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But no, she asn't dreaming. She had been spumed.

That was the ord an old-fashioned word, she had been spumed, ected, thrown aside. And it had done something to a for she would never again feel young or gay.

She

ugh at dnes, especially when she came over : this house was a refuge; these two people had ed her life. ell, if not her life then her sanity. o you visit the doctor's mother often?"' Yes. Yes, I'm always popping in on her. She's a very nice old lady, very jolly, but she's crippled i bar arthritis, yet she still gets about.

She made piles i bar mean, bottles and bottles of wine these last weeks. bar She said theyre all going to get drunk at Christmas. s She's shown Beatrice how to ake the wine. She wanted to show me, but.. diswell, I wasn't interested. bar 'allyou're catching the ten o'clock train m the mom- bar

ing; so I'll run you in."

Oh, that's nice of you, Robbie. Thank you."

bar He turned about now and without another word bar pulled his cap and coat from the back of the door and bar

went out. s

As she herself stood up to leave, Annie remarked, 5 You'll meet a lot of different people at Helen's. were' That'll be another kind of world.

Who knows, you bar might come across the one you like." be It was almost with a bark that Rosie turned on her, saying, "I won't! I won't and I wouldn't.

I...I'll never believe anybody again, not in that way. Never! D'you

hear Mrs Annie? never!"

Never's a long time, lass. Never's a long Ume. know how you feel, though, but stranger things have happened. Time will tell. It seems it could be happening to Robbie; there are two lasses after him again."

Startled, Rosie said, 'What! After Robbie?

Why look so surprised; he could marry any day it he had the mind," to which Rosie said nothing, she only stared wide-eyed at the older woman.

ances Middleton set the large tray down on the b with a clatter, saying, "Well, they've done jus-

* to that I must say. And they're as merry as church

P; laughing their heads off." bar bar Well, so will we be," said Cook, when we get pgh these three bottles," she pointed to the bar bar Bser,

"because it's good stuff the old lady makes, jpough she did warn me it's very new and needs to bar bar Bd for some time. My! I slept like a log last night bar te those couple of glasses."

llt's because you mixed them Cook," said Mary nmons. 'Me dad says that's what makes you drunk, gung them, more than the amount" I These are home-made wines, miss know-all, not bar But?

stuff your dad drinks."

The kitchen maid bowed her head slightly, but Brie Bluett winked at her, saying, 'Well, we'll see at happens later at least to me, because I'm havin" Be of each, and the sooner the better.

So, let's get leared away and settle down to a night of it because e missis is quite set in there, I can tell you."

here's a change, if ever I saw one,"

Frances Mid. dieton nodded her head. "I've never had a thank you out of her since she took over, until these last few months. And now she actually asks you to do some thing, not tells you. When I took tea in this afternoon for her and the old lady, she was laughing her head off. It was a sight to see, I can tell you."...

At this moment Beatrice was again laughing her head off as she said, Oh, I can't believe that, Mrs Falconer."

'allyou can, my dear, you can. He there, sitting grinning like an idiot now, went upstairs and wrecked his room. He even threw his toys out of the window, all because I wouldn't let him go on a day's outing with-" she now shook her head and looked at John, saying, "what was it? the Boys"

Brigade, or the Band of Hope, or something? He was only six at the time. It was no use trying to knock into his head that you had to be invited, that it was only special children that went. We lived in Tunbridge Wells at the time, and the trip was to Hastings and he had been to Hastings a number of times before that. And then there was the time he was sent home from school for kicking a boy on the shins, and the parents came to the school and coplained. But I was for him that time;

he wasn't ten and this young lout was twelve or so, and a bully."

'Mother! Mother! Will you shut up? And put the corks in those botdes, or I shall start reminiscing, or perhaps recalling me story of a young lady who dived off (he end of Hastings pier in little more than her knickers."

"I didn't! I didn't! It wasn't like that at all."

p it was. And what you need now is a very H

coffee."

(S Til tell the girls."

