Mrs Crichton smiled at Tandy . come into the drawing-room , dear , and talk to us . and , as Tandy followed her into the room , and Mr Crichton got up to greet her , Mrs Crichton added : if this visit is what we think , Tandy , I hope you &apos;re as pleased about it as we are . I &apos;m delighted , she said . Marion &apos;s such a darling . and your brother is the first young man I &apos;ve ever encountered that I &apos;d trust my girl to , said Mr Crichton . ten minutes or so later , and looking like a girl who had been very thoroughly kissed , Marion came into the room , Jock &apos;s hand in her own . Mummy - Daddy - we - gently , smiling , Jock interposed . Marion , my love , I have an idea that if my sister has had anything to do with this , they will n&apos;t need telling . but , just for the record , we &apos;re engaged ! after that , everyone seemed to be kissing everyone else ! intermingled with her pleasure for them , Tandy felt a private little glow of happiness . for so long , now , she &apos;d felt responsible for Jock , whether or not he would have wanted it . and now - he had a grand girl like Marion to look after him , and she herself would be free . free &amp;hellip; to let her love for Granville rule her life for ever . long after she and Jock had got back to the flat , she lay awake thinking of Granville . she &apos;d see him again tomorrow , but not till tomorrow night . that meant the whole of a long day to live through first . I &apos;m wishing my whole life away , she thought , and smiled gently to herself . it was worth living through hours of tedium , for those precious hours with Granville in the evening . next morning at breakfast , Jock said : do n&apos;t do anything about supper for me tonight , Tandy . Marion and I want to go out to celebrate our engagement . we shall n&apos;t be buying the ring until the weekend , but tonight I want to take her out to the best dinner I can find ! yes , Jock . for a moment , Tandy felt sad , thinking that many of the pleasures most engaged couples shared would be missing for Jock and Marion . dances , theatres , cinemas . she herself had never worried about any of them , but then she had n&apos;t grown up in a city as Marion had . would Marion mind ? yes , sometimes . but reassurance came to Tandy in the knowledge that Marion adored Jock . being with him was what would matter most to her in life , now and always . I &apos;m beginning to feel a bit conscience-stricken about you , Tandy , Jock said suddenly . I &apos;m a selfish devil . when you &apos;re happy as I am , you &apos;re apt to forget - forget what , Jock ? well - if we get married - listen , Jock dear , when you get married , if you want this flat I &apos;ll move out . it &apos;s as simple as that . I can go into a hostel , or get digs with one of the other girls at the college . or - he did n&apos;t even hear the other word as it trembled softly as a whisper . she did n&apos;t finish the sentence . she just could n&apos;t - yet . but , she thought , as she started on her way to the college - maybe Jock was n&apos;t the only member of the family to have exciting news this week . only , until Granville really told her , she could say nothing to Jock at all . the sun was shining and Tandy &apos;s heart was singing as she crossed George Street that evening and made her way down to Princes Street for the bus to the studio . you &apos;re late ! Granville said almost accusingly , as she walked into the studio . sorry - so you should be , my sweet . do n&apos;t you know I &apos;ve been counting the minutes , all day , till you came ! he moved to her and took her into his arms , and the wonder of his kiss blotted out everything . Granville - she said at last , shakily . yes , my love ! that &apos;s just to keep you quiet till I finish the picture ! with any luck we &apos;ll be through with it tonight ! she did n&apos;t bother to change . he &apos;d finished the painting of the dress last night and it was only work on her face and arms that was left . she took up the familiar pose with a kind of sadness in her heart because it was the last time . yet it was stupid to be sad . the picture meant something ; certainly . it had brought them together . it would , she thought , be a symbol &amp;hellip; . as she stood , feeling the familiar fatigue creep over her , Granville suddenly threw down his brushes . well , Tandy ? I did n&apos;t let you see it properly before . what do you think ? Tandy walked over to the easel and then stopped , frowning . she - she &apos;s prettier than I am , Granville , she said at last . nonsense . your trouble is that you do n&apos;t know how damned attractive you are . she could see she &apos;d annoyed him , even with the implied criticism , and she did n&apos;t know what to do to put things right . but it was true . the picture was of a very pretty girl in a white , full-skirted evening dress . but - it was n&apos;t her . she could n&apos;t have said where it failed , except that the eyes staring out of the canvas had a boldness which was quite alien to Tandy . it &apos;s - very nice , she managed to say at last . nice ! that &apos;s a stupid word . I tell you it &apos;s my best ever . I &apos;m going to submit it for the next exhibition in London . she smiled . seeing his pleasure in the picture she forgot the doubts in her own mind . and now , Granville said , we &apos;ll go down and have a drink and then perhaps go out for some food . he went through to the bathroom to remove the paint from his hands , and she sat quietly on the settee , wondering why it was that she felt strangely flat and disappointed . perhaps she was tired ; she had n&apos;t slept much last night . but , perhaps , a little of it was reaction , because the picture that had kept them together all this time was finished - and she did n&apos;t like it as much as she &apos;d thought she would . ready , my love ? Granville came through and pulled on his jacket . he took her hand as they walked to the door , and just as they reached it , he took her into his arms again . sweet Tandy , he said , huskily , beloved Tandy . oh , Tandy , I &apos;m crazy about you , my love . they stood locked together in an embrace which made Tandy &apos;s head swim and then they slipped down the staircase and along the road to the hotel . a quick drink , Granville had said , and then we &apos;re going a bit farther afield . his car was in the garage and Tandy waited for him in the hotel lounge till he &apos;d collected it , feeling , as she always did , out of place among the smart people who invariably patronised this favourite bar of Granville &apos;s . as she saw Granville coming back , she rose to go . a voice , just a little louder than perhaps was intended , floated towards her . yes , that &apos;s Granville &apos;s latest . cradle-snatching , is n&apos;t he ? she felt the blood rush to her head . Granville &apos;s latest ! just as if she was some girl he &apos;d picked up and would drop again when he was tired of her ! it was n&apos;t like that , she thought fiercely , it just was n&apos;t . Granville loved her . Granville saw her expression and frowned . what &apos;s the matter , my sweet ? nothing - he did n&apos;t persist as , irrationally enough , she &apos;d wanted him to . he just said : if one of the lads has been making cracks , I &apos;ll deal with him . but any young woman who goes around with me is apt to get some , Tandy . that &apos;s fair warning , my girl - his tone was light . where are we going , she asked as they got into the car . on a tour of inspection . there &apos;s a place I particularly want you to see by moonlight &amp;hellip; . it &apos;s there , complete , even to the wishing well , my love . you mean ? our small hotel , he quoted softly . you &apos;ll fall in love with it the way I have , when you see it , Tandy . here we are , said Granville . Tandy took a quick breath . it was perfect . hardly an hotel at all really : just a long , low-thatched building , its white-washed walls stark in the moonlight . lit up with fairy-lights , it looked like something out of a dream . he slipped his arm round her . I knew you &apos;d love it , poppet . she went on staring , utterly bewitched . he &apos;d been right . there was a well , a wishing well , in the front garden . as she watched she could see a couple standing there , hand in hand , oblivious to everything but themselves . oh , Granville , it &apos;s just what I dreamed of , Tandy said in a whisper . Granville smiled gently . this was the way to do it &amp;hellip; . that &apos;s what you call a preview , Tandy darling . he backed the car out again and drove back swiftly in the direction of the city . he could see the way she kept glancing at him , and he knew exactly what was in her mind . she wanted him to stop the car , to make love to her . he turned down a small lane , and slowed to a stop . you &apos;re very silent , Tandy , he said lightly . am I ? you are . and I &apos;m glad . I hate women who chatter the whole time . Granville - Granville darling - he put his arm round her , drew her towards him . I love you &amp;hellip; . and I love you , Granville , I love you . the words came out with a fire that almost frightened her . her very feelings were frightening her now . she &apos;d had no idea , until this moment , just how desperately disturbing love could be &amp;hellip; . his lips came down hard on hers and she clung to him . Granville - darling - my love - at last , she struggled free from his arms . well , Tandy , he said , you &apos;ve seen our hotel . you know it &apos;s waiting for us . when is it to be ? Granville ! suddenly now everything was right and wonderful and not a bit frightening any more . Granville darling , not just for a little while . I mean , you see , I must wait until Jock and Marion are married . I do n&apos;t think that &apos;ll be long now . they &apos;ve found each other and they want to be together always . but - but once they &apos;re married , then you and I . oh , Granville , say it . say what , my sweet ? say - I love you , Tandy . I want you to marry me - abruptly he drew his arm from her shoulders . abruptly he switched on the car ignition . another of them ! his tone was like a lash . but what had she done ? another of what ? over the purr of the car engine , his voice came to her : you &apos;re like the rest of them , Tandy ! I just can n&apos;t believe that . he put the car into gear , put his foot down . in silence they drove back into the city . he said no more until they had stopped right outside the flat . well , Tandy ? you &apos;re angry with me , Granville . why ? what have I done ? done ? nothing I suppose . it &apos;s just that I &apos;m disappointed . I thought you were different . like me . honest . straight . what on earth do you mean ? how I hate and despise the kind of woman who will only settle for a wedding ring , Tandy . marriage is something foisted on us by people who like the idea of living in cages because they &apos;re too scared of freedom . I do n&apos;t understand , her voice trembled . loving people , Granville , means you want to be with them always - and that &apos;s why people get married , surely , so that they can be together always . and you think a few mumbled words in front of the Registrar and a gold band on your finger makes you more capable of loving ? is that it ? Granville - it would n&apos;t be the Registrar for me . I - I &apos;ve dreamed about falling in love and getting married and though I did n&apos;t know what love was like then , I just felt that I &apos;d want to stand in a church , and - have the blessing - I &apos;m sorry . it &apos;s obvious we just do n&apos;t look at things in the same way , you and I . Tandy , I do n&apos;t blame you for your attitude . 