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"How dare you!"

"Get up to the house!

Her eyes widened the colour deepened if that was possible, then she muttered, 'What did you say?"'

"I said, get up to the house! Because if you don't, I'll bring this across your back. Before God! I'll bring this across your back, that's if I don't throttle you."

She backed away from him: he looked like a madman. All at once she knew a deep fear of him. But when he made another step towards her, she moved, and she was about to make for the wood when he grabbed her arm and dragged her along by the bottom fence until it opened abruptly into another field edg-be river. As he made towards the bank, still dragbbher, she cried, "You're mad! You're mad!" did not release his hold on her until they ed the river, at which point lifting the gun by aid of its barrel, he swirled it around his head e letting it fly and into the water. She could not been more startled if he had tried to drown her. I...t was Father's."

ut your mouth! and get back to the house and irs."

iat?"' She was stepping back from him now, one at a time as if she were measuring the ground, rhaps to give her enough distance to turn from md run.

And this is eventually what she did do. an up over the field and into the wood, and he d behind, keeping her in sight all the way. ien he entered the hall, the two maids, Frances anie both turned sharply and on the sight tat he ted they, too, stepped back; then with awegaze, they watched him take the stairs two at a And when the door clashed overhead they d at each other before moving to the foot of the and, with their heads cocked to the side, strained ars to hear what the doctor was yelling. You wicked, horrible creature! If your great-aunt's ss was passed on to anyone, it was you." itrice was standing near the head of te bed her hands clutching her neck. Then her eyes wide and her mouth became a gape as the light bed on her: it wasn't her attitude towards te gypiat had made him mad, but... Oh no! Oh no! "as shaking her head now and he came back at out can shake your head woman; and at this moment I'd like to shake the life out of you. You're evil. I repeat it, you're evil. To ruin your sister's life. Yes, open your mouth wider. It's unfortunate for you that I ran across Teddy Golding in London. His first enquiry was about Rosie. Was she still at home or- he didn't actually say-in the asylum? For that's where you suggested, like the one mentioned in this letter." He now pulld the envelope from his pocket and said, hat's right, sit down on the bed; you're going to need all the support you can get. And why didn't you, we you were on, bum the evidence of the letter you got from the soicitor, eh?

You took it to prove to him that your lying, filthy scheme had some foundation."

He suddenly stopped yelling; the sweat was running down his face. She was staring at him, her eyes stretched so wide they seemed to be popping out of their sockets. Then he broke the heavy ominous silence by saying, 'Marion got out of your clutches. Helen did too. And Rosie wanted to follow them to be rid of you, because they knew you for what you were, your father's daughter. And you are your fa ther's daughter, aren't you? Because if any woman has inherited whoring instincts, it's you. You should have been on the streets, eating men up like you've tried to do me. You inveigled me into marrying you. I see that now as plain as the scheme you planned to keep Rosie by yor side, because you were afraid to be left alone in this mausoleum of a house you're obsessed with. Did you ever think of turning it into a whore shop? Or becoming a madam? because let me tell you, that prim exterior of yours must have been ready to burst by the time you hooked me. It's

hnder you weren't up in the loft with Needier or Jteim. Now I'm asking myself why young Arthur Jier suddenly gave in his notice. I can recall seeing with him one day in the harness room. When I lled open the door it nearly knocked you on your and the fellow looked not only embarrassed, but ened. I thought nothing of it at the time, but I Jone since. Well, from now on, let me tell you, have to look for someone else to ease your f cravings, for I wouldn't touch you again if you dying at my feet. You smell, you stink. If it "'t that my mother was in such a bad state and you inveigled her on the side-oh yes, on the .; I knew nothing about it, or I would have put a to it, to pay in advance for a five-year lease on nnexe-I'd be out of here tomorrow.

But from bar on I live there and don't you dare come near it, d knows what I may be tempted to do to you; s moment I want to drive my fist into your mean, nring face."