IQU'U do nothing of the sort." John stabbed his bar rather down at Beatrice who was about to rise from bar ouch. I'm the only steady one on my feet; I'll bar it. And Mother-" he tued now and his finger Iag wagging to where she sat in the deep arm bar to the side of the e, and he said, "No more I, d'you hear? I'm on duty in the moing at 1past eight, and I know what your potions do to Hiead. I've had experience of them before. So, his (he corks where they are. Now, mean it."

IU1 right, all right. We'll see

about it after we've "he coffee."

kfter he had left the room there was silence for a nent or two. Then Catherie Falconer said quietly, i been a lovely Christmas, hasn't it? I've never him so relaxed. I think it's because he's got me led in this lovely little house."

leatrice did not answer for a moment. She raised eyes and looked at the ceiling and in a thoughtful ce she said, 't's the nicest Christmas I've had every...well, since I was a child. Even when they K

alive, my mother and father, there was always en and Marion and Rosie. They were always so " and laughing, and somehow I was never able to i in. I don't know why. At times I felt I had noi belonging to me, except ather. And then to find all that."

Now, now forget it, my dear. Forget it."

Catherine led herself painfully to the edge of her chair, say; again, "Forget about the past. You can never cure the past. Just tink of the future. You're a bonnv young woman... a bonny lass, as they say up here"

Beatrice quickly pulled her head up from the back of the couch, saying, "You think I'm bonny?"'

"Yes. Yes, I do. You're very presentable." "I'm... I'm putting on weight; I eat too many chocolates."

"Well, the cure for that is to stop eating chocolates. Ration yourself, and look to the future; you're young and have all life before you." "Yes, I will. I will."

"What will yo do?"' John was asking the question as he appeared carrying a tray with three cups of coffee. But it was his mother who answered him, saying,

"Never you mind. Just let's have the coffee, and we can pull out the corks again."

"Oh no, you can't Mother. I mean it."

"We'll see, we'll see..."

They drank their coffee. They had one more glass of wine, parsnip tis time. They taked, at least Catherine did, recalling the days in Tunbridge Wells, and Rye, and Hastings, and trips to Eastbourne and Brighton. Then after a time, when she sat for a while with her eyes closed, John said,

"I think you're for bed. Anyway, I want to see you tucked up before I leave."

"Yes, I think you're right. It's been a long day and a lovely day." Sh looked from one to the other and repeated, "A lovely day." And as he helped her to her feet and handed her her sticks, she said, "Now leave me alone; I can manage."

Beatrice was on her feet too, saying,

"May I coe and help you?"' i "Oh no!"

The protest was loud. hat'll be the day bar need somebody to help me to take my clothes od-night, my dear. See you in the moing." (d night, Mrs Falconer; and thank you." I've nothing to thank me for, my dear, the should be from me.

Now you sit yourself She jerked her head towards her son. Give een minutes and I'll be all tucked up." y well; fifteen minutes."

f both remained standing watching her hobble he room; then John, turning to Beatrice and backslash out his hand said, Come and sit down."

lid not actually touch her but she looked at him ent before taking her seat again at one comer couch while he dropped down onto the other d lying back and stretching out his legs, he 've never seen her so happy and contented for She missed my father terribly, and I couldn't place."

you fill her life now." umed to look at her.

She, too, was lying back lng relaxed. He had never seen her look so I and, could he say, happy? Over these past i he had got to know her in a way hand would previously have imagined.

The young madam embered appeared to have never been.

Yet, he ell aware it must still be there, but her better which hadn't been given rein, had now come fore and made her into an attractive, pretty woman.

Yes, and she was pretty. She hadn't a tike her sisters, for both Helen and Rosie were ike; Marion perhaps had been inclined to less, as was Beatrice herself, but it was a d and attractive plumpness. Above al, he

would never have imagined he could grow fond of her, but he had. She had been so kind and thoughtful to his mother, too; and his mother's opinion of her was that she was a firstclass girl.

She broke into his thoughts by saying quietly, I don't think I'll ever experience another Christmas like this."

"Why not?"'

"Oh, I don't know. It's been exceptional, in all ways. I imagined there would be just Rosie and me, and she would be spending most of her time next door, and...and I'd be on my own. When Grandpapa and Grandmama were here, and Mother and Father, and Helen, Marion and Rosie, I used to think I wouldn't mind being on my own. The house always seemed packed with people. Sometimes I longed to be on my own, but...b not lately." Her voice was very low now, and she brought herself upwards to the edge of the couch and pressed her joined hands on her knees.

