Read Online The Tender Glory by Jean S. Macleod - Free Book Online

and Calders for some reason of his own, and not even his former friendship with her brother would give her the right to go there again, even if she wanted to.
    Angrily she pressed her foot down on the accelerator, urging the reluctant van to greater speed. Why should she want to go to Sterne again? Their worlds were miles apart, linked feebly by the fact that she had won his mother’s scholarship.
    Grinding to a halt before the Lodge, she was surprised to see the door lying open and a girl of about her own age waiting on the step. It was the girl she had seen at the window on her first visit, but now the light fell full on her face and she saw that, although it was undeniably plain, it had an odd, haunting youthfulness about it which lifted it above the ordinary. The girl’s expression was still marred by a frown, however, and the deeply-set dark eyes looked out at her with undisguised suspicion.
    “You’ve certainly taken your time,” Tessa Searle remarked.
    “I had trouble with the van.” Alison got down to deliver the milk. “Do you still want two pints?”
    There was no reply. The girl came slowly towards her, limping badly.
    “You’ve been to Sterne,” she said. “That’s why you’re late.” Her tone was aggressive, the dark eyes watching her reaction jealously.
    “That’s where I broke down,” Alison admitted. “About the most awkward place I could have chosen.” She tried to laugh, finding it difficult. “It would have been easier to get help if it had happened in the glen.”
    “But it didn’t.” Tessa stood quite still, gazing at her relentlessly. “I suppose Huntley came to your rescue. There’s nobody else up there.”
    “He dried out the plugs for me.” There was an awkward pause. “He seems very comfortable at the lighthouse.”
    “You needn’t feel sorry for him,” Tessa said. “It’s how he wants to live—at present.”
    Her tone suggested that things might change considerably in the near future.
    “Perhaps he finds Calders too big for him,” Alison said. “It’s quite a house. I used to think that it must be the biggest place in the world, next to Dunrobin!”
    Tessa’s faint smile was peculiarly devoid of mirth.
    “You lived all your life here up till three years ago, I suppose,” she said.
    “Yes. I had never been further south than Aberdeen till I won the scholarship.”
    “Did you know Huntley in those days?” Tessa asked.
    “No. He was older, and he went away to school.”
    Tessa picked up two bottles of milk, turning back towards the house. She moved awkwardly on a damaged hip.
    “Let me help you,” Alison offered without thinking.
    The dark eyes blazed at her.
    “I don’t need help—yours or anybody else’s. I can manage by myself!” Tessa cried.
    “At least let me carry the milk.” Alison felt desperately sorry, aware that she had touched this girl on the raw. “The bottles are so cold they’ll almost freeze to your hands.”
    “I don’t feel the cold,” Tessa declared instantly. “I’m used to it.”
    “It’s taking me longer than I thought to become acclimatised again.” Alison was chattering to cover her mistake. “Perhaps I’ve grown too soft, living in London for the best part of three years.”
    “Does that mean you’ve come home to Craigie Hill for good?” The question had been shot at her so quickly that she hesitated for a moment.
    “I think it does,” she admitted at last. “I depended on the scholarship, you see, and it has only a few more months to run.”
    “You could apply for an extension,” Tessa suggested, still watching her. “Hadn’t you thought of it?”
    “I don’t think I could.” Alison carried the milk into the house. “There’s no one else now at Craigie Hill.”
    Tessa must have known about Robin if he had gone to Calders a great deal. She must have met him there, but she gave no sign. She stood stiffly, looking at the floor.
    “People are going to feel sorry for you, having to come back like