*H ew in a long breath, then swinging about, he ched into the dressing-room. Pulling out one diswer of the tallboy after another, he threw his jtfaes here and there on the small settee and the icnair. He next went to a wardrobe from which he bar rt greater-than bed at his suits. Then pulling open the door leadeagxnto the corridor, he let out another yell: Trances! i Come here!" It was as if he knew they would "bar But both be at the foot of the stairs. And when, whiteed they appeared at the door, he said Take as iny of these suits and coats and underwear as you a and leave them at the communicating door leadsag into the annexe."

As each girl, with trembling hands, picked up a number of garments, he pulled two suitcass from the side of the wardrobe and began stuffing the remainder of his shirts and underwear into them.

It was some minutes before the girls returned, and when he saw they were visibly trembling, his voice was quiet now as he said, "Will you take these, please, and put them with the others? I'm just going to collect some books from the guest room. I'll take what I need at present; I can collect the others at any time."

Neither of them spoke, nor did they make any motion with their heads; and he went past them, into the corridor and along to the ed to the guest room where his books were stored on several shelves. They were mostly medical books and the reason why they hadn't been put in the library downstairs was that most of the shelves there were filed with leather-bound volumes; and he had been quick to discover that Beatrice didn't like them out of order, that the whole contents of the room were mostly for show, as were a number of first editions behind glass-fronted cabinets. The old colonel, it would appear, had been a collector but not a reader. And so, his own tattered voumes bad been relegated to the shelves in the spare room. He now picked a book out here and there until he had his arms full, then went downstairs.

The house was very quiet. It was as if a death had just occurred. And yes, a sort of death had really taken place, for their marriage was certainly over.

And, too, she might as well have killed Rosie as do what she did to her. Although it was now a long time since that happening, Rosie still bore that look of rjection, even behind her laughter. Once his things inside that annexe, he would go to Rosie and that look from her face... jl was not more than twenty minutes later when, bar ying along the road towards Robbie's, he saw Ro"...approaching. She was smiling as she came up to and said immediately, "You're back, then. I ilght you wouldn't be home till later. I'm going in ack a case. I had a letter from Helen today: they'll

12ar greater-than ack. from London tonight and she wants me to go bar stay with her for a while. She's very worried disut Leonard; he seems to be no better." She paused, JB said, "Is something the matter? What is it?"' Before he answered her question, he said, "LeonIB? What about Leonard?"'

HW-ELL, you know he's been ill. That's why they aeSo to Switzerland. For his consumption. But...

but Bt is it? Why are you looking like that? Has somejjag happened in town?"'

e took her arm, pulled her round gently and dked her back towards Robbie's, saying, 'allyes, Biething happened in London and... and it concerns His

1Me?"'

bar teallyes, you. That's what I said." llBut how? Why?"'

H Wait until we get inside. I think Robbie would like Jhear this, too."

J bar bar She remained silent but her step quickened to keep ce with his. And then, without knocking, he was eiring the kitchen door and pushing Rosie in before n to meet the surprised gaze of Robbie and his ther. bar bar It was Annie who repeated Rosie's words now as

she looked at John, saying, Is there something the matter? What is it? Has something happened?"'

'es, Annie, you could say something's happened.

Let's all sit down."

Robbie pulled a chair out for Rosie, then sat next to her; but he didn't ask any quesons, he just kept his eyes on John. And John now leaned across the table and gripped Rosie's hand as he said, "You can take that look off your face from now on and out of your heart as well: Teddy never rejected you."

"What?"' It was a small sound, almost a whimper.

"You heard what I said. Your dear Teddy never rejected you. The siple truth is that he was waed off by your dear sister to prevent him from being saddled with a wife who would eventually go mad as did your great-aunt, ho apparently danced about naked."

Rosie now drew her hand from his and put it up to her throat and whispered, "She wouldn't! She wouldn't! Not that!"

"She did, and in detail."

From then on, John described how he had met Edward Golding and what had transpired.

When he had finished there was utter silence at the table. Even Annie ade no comment. Then Rosie asked quietly, Where is he now?"'

'In London, but he returns to America tomorrow." He paused before he added, "He has a wife and a young baby now."

