; Cook won't brew the tea until he comes. Come and have a chocolate."

Beatrice held out the box of

chocolates, and Rosie dutifully took one, although she wasn't very fond of chocolates. But she held it in her fingers as she watched Beatrice eat the cream, then pick up another before she laid the box back on the table. And she forced herself to say,

"You'll lose all your appetite for tea if you go on eating those sweets."

"It's odd," said Beatrice, "but they never interfere with my appetite... Do come and sit down, dear. You're getting on my nerves, walking around."

It was ten minutes to four when there was a ring on the bell, and they both rose from the couch. And as Beatrice stroked down the skirt of her velvet dress and adjusted the waist, she put out her hand and checked Rosie from making for the door, again saying,

"Prances will see to it, dear. Now, calm yourself."

They heard voices coming from the hall; then the door closed, and presently there was the tap on the drawing-room door, and Frances entered carrying a salver on which lay a letter, and she looked from one to the other before handing it to Rosie, saying, "It's for you Miss Rosie."

Rosie took the letter, broke the seal, then read: My dear Rosie, It is most

unfortunate, but I have been called

* to London and must leave straightaway. I few what this means in regard to ruhi America, but I shall let you tai later

1 has been decided. IpRBR you in the deepest affection. wi me. Always.

f"...ment"...S at the sheet of paper. my dearest'.

No "I love you". "I lov y0" "how I hate having to leave you". be7- couldn't understand it. This wasn't li Teddy. kept his letters: they were warm, lovg. even iwf" In a way, they had, she felt kept her from I]?gg'Ki greater-than au during these last few months SSSSSSSS-" sne handed the letter to Beatrice, "dis "II ca't understand it. I...I really can't! lis " She stopped speaking. Sh could not hiswerewas:" his attitude of yesterday, at the thought of ,i' less-than being married and going to a foreig11 country:

* had been as excited as a young boy an less-than 1 o1 about America and the life here.

Bot of course, he had warned her, they didn't like young men "dis married before taking up a post tere.

Howl he had felt sure it would be all rigt But as he l- yet put that question to his superiors, this recall 'HiiTODAY-I could have nothing to do with request i be married before leaving the country.

H After Beatrice had apparently read this letter twice, Ipr said, To say the least, I think it's very ad man-His

I: "It... it must have been urgent, else h wouldn't be

recalled." Rosie had risen to Teddy's defence iraa diately. "He's not the kind of man to be rude. In fact he is too formal. That is part of his position. He meets so many people he has to be formal. He explained it all to me."

She suddenly sat down on the couch. And now she asked herself how long she would have to wait for an explanation. He wouldn't see his superiors until tomorrow, then he would have to write to her and she wouldn't receive me letter until te next day. That was two full days to wait after she got over today. She didn't know how she was going to bear it She looked at Beatrice wearing her best dress; and she had gone to all that trouble about the special tea and she knew of the special effort she would have had to make to be nice. She said now, brokenly, "I'm sorry, after all the trouble you've gone to..."

"Oh" comBeatrice's tone expressed her concern- "please, please, don't worry about me, just because I put on a decent dress. With regard to the tea... well, we have to eat anyway. It was all nothing. But I'm sorry that you are disappointed.

It's very odd. Sit down and I'll ring for tea"

"No, no. Please don't Beatrice. I couldn't eat anything at the moment; not even drink tea. I'll go out for a while."

As she turned away Beatrice said, "Where are you going?"'

Rosie did not answer. She walked slowly towards the door until her sister's voice came at her, the tone more recognisable, "You're not going next door to tell them, are you?"'

Rosie turned and looked at her. "Yes.

Yes, that's just what I'm going to do. I was going there in any

i tea to tell them about the arrangements, " and ten them there " y ange-ajyw I n't like you going there so uch, 3Rather! you do it?"'

i greater-than More- they are my friends. They have always iends, and always will be, no matter what and m sorry to say, Beatrice, you an do

% about it I' always visit them as long as

"iMore- to visit."

was a pause during which they stared at each i the distance, Rosie tued and went out, m the door qeily behind her. And now, going S cloakroom, she gathered her old coat and a11' and from a rack at one side of the room IS up her overshoes.

This was the outfit that la wore when she had to scale the wall. Yet Jy she wasn't going to scale the wall today, going by the front way...

1 nutes later, when Annie heard the tap on

**y'" oor, then saw the figure standing there she termed 'her old disabee", she exclaimed "Why, what's the matter, girl? I thought you

- but her voice was cut off by Robbie's. He nsen quickly from the table where he had been his tea, and he cried at his mother. Will you A*ffl: of her way and let her in? What's the matter "1 you, woman?"' Then turning to Rosie, he said, ilLike right-brace gone wrong? I thought..." 'lyy" I have a cup of tea?"'

iPeople es. Yes, unay, two, three cups.

Come and sit " by the fire."

*gf j

llBut less-than - was no more conversation until Rosie had

drunk a cup of tea. Then looking from one to the other, where they were sitting on the settle opposite, she said, 'He didn't come, but he sent this." She took the letter from inside her blouse and handed it towards them.

It was Robbie who read it first, after which he lifted his head and looked at her but said nothing, then passed the letter on to his mother. But after she had read it she said immediately, Odd business. Do you usually get letters like this from him? I mean, in this sort of tone?"'

Rosie's head drooped before she said softly,

'ationo." "Well, there must be a reason for it all," Robbie said; and he repeated, "Well, there must be a reason and, as he says, he'll let you know in a couple of days. It was likely written when he was worked up and found he couldn't come and see you. You say they've got an office in Newcastle or some connection there anyway. And it's also distantly connected with the Government, isn't it? You never know about these things, the intricate business that goes on." He got up from the settle and dropping onto his hunkers before her, he took her hands in his and said, "It'll all work out. If I know anything, that fella thought the world of you.

Yes, he did. So, as I see it, it's nothing to do with his... well, personal wishes, it's something that's come up in his business."

"You think so?"' Rosie looked into the deep brown eyes that held a tender expression in them and, her voice breaking, she said, "The worst of it is, I was getting Beatrice on my side. She had put on her best dress, and had ordered a lovely tea. And she was putting on... well, trying to be very pleasant."

(the Obsession l2l at's unusual for her'