And, her head turning slowly towards him, she said,

"Do you know what it's like to feel lonely? Not only lonely, but one alone, and out of it?"'

He, too, had hitched himself upright and, after a moment's thought he said "Not lonely in that way But, you know, Beatrice, there is a feeling of what I call aloneness in most of us. There are parts of us tat are empty and need to be filled-" he shook his head now, he couldn't voice the word love, but in a hesitant way he went on, "until it's filled with something, companionship, affection.

I'm...I'm sorry, Beatrice, you have felt like (his. I never guessed. Then no-on knows what goes on in another's mind. But don't be sad, or you'll spoil the day." He put out his hand and Ers now, and he recalled that he had done fore and that it had made her cry; and it he same again, for her eyes were bright tears. Hitching himself closer to her, he "Oh! my dear, dear Beatrice. Please!

If you've been crying she'll kill me." ight.

It's all right. It's...x's just because I... I feel needed now' comher eyes were i his- "I...I have a friend in you." Beatrice, you can rely on that." He was fmg her two closed hands between his own now. bar when a voice from deep within him said, Carelareful, he answered it loudly Why?

She takes bar Bf Mother. She's kind, and I'm fond of her. Yes. bar Tve grown fond of her.

And what else is there me? The past is dead. Very dead. In fact, it was Br bom; at least it was never given birth; it was gled by time in just being too late. So what is for me? Who do I meet at old Comwallis's din)? His married contemporaries and their wives, a dizzy young daughters, sometimes a settled spin, And he must say he preferred the spinster to the Ey ones, especially the sixteen-year-old one, who i developed all kinds of ailments to take her to his ay, until he had the option either of actually berude to her or of putting the case to Comwallis. chose the latter, after which her visits ceased, only earn that the young lady in question said she hated ctor Falconer, and that he didn't know his job and dy should go to him. Such were the passions of

tth

ut here he was facing a different case altogether.

tttrice was a very presentable young woman. Moreover, she was the owner of this beautiful house though t was mortgaged to the hit. Bt what she could offer, there was herelf ln

thoughtful, as her attention to his oSo had e was And she was good comnanv own.

I No honour or glory for every. Anyway, yo on

ourr r1 peopie L

sn and manage not to leave in-

toer h011 laughig Dow" their hea shThat T words took the smile tace as she said, I wouldn't mind if you hadnt a

penny now or at any other time * y aHeThis pause before he said. O. Batrice.

Her head was drooped right down on her chest ow as she muttered, I...I cant hep T

way I feel about you. There " Her " thf arc was , -- comre "er head came up and the tears were splashing down her face now and her voce was thick as she muttered S"...@l is never done ladies. But j

over, she was the owner of this beautiful house, even though it was mortgaged to the hilt. But apart fro what she could offer, there was herself. She was thoughtful, as her attention to his mother had shown. And she was good company. She was surprisingy wel read, which must have developed from her loneliness and feeling apart from the others. Of course, she still had the traits of her father showing in her;

and she had a feeling for land, and definitely for the house.

"I've...I've embarrassed you." Her voice came to him softly, and he shook his head and vehemently denied her statement by saying,

"Embarrassed me? Don't be silly, dear.

It's the reverse, you've...y've made me think, and... and of the future. But there" -- he dropped her hand and shrugged his shoulders- "I know what my future is: I may have my own practice one of these days and that's as far as it will ever go. No honour or gory for me. Anyway, you only get those when you start cutting people up and you take out the right parts and manage not to leave any instruments inside."

They were both laughing now, their heads almost together.

But her next words took the smile fro his face as she said, "I wouldn't mind if you hadn't a penny, now or at any other time."

There was a long pause before he said,

"Oh, Beatrice." Her head was drooped right down on her chest now as she muttered, "I...I can't help it. It's...x's the way I feel about you. There." Her head came up and the tears were splashing down her face now, and he voice was thick, as she muttered, his kind of thing is never done by young ladies. But... but as I said, I H bar lp it. I.. .1 don't suppose I would have had the