CHAPTER ONE:

BY: Anne Hampson

CLAIRE stood uncertainly by the gate, anxiously watching the road while at the same time aware of the growing restlessness of the six jodhpur-clad figures who were waiting for her to mount her horse.

as it was the easter holiday period she knew that most of the children had appointments for music or dancing lessons, but mr. condliffe's deep authoritative voice over the telephone had left its impression, and despite the children's sullen whisperings she felt she should wait a little while longer.

twenty past ten... claire shrugged and decided at last to go without his niece. mr. condliffe had probably changed his mind, or even forgotten the appoinment altogether.

The lesson lasted an hour; on their return to the stables a large car stood in the yard and as Claire dismounted Mr. Condliffe strode towards her. he waited until the children had moved away before he spoke.

'Miss Harris?' he enquired. in a tone that had the immediate effect of making her bristle.

'Yes. You are Mr. Condliffe?'

He nodded abruptly.

'I should like to know why I've been kept waiting.'

'I'm sorry, but you were at least twenty minutes late! I just had to go without your niece.'

'Late?' he looked amazed. 'I'm never late for an appointment!'

Claire made an effort to keep her voice low and polite.

'You were late for this one, Mr. Condliffe. i waited until twenty past ten. Your appointment was for ten--

'My appointment was for eleven,' He interrupted haughtily. 'you've obviously made a mistake!''

Angry colour fused Claire's cheeks, but she still contrived to keep her voice steady and quiet.

'I distinctly remember your saying ten o'clock, and I booked it down immediately after you phoned.' 'I distinctly remember saying eleven.''

Despite his obvious annoyance ne retained his outward calm in a manner which Claire found most disconnecting . convinced that she was in the right, however, she had no intention of allowing him the last word, but even as she opened her mouth to continue the arguement an imperious wave of his hand cut her short.

'Tell Mr. Green that i wish to see him immediately upon his return,' he snaped, and cancel the other appointments; I shall not bringing my niece here again.

With a final glance of acute distaste he return and strode away to his car, Claire bit her lip. A complaint lodged after only three weeks would surely result in dismissal, she mused dejectedly, recalling those months when she had been searching for a suitable job. There had been plenty of office jobs, of course, but Claire loved to be out of doors and she had considered herself most fortunate to ge the post of assistant of Mr. Green's riding school. while inwardly rebelling at the idea of an apology, Claire followed the prudent course and hastened across the cobbed yard, reaching the car just as it was drawing away.

'I'm sorry about this misunderstanding,' she began. 'I could take your niece now-- with the next group who are waiting.'

she watched his face anxiously, saw to her surprise his expression change to one of interest. His blue eyes regarded her keenly and she had the most odd conviction that he was trying to read her character.

'Very well,' came the unexpected reply. 'I can spare half an hour.''

Claire sighed with relief, and nothing would have induced her to tell him that the other children expected their lesson to last an hour. He insisted on seeing the pony and Claire fetched Dusty, the most gentle and quiet animal in the stable.

'Yes, I should think he'll do, 'Remember what i told you about lindy's nervousness since having the accident a year ago. she must be kept on the leading'rein until I give instructions to the contrary. I'll call back for her in about half an hour.' He turned to his niece, who was getting out of the car. 'You'll do exactly as you are told---understand?'

'Yes, Uncle Simon,'' The child returned meekly, and her eyes followed the car until it took the bend by the river and disappeared from view. Claire watched it, too, as it came again into sight, a matchbox toy beside the rugged heights of loughrigg fell. An unutereble snob, she concluded, and returned to the litttle girl at her side, looking down to admire her fragile beauty, her deep gold hair and soft blue eyes.

'How old are you, Lindy?'

'Six,' The child informed her timidly.' Claire saddled the pony and lifted her up.

'I ride very well, and I don't need the leading-rein .'' Lindy said in the timid accents, and Claire frowned. The child seemed positively cowed.

'You must have it---at least for the present.'

Although not at all nervous of the horse, Lindy was, in contrast to the other children, very quiet and subdued, and even though Claire had an exceptionally charming way with children, she had the greatest difficulty in putting LIndy at her case. After a while, however, she did manage to loosen her tongue, and as they turned to come back to the stables Lindy shyly asked if Claire though her uncle would allow her to come every day.

'That was his intention,' replied Claire cautiously. 'I don't know if he's changed his mind.'

'You kept him waiting, and that made him angry.' There was a slight hesitation and then, 'Did he shout at you? He looked as if he was scolding at you, but i couldn't hear from the car.'

'Your Uncle isn't very pleased with me, I'm afraid.' He gets angry for the least thing,' Lindy quivered, 'and it's awful.'

A worried little frown creased Claire's brow at the desolation in the child's voice and it was some time before she spoke.

'Who taught you to ride?' she asked, forcing a smile.

'My Mother.' The soft lips trembled. 'She died a year ago, while i was in hospital. I miss Mommy terribly, especially when Uncle Simon sends me up to the nursery, all by myself. I cry and cry then, and i wish i could die, too.'

Claire gasped and the angry colour flooded her cheeks. The man must be an absulote brute!

'Have you no other aunties or uncles?' she asked, wondering what happened to the child's father.

'Uncle Simon's the only one, and that's why he had to have me; but he thinks I'm a nuisance, and so does Aunt Ursula.'

'I thought you said you had no aunties?.'

'She's not my aunt yet, but she will be when they're married. I'm going to run away then, because Aunt Ursula dislikes me even more than Uncle Simon does. I heard her telling him that I wasn't the sort of little girl anyone could love, and he said she was quite right, but he had to have me because there was nobody else.'

Claire's anger increased; she was appalled by Lindy's words, but at the same time wondered if the could be exaggerating, for it seemed impossible that anyone could be so heartless.

'I'm sure that's not right, dear. perhaps Uncle Simon isn't used to little girls, but you'll see, everything will be different when you've been with him a little while longer.'

'He's had me a year, and he's disliked me all that time.'

no mistaking the child's thruthfulness, decided Claire as she examined the pale face searchingly. she fumed inwardly. people like Simon Condliffe should be prevented by law from having charge of young children. if he didn't want Lindy why couldn't he send her to boarding school? anything would be better than allowing her to grow up unwanted and unloved. and how anyone could dislike this sweet, shy little girl was quite beyond her comprehension.

When they returned Lindy was smiling and looking forward eagerly to her next lesson, but as she caught sight of her uncle the happiness instantly drained from her face.

'How was she?' a distinctly anxious note in Simon Condliffe's voice caused Claire to look up at him in swift surprise.

Quite confident, In fact, I think the leading-rein unnecessary.' 'Indeed? she was extremely nervous when i had her out a few days ago.'

'But it's diferrent with Miss Harris,' Lindy interrupted impulsively, and then hung her head. 'I beg your pardon ,Uncle Simon.'

The apology brought a quick frown to his face leaving Claire with the extraordinary impression that his niece's timidity annoyed him. but that was ridiculous when, quite obviously, he was to blame for it!

'Go and sit in the car,' he ordered curtly, then turned to Claire.

'i shall bring her tomorrow as arranged, but i advise you not to keep me waiting. the appointment is for ten in the morning; write it down before you forget.'

Flushing angrily, Claire bit back the retort which rose to her lips. it behoved her to be tactful with this man, otherwise she would find herself once again searching for a work.

'Yes, Mr. Condliffe; i'll do that.'

During the rest of the day Claire found her thoughts continually straying to Mr. Condliffe, and when that happened, Lindy was momentarily forgotten.