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So be it. The next four weeks would set the seal on her future life.

6

The first week seemed long; or, at least, the nights did. After cooking himself a meal he would rekindle the fire that he had damped down in the drawing-room, then stretch out in the chair with a book, intending to read. But somehow he could never get very far with it: the book would fall into his lap and he would start wondering, What were they doing over there? How had they found the place? Would it be up to Moira's expectations? Well, if he had just to go by the photograph, it must be.

He was surprised, when he came to the end of the first week, that he hadn't seen Janie again. As she wasn't teaching he had expected her to pop over; but then there was the weather to contend with.

On the Saturday, he had taken into Fellburn half a dozen hens, a few ducks, and the carcasses of three suckling pigs, besides a few dozen eggs, the small number due to the hens moulting; even so, he knew that the sum total would bring in very little money.

His business over, he went through the market and along the main street, then asked himself why he was wasting time? Who did he expect to see? There were plenty of nodding acquaintances but no-one with whom he could stop and talk. So, within an hour of entering the town, he left and made for home.

In the farmyard Barney said to him, `How're you faring, Mr Daniel ... I mean, up at the house?Ànd he answered, Òh, not too bad at all, Barney, though I must admit it's like a graveyard at night. I miss the children.`

`Bound to. Bound to. I'm 461 sorry the missis can't make it to the house, but she can hardly crawl round the kitchen now.`

Òh, don't worry about that. Anyway, there's only another three weeks to go before they'll be back; and then I bet I'll wish they weren't.`

Òh, I doubt it, Mr Daniel, I doubt it.Ànd he doubted it himself.

He went in by the back door and although he wouldn't have been surprised at all to see Janie in the kitchen, when he saw her coming through from the passage, almost staggering under the weight of a full bucket of ashes, he was amazed and cried at her, `What d'you think you're doing?`

Ì'm doing, I think, what you should have done some days ago. The ashes were almost reaching the rug, and some of them were still warm. You could have had the place on fire.`

Ì meant to clear them out today. And these are hot. My goodness! Give them here!Ànd he almost pushed her to one side as he took the bucket from her.

After dropping it in the yard, he remonstrated

with her: `You would pick a bucket, wouldn't you?`

`Well, what else could I have put them in?`

He laughed now, and she said, `You can laugh, but it might have been past a laughing matter. The fire was blazing and I tell you that that ash was hot; it really could have set the rug on fire.`

Ìt couldn't have got past the fender, Miss Farringdon. Have you noticed there's a fender there?`

`Yes, I have, Mr Stewart, but it has a filigree front and the ashes had reached up to some of the holes.`

Quietly now, he said, Ìt never struck me. I'm sorry. I see what you mean. I won't let it happen again.`

`Did you have any dinner in town?`

`Dinner in town? No, of course not.`

`Well, it would have been a sensible thing to do, because as far as I can see now, there's only cold ham, bread and pickles left.`

`Well, that'll suit me. Will it suit you?`

Òh, yes, it'll suit me; but you can't

live on just that.` 463

`Well, tomorrow's Sunday; then I'll do some cooking for myself.`

He had taken off his coat and cap and hung them on the back of the kitchen door; and now he said, `Let me get these leggings and boots off, then I'll go into the drawing-room and see how you've messed up the hearth.`

`You'll do no such thing. I've got to sweep it up yet. But what you can do is get that ham, and bread, and pickles out and let us have something to eat.`

Às you say, Miss Farringdon, as you say.Às she left the kitchen with a dustpan and a small brush in her hand, he set about cutting slices of ham off a leg that was only half consumed. Then he piled the bread, pickles and butter on to the tray, together with some crockery, and left the kitchen, to meet Janie crossing the hall with a dustpan full of ashes in one hand and the brush in the other and, as he passed her, he said, Ìf you intend to remain in my service, miss, in future you had better wear an apron.`

He did not hear the answer she gave him because

he was chuckling to himself. He felt strangely happy; in fact, merry.

