to say, I do. Look here, Mrs Fulton. Last night I saw
Jack kissing you. I know perfectly well you didn't encourage him. You'd
know better. However, there it is. I don't pretend I like what I've got
to do, but this must be stopped. I can't have philandering going on
here. You, Jack, you're going back to the works at Rawsley and don't let
me see anything of you this side of the next three months. As for you,
Mrs Fulton, I'm sorry, but Mrs Holt will have to find another companion.
I know it's hard on you to ask you to leave without notice, but I
propose to give you an indemnity of twenty pounds. I should like to keep
you here, but you see that after what has happened it's impossible. I
suppose you agree to that?'

Victoria stood silent for a moment, her hands tightly clenched. She knew
Holt's short ways, but the manner of the dismissal was brutal.
Everything seemed to revolve round her, she recovered herself with
difficulty.

'Yes,' she said at length, 'you're quite right.'

Jack had not moved. His hands were nervously playing with his watch
chain. Victoria, in the midst of her trouble, remembered Edward's
familiar gesture. They were alike in a way, these two tall weedy men,
both irresolute and undeveloped.

'Very well then,' continued Holt; 'perhaps you'll make your arrangements
at once. Here is the cheque.' He held out a slip of blue paper.

Victoria looked at him for a moment dully. Then revolt surged inside
her. 'I don't want your indemnity,' she said coldly, 'you merely owe me
a month's wages in lieu of notice.'

The shadow of a smile crept into Holt's face. The semi-legal,
semi-commercial phrase pleased him.

Mrs Holt rose from the table and went to Victoria. 'I'm so sorry,' she
said, speaking more gently than she had ever done. 'You must take it.
Things are so hard.'

'Oh, but I say, dad . . .' broke in Jack.

'That will do, do you hear me, sir?' thundered the father violently,
bringing down his fist on the table. 'I'm not asking you for your
opinion! You can stay and look at your work but you just keep a silent
tongue in your head. D'you hear?'

Jack stood cowed and dumb.

'There's nothing more to say, is there?' growled Mr Holt, placing the
cheque on the table before Victoria.

'Not much,' said Victoria. 'I've done no wrong. Oh! I'm not complaining.
But I begin to understand things. Your son has persecuted me. I didn't
want his attentions. You turn me out. Of course it's my fault, I know.'

'My de