John watched Rosie's eyes widen, then her gaze drop to the table to where her hands were joined, and her voice sounded steady as she said, Well, that doesn't matter any more." And suddenly lifting one

a she put it on top of Robbie's, where it was Jpmg the edge of the table; he grasped it, but said a word, leaving the expession on his face as he d at her to declare his thoughts. The he turned

,1 glanced at his mother, but the words she muttered

'ys unintelligible.

(ihen the three of them were startled as Rosie mced to her feet, saying, 'In a way, she's done me ood turn, but I'll never forgive her for what I've n through. No! ll never forgive her.

She's bar bar ked! Wicked! She always was. I knew she was. *bar iat's why I wanted to get away. There wa always jfmetbing in her. If anyone has inherited Aunt Ally's its, it's her. She was nodding at John now as he d

'allyes. Yes, you may be right there. In fact, I nk you are right."

bar bar Then she gave a shake of her head as if she were bar Bt recognising a fact and said,

"But you are married her, John."

Jlallyes, I am married to her, dear. But you leave me manage that. I'm going to live in the annexe with oher ntil I can find a suitable place, although, as bar tou know, she inveigled her into signing a lease for ve years. Payment in advance, of course. In every ff she's a scheming devil."

JI Rosie now tamed to Annie, saying, 'I was about to

0 and pack my case, as you know, to go to Helen's. How, if you dont mind, I'll bring the rest of my JP-IGS here, because I'll not live in that house again JW-ITH her. I'l...I'll stay with Helen for a time and..." "Oh, ass, why d'you need to ask? This is your real home, always has been. Go on and get your cases;

bbiell go along with you."

s

"No. No." Rosie tued now and looked at Robbie I'll go on my own."

For answer, Robbie went to the back of the door took down his coat and his cap, and for the first time he spoke, saying, 'I'll not go in. I have no desire ever to enter that house, but I'll be there to carry your things."

Rosie stared at him; then turning to John, she said quietly, "It's you I'm sorry for now; I...I feel free. It's...x's as if I'd lived all my life under that feeling of rejection and not knowing why, only that rejection makes you a lesser being to yourself. But... but you, you are tied to her."

"Don't worry about that. But get yourself away and finish the business, and then start your new life."

John looked from one to the other.

It was Robbie who answered him: Yes, John, we'll start a new life, and not before time. But there's still years ahead of us and we'll make up for it," and he took hold of Rosie's arm, saying, 'She knows how I feel... at long last."

When they had gone, Annie put out her hand and took hold of one of John's and, shaking it, said,

"I can say in all honesty, John, this is the happiest day of my life. My lad has come into his own at last, and if anybody has worked and waited for it, 'tis he."

At the front door of the house, Robbie said quietly, "Try to keep calm. The least said is soonest mended, and this could be the last dme you need ever see her," and Rosie answered him with a small nod of her head, then went inside.

Frances was coming down the stairs and Rosie j bar until she reached the bottom before she asked, BB is Miss Beatrice?"'

BB-CES'S voice had a slight stammer to it as she JS-HAVE... shes in her still...study, miss, and she's in jt less-than of a tear."

jiHave you come and help me pack?"'

ss, Prances; I'm leaving home" comshe looked her- "this house for good."

18 missbbn you an an'not ydgan' aii."

jat's got to be, Frances. Will you?"' Jpb, yes, miss. Yes, miss," and she tured and folRose up the stairs, where, as had happened gly a short time before, drawers were pulled open

* clothes rammed into cases. And when at last three were full, Frances picked up two of them and the third, and with loose garments hanging over r nee arm, without a backward glance she left the that had been her own since she was ten years Friend had placed the cases at the foot of the tall uow from next door; then she was stepping back I e hall to take the other case and loose garments from Rose when, from along the passage, her misrw peared.

Beatrice's hair was dishevelled and there was a IM-OOK about her. The spring she made across the Isie bore out her Warance, for she bar yeu6d What d'you mink you're doing?"'

I Sne pushed Prances to one side and glared at the man standing outside the door, the cases at his feet oetore banging the door closed. Then her back against t she cried, "What dyou think youre up to1

'ationo. No." Rosie tued now and looked at Robbie. I'll go on my own."