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j0 Catherine Cookson

with its cupboards and such and all the kitchen utensils. And now, I suppose, you would like to see the

garden." He admired the garden, having waked through the

conservatory to reach it, and as he looked to the wal of fir trees at the far end, he thought to hiself She would love this, it's the very thing. He turned and, looking straight at Beatrice, he said, Well, we had better get down to business, hadn't we?"'

'allyou like it?"' *Oh, yes. Who coudn't like it? I'm sure my mothe

Beatrice paused before saying, She will have her own furniture, I suppose? But that will prove no difficulty, as we can store everything here up m the attic " 'Oh I'm afraid she hasn't any furniture; it wet

with our house when she sold it. You see, she had the idea she was going to live with her cousin for tne rest of her days. But I'm afraid that didn't work out And so for some months now se has been living in a guest house, while I have been trying to find a suiable place."

We hen, would you take it as t is? "As it is" His voice rose. "Oh. yes! Yes, definltelyShe seemed to be relieved at this and her smile was wide again as she said. Well then, I'll be pleased to lease it to you. It will be on a lease, of course. 'Oh of course." His head was bobbing.

*The only proviso is that your mother must co and see it first." . Oh, indeed, yes. Will toorrow be suitable still

"j time. Any time. Would you like a cup of H3Rather, Thank you." Then turning to Rosie, he and*ou don't know what a relief this is. For was past I have been in and out of people's i- not including the empty flats, all advertised jp: outlooks which, in most cases, meant

7i street, or' comhe pulled a face now- a cul-S dg where there was no traffic." , s were all smiling as they returned to the main again, and as he took in his surroundings, he 'j bar tfflVerycc'ii. that this was the kind of place he himself y liked, but without the surgery of course. *v his mother would surely love it and it would 'o. for him at times. He wondered what she conless-than iHis?"': for it and so he put it to her now, saying ,E we had better get down to business, hadn't we? are your terms?"'

t- saw her wet her lips and give a little cough 2's hesitantly, she said, It... it would work out, dis*" on a lease, at two pounds ten shillings a week." bar bar kept his eyes on her while being aware mat s head had jerked round towads her. But if are taking it as it stands," she went on, I... I have to ask another ten shillings a week, for, said there's... well, as I said, as you can see, it's

*ity to be lived in, even to the linen. There are 3nv of sheets and towels in the linen cupboard on

*landing. And all that is needed to bring in... is

.?"'

raised his hand and smiled as he said, "It's quite l" right. It's quite all right; I'm agreeable, and I'm

ny mother will be. You see, it will be in her

,

Catherine Cookson be But even as he spoke he was thinking Thr

Also T e could have mwt a fine 1 still he the town with four acs of land an

dist have cost him uch more than three pound

"lfalat Butsti". it was a lovely place?

*W lt WOUI-DO e ideal for his mother. "e still Beatrice but heard her sish

" T11'let us t that cup of corfee' ore she was leading the way and befor firstt her she turned nd looked at hini 0y shake of her head which said qut from backslash re bed; but as he would say Wtv c0 it. bt my mother can first weu off Then he let her know he un f still the meaning of her look by patting her were still Pg his lips at her ere now in the drawing-room of the main

W tooked about him in dmiration he know that the decision he had just made

stfige the course of his life

V V ,V

P hree pounds a week!" bar

'But wait till you see it; I keep telling you."

1allyes, you do, but it's part of a house-an annexe bar part of a house. I wanted something private." his is as private as you'll ever get in this town r hereabouts, unless you go right into the country." bar so That means more than one hundred and fifty ounds a year. At that rate you could buy a decent louse within three years. And if it's as grand as you bar ay...well, I don't want anything grand, just comIfortable."

ft 'Mother." He turned to her as they walked up the Side drive, having left the cab at the gate. "I'm telling out, if you don't take this you'll have to take on the ouse-hunting yourself, because I haven't the time or any more patience trying to find exactly what you want."

Her voice was now apologetic as she said,

"I'm sorry. I'm sony, dear. I know I've put a lot onto you lately, but I just wanted something... Oh! why don't I shut my mouth until I see it, as you've been saying name-" But even as he spoke he was thinking Three pounds a week. He could have mortgaged a fine house just otside the town with four acres of land and it wouldn't have cost him much more than three pounds a wee, if that. But still, it was a lovely place and he could see it would be ideal for his mother.

