The Round Tower by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780360478
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Vanessa said nothing. She was trying her hardest not to cry, because she knew that if she cried Angus would blame Emily. She sat down abruptly on a wooden chair near the table and, supporting her face with her hands, she muttered brokenly, ‘Emily, I said I’m sorry and I am, but…but I’m very tired, I’m sort of lost. When…when Angus came that day to my room the first time, I was…I was thinking about finishing it all. I’d lain in that awful place for three days and the only person I’d seen was my landlady, and then only once. I wanted to die. If I’d had enough aspirins or tablets, I would have taken them. Angus was the first person who had spoken a kind word to me in weeks, except the woman whom I worked for in the greengrocer’s shop; and then she was a very brusque kind of person.’ She lifted her eyes and looked at Emily. She could have added, ‘Just like you.’

There was silence between them again, and Emily turned to the fire and stared into it. Then after a moment she gave a deep sigh and said flatly, ‘Well, what’s done’s done, I suppose. But it’s no use sayin’, lass, that I’m goin’ to welcome you with open arms because I can’t. And then there’s our Rosie. You’re goin’ to put Rosie at a disadvantage.’

‘Oh, no. No, I won’t, Emily; I—I’ve always got on with Rosie.’

‘You’ve spoken to her kindly, but she’s always been tongue-tied in your presence. Think back. Has Rosie ever chatted with you like Angus has? No. There’s as big a difference between Rosie and you as between him and you. Only he’s got sex on his side. Oh! Oh!’ She raised her hand. ‘He’s a man. That breaks down barriers of a sort, but not atween women, not atween lasses. You’ve got every advantage over my Rosie; and Rosie’s no fool, she knows it.’ She came now to the table and, bending down quite close to Vanessa, she asked quietly, ‘It isn’t his, is it?’

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