THE BONDAGE OF LOVE by Yelena Kopylova Read Free Book Online Page B

opposite. She was what Bill would have termed a plastic-type model, nothing below the surface. To Fiona, she represented the High Church, good works and small, select dinners type. On the other hand George Ferndale saw Bill as an honest, hardworking climber, and in parts, a very rough diamond.
    And later on in the evening, after a very good meal, he wondered how the rough diamond had ever linked up with a woman such as this one? It wasn't only that she looked a spanker, she was definitely of the middle class, and interesting into the bargain. In looks and every other way, he thought, she could knock spots off the dames sitting round the table
    whom he knew practically inside out, for hardly a week passed but they met up in one or the other's house. They were a clique, he had to admit, but they all afforded him good business. Here, however, was someone, at least a pair of them, and so different in type and class that he felt he would like to know much more about them. Yes, not only her, but him.
    When, during the dancing, the four of them were left at a table, he looked at her and said, "How many children have you?"
    "Six." Fiona smiled at him. And at this Bill put in, "You'd better explain, else you'll get a fella into a muddle." Then looking at George Ferndale, he said, "She's got three of her own, one of mine, and two adopted."
    "Oh, you've adopted?" It was Elsa Ferndale asking the question now.
    "How brave of you."
    "Oh, there was nothing brave about it. The little girl came to us when she was three after her parents died. They were friends of Bill's. And then we adopted the young boy who saved Bill, you might have heard, from those two murderous individuals."
    "Oh yes, yes. Yes, of course, the Irishman's son," put in George Ferndale.
    "Oh yes. Well now, I know something about him. Not about the boy, although the papers were full of it at the time, yes. But the father. I was in court the day he was sent up the line. It's a wonder he didn't get life; he had practically knocked it out of his wife's lover. Hard case, wasn't he?"
    "No, he wasn't a hard case." Fiona's hand had gone on to Bill's knee and pressed it hard which, in a way, said, leave this to me. And then she went on, "You have the wrong idea about Davey Love, I'm sorry to say, for he was a wonderful man."
    "You mean Davey Love was the father of the boy who ... who ... ?"
    "Yes, the father of the boy who saved Bill. The same Davey Love. He was a clever man, a wise man. His temper was his only fault.
    Otherwise, he played the clown, one could say. He made out that he was a thick Irishman, while all the time he was a very deep and wise one.
    You mightn't believe it, you know' - she was smiling into the now stiff countenance of George Ferndale - 'no, you mightn't believe it, but in the main he was greatly loved by almost everyone he came in contact with. " And now her smile widened as she said, " Except those men who would run off with his wife, and other men who had the stupidity to call him a thick Irish Paddy. Apart from that you wouldn't find a gentler man. "
    "You amaze me, you know, Mrs. Bailey." He now turned to Bill.
    "Is she right?"
    "Every word of it, every word of it."
    "Well," said George Ferndale, 'it's good to know I'm not too old to have surprises. "
    Fiona turned to Elsa Ferndale now, saying, "You have a son about the same age as mine, haven't you?"
    "Oh, yes. Yes." Mrs. Ferndale was nodding at her.
    "Roland is just turned seventeen, and he's got his first car."
    "It's his first, and if he's not careful it'll be his last;' They all looked at George Ferndale now as, after emptying his glass of cherry brandy, he went on, " They shouldn't be allowed on the road until they are twenty, if then.
    Mad, that's what they are, youngsters, when they get behind a wheel, mad. "
    "Well, they're only young once."
    George Ferndale leant towards his wife, saying slowly now, "That's a stupid thing to say, Elsa. We've all only been young once, and in my opinion this is