The Sun and Catriona by Rosemary Pollock Read Free Book Online Page B

to the elderly aunt who was her only surviving relative, and then she got into bed. Her windows were wide open now, to the starlit night, and when she closed her eyes it seemed to her that she could hear the soft breathing of the city. But she hadn’t lost her feeling of isolation, and even in sleep she could not escape from it. She began to dream that she was alon e in a small boat, drifting helplessly on unfamiliar seas, without even a compass to guide her. It was night, in her dream, and she seemed to see nothing but the faint glow of star - shine, reflected on the surface of still waters. There was no land in sight, and she knew that there wasn’t going to be.
    When she had been asleep for three or four hours, she awoke with a start to find that someone was tapping softly at her door. Lifting herself on one elbow, she switched on the bedside lamp, then reached for the towelling dressing-gown that she had left lying across the foot of the bed.
    ‘Who’s there ? ’ she called sharply.
    The door opened, and a head appeared. ‘Catriona — ? Are you awake?’
    Catriona sat up in bed. According to her watch, it was ten past two. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked in bewilderment.
    Toni closed the door soundlessly and danced across the room to perch on the end of the bed.
    ‘I’m sorry, did I really wake you up ? I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful party it was. It’s a shame you didn’t go.’
    ‘I didn’t feel much like going to a party,’ Catriona told her honestly. ‘Not tonight.’ She yawned, and wondered whether the other girl made a habit of rousing people from sleep every time she felt the urge to talk. ‘I’m glad you had fun, anyway. Were there many people there?’
    ‘Not really.’ Toni’s eyes were very bright, and there was a peach-coloured flush in her cheeks. ‘It was just a lovely party, that’s all.’ She sighed dreamily. ‘Jacqueline’s sister lives in the Old City. It’s beautiful up there.’
    ‘I thought this was the old city,’ Catriona objected, feeling an unreasoning antipathy towards Jacqueline’s sister.
    ‘It isn’t as old as Mdina. We’ll be going up there one day soon, and then you’ll understand. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world.’ Humming softly beneath her breath, she got up and drifted over to the dressing-table. Gazing into, the mirror, she gathered her hair into a coil and wound it around her head. ‘What do you think?’ she asked. ‘Does it make me look older?’
    Abandoning all hope of getting back to sleep within the foreseeable future, Catriona thought the matter over. ‘Why do you want to look older?’ she asked.
    ‘Oh—I don’t know.’ Toni’s colour deepened a little. ‘People take you more seriously, don’t they ? If you’re not just a schoolgirl.’
    ‘People take you seriously if you stick to being yourself, if you behave like a real person. Whatever your age happens to be.’
    ‘Well, maybe ... It depends who you are, really. I expect you were always taken seriously. You’re so positive and strong-minded, not like most girls.’
    ‘Am I ? ’ Catriona smiled wryly.
    ‘Of course you are. You’re—I suppose you’re what men call “interesting”. You could have lots of exciting love affairs, if you wanted to.’
    ‘Thank you, but I don’t want lots of exciting love affairs. Now, don’t you think it’s time you went to bed?’
    ‘Okay, I’ll go.’ Toni tiptoed to the door. ‘But in the morning we’ll go out, and you must do some shopping. If you haven’t got very much money Peter will give you an advance on your salary.’
    Catriona felt as if her skin were starting to crawl with embarrassment. ‘We’ll go shopping if you like, but I don’t need an advance from your brother. Not just yet.’ Firmly, she put out a hand to extinguish the light. ‘Goodnight.’
    Toni hesitated a second, sighed deeply, then flashed her a brilliant smile.
    ‘See you in the morning.’

 
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