Having laid the tray on the couch, he cleared a sofa table of knick-knacks, pulled it up in front of the couch, and on it he spread the crockery and the victuals. When Janie came back into the room she was rolling down the sleeves of her brown dress, and as she took her place on the couch, she said, `What you should have in the kitchen is one of these iron stoves with a boiler to the side, then you'd always have hot water.`

He paused as he was forking some slices of ham on to her plate; then he said, `Yes, ma'am, I'll see to that. Come Monday I'll have that fireplace out and a new one put in. Yes, I will; indeed I will.`

She laughed now at his attempted Irish brogue, but said, Ì'm not joking, I mean that. And Moira would appreciate it--oh yes, how she would--to have some hot water on hand instead of having to fill kettles and pans.`

`There's the boiler outside in the wash-house. She often keeps that on for the hot water for washing them all.`

`That's all very well, but it isn't in the

kitchen; and these new stoves have a boiler 465 with a tap, which you just turn and there you are.`

Àll this because you've had to wash your hands in cold water?`

`Yes, it was like ice.`

`What pickles would you like, onions or cabbage?`

Ònions smell on the breath and pickled cabbage always gives me tummy ache.`

`Well, you can't eat that ham on its own.`

`Well, if it's the same as I've had before in this house, I can eat it and enjoy it with bread and butter.`

He smiled at her now as he said, `You are contrary, aren't you?`

Ìt's the only privilege left to me.Àfter a few minutes she said, Ì notice there's a lot of bottled fruit in the larder. Will we have that for the pudding?`

`Take your choice,` he said; `but I'm not fond of cold fruit. I like hot puddings.`

`That's a pity, because I can't see you getting any for the next few weeks. I like cold fruit, so if I may I'll go and open a bottle.`

`Whatever you like, miss. And you can make a pot of tea when you're out there.Às she rose from the couch his tone changed and he said, Ì'm sorry, Janie, but I have nothing to offer in the way of drink besides tea; unless you'd like whisky.`

`That doesn't worry me, Daniel.` Her voice was as changed as his now. `Tea's my drink at any time of the day.`

He experienced a most strange feeling as he watched her go out of the room: the house no longer seemed empty but just right. He looked at the hearth. She was right, the ash could have set the mat on fire and the whole place with it. Last night, he had thought he should take those ashes out. But he had come in so tired and weary and wet through. And then this morning he was up and out at half-past five. But in future he would see to those ashes. My goodness! Yes. Fancy, if the place had gone up in flames.

She was some time in coming back; and now she was carrying a tray of tea things; also on the tray was a jar of plums and an empty fruit dish with another jug beside it.

Immediately getting to his feet, he said, `Good

gracious! Why didn't you give me a 467 shout? Have you brought the kitchen in with you?`

`Yes, just about ...Àfter she had poured him another cup of tea she spooned some of the fruit into a bowl, then poured cream on it from the small jug. And Daniel, bending forward, said, `Cream? Where did you get that? I never brought any up.`

Ì skimmed it from the churn in the larder.`

Òh, you did. Well, it looks nice enough to eat; I think I could try some of that myself.`

`Well, there're plenty of bowls in the kitchen.`

`That means I've got to go and get one?`

`Yes, or do without.`

His voice full of mock sternness, he said, `This would never have happened in Moira's time.`

`No.` Janie's voice was cool. `But Moira doesn't happen to be here at present and it's happening now.`

He began to chuckle. He pushed his cup and saucer to one side, put his elbow on the table and rested his head on his hand; then, as the china began to move on the shining surface of the sofa table, her voice still cool, she said, Ìf you don't

want these things on the floor, you'd better control yourself.Àt this he was convulsed with laughter. It was loud, even raucous, and he lay back against the side of the couch and laughed until the tears rolled down his face, the while she sat smiling at him. Suddenly his hand came out and caught hers and he hitched himself towards her, saying, Òh! Janie, I've not laughed like that, I don't think, in years. You do me good. You're a blessing in disguise. Oh! Janie.Ànd he finished by saying, Ìf Maggie Ann were here she would say you're as good as a dose of jollop.`

Her eyes widened, her lips fell together, then her head nodded, before she said, `Well, I have never received many compliments, but I think that's the most edifying one I have had.Ànd now she, too, was laughing, and she lay back against her corner of the couch.

