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a tractor. I called over to him.

  "Hey, the lady in there says her name isn't Cook.'

  "She's right an' all. She's the cook over at the Hall. You've gotten a

  bit mixed up.' He laughed heartily.

  It all became suddenly clear; the entry in the day book, everything.

  "What's her right name, then?'

  "Booby,' he shouted just as the tractor roared into life.

  Funny name, I thought, as I produced my harmless vitamin tablets from

  the boot and returned to the cottage. Once inside I did my best to put

  things right ~ ~` ~rl l lu/II~3

  with plenty of "Yes, Mrs Booby' and "No, Mrs Booby' but the lady didn't

  thaw. I told her not to worry and that I was sure nothing would happen

  for several days but I could tell I wasn't impressing her.

  I waved cheerfully as I went down the path.

  "Goodbye, Mrs Booby,' I cried. "Don't hesitate to ring me if you're in

  doubt about anything.'

  She didn't appear to have heard.

  "Oh I wish you'd do as I say,' she wailed. "It was just a little prick.'

  The good lady certainly didn't hesitate to ring. She was at me again the

  next day and I had to rush out to her cottage. Her message was the same

  as before; she wanted the wonderful injection which would make those

  pups pop out and she wanted it right away. Mr Broomfield hadn't messed

  about and wasted time like I had. And on the third and fourth and fifth

  mornings she had me out at Marston examining the little bitch and

  reciting the same explanations. Things came to a head on the sixth day.

  In the room at Lilac Cottage the dark eyes held a desperate light as

  they stared into mine. "I'm about at the end of my tether, young man. I

  tell you I'll die if anything happens to this dog. I'll die. Don't you

  understand?'

  "Of course I know how you feel about her, Mrs Booby. Believe me, I fully

  understand.'

  "Then why don't you do something?' she snapped.

  I dug my nails into my palms. "Look, I've told you. A pituitrin

  injection works by contracting the muscular walls of the uterus so it

  can only bc given when labour has started and the cervix is open. If I

  find it is indicated I will do it, but if I give this injection now it

  could cause rupture of the uterus. It could cause death.' l stopped

  because I fancied little bubbles were beginning to collect at the

  corners of my mouth.

  But I don't think she had listened to a word. She sunk her head in her

  hands. "All this time, I can't stand it.'

  I was wondering if I could stand much more of it myself. Bulging

  Yorkshire Terriers had begun to prance through my dreams at night and I

  greeted each new day with a silent prayer that the pups had arrived. I

  held out my hand to Cindy and she crept reluctantly towards me. She was

  heartily sick of this strange man who came every day and squeezed her

  and~stuck fingers into her and she submitted again with trembling limbs

  and frightened eyes to the indignity.

  "Mrs Booby,' I said, 'are you absolutely sure that dog didn't have

  access to Cindy after the service date you gave me?'

  She sniffed. "You keep asking' me that and ah've been thinking about it.

  Maybe he did come a week after, now I think on.'

  "Well, that's it, then!' I spread my hands. "She's held to the second

  mating, so she should be due tomorrow.'

  "Ah would still far rather you would get it over with today like Mr

  Broomfield did .. . it was just a little prick.'

  "But Mrs Booby .. .!'

  "And let me tell you another thing, me name's not Booby!'

  I clutched at the back of the chair. "It's not?'

  "Naw!'

  "Well .. . what is it, then?'

  "It's Dooley .. . Dooley!' She looked very cross.

  "Right .. . right .. .'1 stumbled down the garden path and drove away.

  It was not a happy departure.

  Maybe all was well at last. But I turned cold when an urgent call to go

  to Lilac Cottage was passed on to one of the farms on my round. I was

  right at the far end of the practice area and was in the middle of a

  tough calving and it was well over three hours before I got out at the

  now familiar garden gate. The cottage door was open and as I ventured up

  the path a little brown missile hurtled out at me. It was Cindy, but a

  transformed Cindy, a snarling, barking little bundle of ferocity; and

  though I recoiled she fastened her teeth in my trouser cuff and hung on

  grimly.

  I was hopping around on one leg trying to shake off the growling little

  creature when a peal of almost girlish laughter made me look round.

  Mrs Dooley, vastly amused, was watching me from the doorway. "My word,

  she's different since she had them pups. Just shows what a good little

  mother she is, guarding them like that.' She gazed fondly at the tiny

  animal dangling from my ankle.

  "Had the pups ... ?'

  "Aye, when they said you'd be a long time I rang Mr Farnon. He came

  right away and d'you know he gave Cindy that injection I've wanted all

  along. And I tell you 'e wasn't right out of "'garden gate before the

  pups started. She's had seven - beauties they are.'

  "Ah well that's fine, Mrs Dooley ... splendid.' Siegfried had obviously

  felt a pup in the passage. I finally managed to rid myself of Cindy and

  when her mistress lifted her up I went into the kitchen to inspect the

  family.

  They certainly were grand pups and I lifted the squawking little morsels

  one by one from their basket while their mother snarled from Mrs

  Dooley's arms like a starving wolphound.

  "They're lovely, Mrs Dooley,' I murmured.

  She looked at me pityingly. "I told you what to do, didn't 1, but you

  wouldn't 'ave it. It only needed a little prick. Ooo, that Mr Farnon's a

  lovely man - just like Mr Broomfield.'

  This was a bit much. "But you must realise, Mrs Dooley, he just happened

  to arrive at the right time. If I had come .. .'

  "Now, now, young man, be fair. Ah'm not blamin' you, but some people

  have had more experience. We all 'ave to learn.' She sighed

  reminiscently. "It was just a little prick - Mr Farnon'll have to show

  you how to do it. I tell you he wasn't right out of "'garden gate.. .'

  Enough is enough. I drew myself up to my full height. "Mrs Dooley,

  madam,' I said frigidly, 'let me repeat once and for all .. .'

  "Oh, hoity toity, hoity toity, don't get on your high horse wi' me!' she

  exclaimed. "We've managed very nicely without you so don't complain.'

  Her expression became very severe. "And one more thing - me name's not

  Mrs Dooley.'

  My brain reeled for a moment. The world seemed to be crumbling about me.

  "What did you say?'

  "I said me name's not Mrs Dooley.'

  "It isn't?'

  "Naw!' She lifted her left hand and as I gazed at it dully I realised it

  must have been all the mental stress which have prevented me from

  noticing the total absence of rings.

  "New!' she said. "It's Miss!'

  Next morning I could hardly believe it when there was no call from

  Marston.

  Chapter Twenty-three.

  I had never been married before so there was nothing in my past

  ex