He not only saw Beatrice sigh but heard her sigh, then she said, "Well, let us get that cup of coffee."

Once more she was leading the way and before Rosie followed her she turned and looked at him and gave a small shake of her head which said quite plainly You're being robbed; but as he would say to her later,

"I couldn't afford it, but my mother can. She's pretty well off." Then he let her know he understood the meaning of her look by patting her shoulder and pursing his lips at her.

They were now in the drawing-room of the main house, and as he looked about him in admiration he was not to know that the decision he had just made would change the course of his life.

IS'S pounds a week!" disity wait till you see it; I keep telling you." W. you do, but it's part of a house-an annexe ji of a house. I wanted something private." 'piUli" is as private as you'll ever get in this town iSl33Qi unless you go right into the country." Kli means more than one hundred and fifty S a year. At that rate you could buy a decent ," within three years. And if it's as grand as you "***well, I don't want anything grand, just com-

"w"

jl Mother." He turned to her as they walked up the fj"- drive, having left the cab at the gate. "I'm telling

21Like if you don't take this you'll have to take on the Sn yourself, because I haven't the time or

"12ar bar more patience trying to find exactly what you

his Her voice was now apologetic as she said,

"I'm

*j"- I'm sorry, dear. I know I've put a lot onto you .s' but I just wanted something... Oh! why don't bar just shut my mouth until I see it, as you've been saying all along. You say it has its own private entrance not connected with the house?"'

'allyes. Yes, and this is the private drive to it. Woman-" he again stopped in his slow stride and, looking down into her face, he said, "if she had asked five or six pounds I would still have thought it was worth it and exactly what you need and it will be a way to get some of that money out of the bank's coffers. Anyway, the interest alone on some of your bonds will pay for the rent, and more."

"All right, all right; let's see this wonderful place."

As they went through an ornamental gate and into the garden, she stopped and said, "Oh, well, this part's all right; very nice indeed."

He said nothing more but led her round the coer and to the front of the annexe, and there her impression was definitely favourable.

After unlocking the door he stood aside and let her enter the hall. And as she muttered, "Oh, yes, very nice, very nice indeed," the sitting-room door opened and there stood Beatrice, a vase of flowers in her hand. And she spoke immediately, saying,

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I thought you wouldn't be here for a while and I... I was arranging a few flowers to brighten things up, and..."

He stopped her embarrassed prattle by saying.

his is my mother...Mother-" he extended his hand towards Beatrice as he added 'Miss Penrose-Steel"

"How d'you do?"'

Beatrice quickly put the flowers down on a side table and, coming forward, she held out her hand as she said, "I...I'm so pleased to meet you, and I d0 hope you will be happy here. I can assure you tat

W" have any unexpected visitors popping in. used to coming through the house, but you can to il- door on the inside."

js Catherine Falconer surveyed the young

%greater-than i, She was seeing her as quite a bonny piece 'V.. nice speaking voice. She was looking older ""i* twenty-four-year-old that John had suggested tKnowledge in fact, old enough and capable enough to charge of such a splendid house, and she smiled dis.i "[*. as she said, 'Well, from what I've seen so yh Steel, er..miss Penrose-Steel, it has been impressive and exactly what I would IIIE-(T" the garden. And I see there's plenty TOIRTITS round. I've always made syrups and jeliggii the wild fruits."

I that's interesting. Well, you'll find plenty of

'IBH crab-apples, blackberries and sloes here, But now" comshe looked at John- "I'll leave i" would you like a cup of coffee? I'll have the girls bring it in from the kitchen. AfI can assure you, you won't be troubled by disiir- from the house." She smiled widely as she 2 'ationot more than you wish."

,L we'll see. We'll see." The answer was ?"' noncommittal. But Beatrice, still smiling, " about and went out.

,iii now led his mother into the sitting-room, the of which brightened her face still further, as did jflci and the study, which was to be her jii. In the kitchen she put voice to her pleasure, ar "Wel, I never! I never thought you would 'yls a place like this for me.