And there they sat for a moment, their hands still joined until, somewhat selfconsciously, he released hers, and said, `Quite candidly, Janie, I've had a rotten week. It takes some getting used to, you know, living in an empty house after it's been full for years.`

Ì can understand that, but time will fly now 469 and they'll soon be back.`

`Well, the sooner the better.`

She did not endorse this in her mind but, looking towards the fire, she wondered how often she could come during the next three weeks without making it too obvious that she was finding it impossible to stay away.

Janie paid Daniel six visits during the next two weeks, when they ate together and they laughed together and sometimes they talked seriously about world affairs, as she was wont to do with Pattie and John. But more often they talked about Moira and the children and the two letters he had received since their leaving.

The house in Ireland, apparently, was a wonderful place. It had everything one would wish for. And on Janie's last visit Daniel had said, `Have you noticed one thing missing in Moira's letters? She has never once said she is dying to come back.`

Then, on what should have been the last Saturday before Moira returned, Janie came to the house and into a different situation ...

Daniel had, as usual, gone out early that

morning and when he returned to make himself breakfast he found the postman had left four letters.

Three of them were bills, the fourth postmarked Ireland.

He sat at the kitchen table when he read it and he could scarcely believe his eyes. The letter began: My dear, dear, Daniel,

What you are about to read will, I know, come as a shock. I should have told you earlier but I couldn't bring myself to do so. I shall first of all state the facts plainly. My daughter and her husband did not buy this place with the intention of making it their holiday home, but of giving it to me and the children; in fact, last week she handed me the deeds. They are in my name. In one way it is like a miracle straight from heaven: I have a house of my own and in my own land and the children are in their seventh heaven. And I am going to stay here. But oh, Daniel, the pain in my heart at having to leave you, and in that place alone!

But there is another side to the fact that I have accepted this miracle: I am thinking of you yourself. You would never have married as long

as I was there with the children; or at least you 471 might have, but it would have been an impossible situation to have two women aiming to run one house. It would never have worked. And unfortunately this has already been pointed out to you.

There's a big ache in my heart, Daniel; the only solace I have is that you will soon come over and see us.

When I told the children of the new arrangement, the joy went out of them for a moment, for they all said,

`What about Daniel? We'll not see Daniel.` That is, all except Sean. I'm having some trouble with Sean.

He's got the idea into his head he wants to be a priest. I think Father Lowe had been at him, and I knew nothing about this. Yet he seems happier here than he was at home--you know, Daniel, I'll still think of that house, in a way, as home, because you are there.

Now please, my dear Daniel, I beg you to arrange your life so as you won't be alone. You know what I mean. I cannot bear to think of you going on as you are now and have been for some long time. You won't have to look far around you to find a partner. Forget the past and open your heart to the future. I send you my love, as you've always had it and

always will.

Moira.

He laid the letter on the table; then, as if in a daze, he smoothed out the corners of it and all his mind was saying at the moment was, She's not coming back. None of them is coming back. What am I to do?

They are not coming back.

When there was a knock on the back door he started, then called, `Come in!Ànd when he saw Alex Towney there he said, `What is it? What's wrong?`

Òh, nothing very much, Mr Daniel, nothing that a blacksmith won't put right. It's ... it's Daisy. She's shot a shoe and Barney thought I had better tell you I'll be taking her in to the village, and so he won't be able to get on with the ploughing. And as you weren't goin' into the market this mornin' I didn't know whether you'd be comin' over again, so I thought I'd better tell you what was happenin', because you expected the dry field to be done, didn't you?`

`Yes. Yes, but that's all right.Àlex now walked slowly towards the table and bent slightly towards Daniel, saying, Ànything wrong? I mean, bad news 473 or somethin'?`

Daniel looked down at the letter that was still lying on the table and sighed as he said, `They're not coming back, Alex.`