Talk about home ijii!-, It's lovely. It's a beautiful little place."

"Yes" comhe nodded at her- "it is lovely."

Quickly now she said, "There's three bedrooms upstairs, so I understand. Why don't you come and park here then?"'

His answer was quick: "No, Mother. I've told you, my business is in the town and I must be near it What's more" comhe smiled now- "I don't know whether or not lodgers come into the lease. Anyway, you know I'll pop in every day to see you. And by what you've already said, you're not going to be lost for an occupation with all that material to hand." He motioned towards the window. "There's only one more thing I've got to say and then it's finished. You'll have to have someone to come in at least two or three times a week to clean for you."

"lean do that..."

"No you can't! and you're not going to. There's many a woman in the town who would be only too glad of the offer of a part-time job, when she knows she'll spend most of her time drinking tea and nattering over the kitchen table to the mistress. But one thing I'd advise you, Mrs Falconer, don't go on extolling the virtues of the South to any of these Northern ladies, whoever they are, or you'll lik find yourself in their black books and asked why don't go back there. I've been told tat nuerous times."

"You haven't!"

"Oh yes, I have. When the old boy's been laid up they've looked at me and said, "I want me own doctor. I'll wait until he's about again." They're a hardy lot around these quarters, I'm warning you, and that goes for the mistress of this house."

were' she seems very nice." r*, she is at times."

Si qualifying it. Have you had a do with her?"' not what you would call a "d", but she can madam when she likes." his her other sister the same then?"' i laughed now. 'Rosie? Oh, no, they're chalk and

,. And the other two are much the same as Roallyet they are all different; but the lady of this iw is as different again, very unlike the rest of I,.,"

iiBut fro1 me uttle rve seen of her'I the idea

Sl, get on together."

Hls hope so."

out seem to have doubts?"'

l bar can. No, Mother. No, I have no doubts, merely just

*'ife an opinion, because, you know, you're a i old bird, too, when you can't get your own iw was a tap on the door and it opened and the came in with a tray. She smiled from one to the SiHave" then, addressing Catherine alconer, she said, 'So name's Janie Bluett, ma'am. I'm the parlourWill, And may I say, welcome to the annexe. I'm so you've taken it, being Doctor's mother." She cast nfflTiTj glance at John now before she added,

"Tis to have somebody along here. I've always liked

- annexe; it's homely like,

ma'am."

bar bar 'allyes, Janie. I know what you mean, and I may say

*" very pleased to be here. And thank you very TO"

for the coffee."

You're welcome, ma'am." Janie bobbed her head

from one to the other, then tued and went out, her i sile wide. bar

'ationow wasn't that nice?"'

"Yes, very nice Mother, but don't expect that every day. You're on your own here. This is a private house and Im sure Miss Beatrice would like it kept like that."

"You talk as if I was some nosy old woman," said his mother now.

"And that's what you are. Oh, come on, drink up this coffee." He handed her the cup. "And get that look off your face, because I've got to be away and if you want me to take you back and get your things together, then just don't sip at it as if you were in the drawing-room."

First, she sipped at the coffee while staring at him;

then she said, here's times when I wonder wy I " ever want to be near you."

"The same here, Mrs Falconer, the same here. Come on now, finish it and let us get off, because there's a lot to do between here and tomorrow, when ,j you start your new life in your private section of the bar mansion." I

J Beatrice was about to leave her office, having the cook her orders for the day, which varied j little from the day before, she had straightened bar bar apers on her desk, then risen from her chair and bar rfggou to walk towards the door when it was flung

* by a very excited Rosie, holding out a paper J bar rds her and gasping now, as she said

"Robbie's shown me. It was in yesterday's paper.

Look! ik She pointed to the column on the folded sheet, H Beatrice, taking the paper in her hand, read:

l bar A tragedy occurred yesterday when Sir Freder'Jjk Morton Spears and his son Michael were

12ar oth drowned in a squall in Plymouth Sound. Sir yederick was a well-known figure in the sailing llgyorid, as was his son. Mr Michael Morton pears, aged twenty-five, was unmarried and as a Frederick leaves no other male descendant te title falls to his cousin Major Leonard Mor bar bar ton Spears.