BREAKING POINT

“A girl doesn’t get engaged every day” her aunt said, relenting “I must admit it would be a little difficult for me to come up how. The new maid we have doesn’t do things well. I keep trying to make her understand how I want things done, but she just doesn’t seem to get it. Besides. I wouldn’t like to leave your uncle just at the moment. His health isn’t too good at this time of the year as you know ”

Penny knew very well that Althouse he was Seventy, her uncle still enjoyed perfect health, and that if anything the cold weather suited him. She smiled, knowing that aunt Ann’s last explanation was just an excuse to remain with him. They had not spent twenty four hours away from each other since the day they got married.

“I shouldn’t give it another thought, aunt Ann” said Penny. “By the time i go back home. I will be a different woman… And look it”

“Oh well, Penny. I dare say there’s nothing wrong with you that a little country air, good food and sleep won’t put right”

Penny allowed aunt Ann to tuck a blanket round her knees and plump up the cushions behind her back.

“Comfy?” aunt Ann asked.

“Indeed I am. Where’s Benny?” Penny asked

“In the garden with your uncle. He’s trying to teach him to retrieve” said aunt Ann “as if a puppy that age could understand”

“isn’t there a proverb of yours which says ‘it’s never too young to learn?” Penny asked mischievously.

“Nonsense” said her aunt, going to the door. “You mean it’s never too late”

Left alone, Penny shut her eyes and relaxed… And pondered over those last words. So trite, so simple. But so full of wisdom.

And she wondered if she had learned anything… Except to love Jeremy.

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When Penny opened her eyes and stared round the room, she was unable to remember for a moment where she was. As she became fully conscious, she saw aunt Ann bent over her knitting in which she was completely absorbed.

‘She’s dropped a stitch’ Penny thought with a smile. ‘Never mind, a stitch in time saves nine’

That was the funny thing about living in the same house as aunt Ann. One began to talk and think in clichés.

Uncle Charles was buried beneath a large newspaper, snoring loudly and with complete abandon.

‘It must be past tea time’ Penny told herself. ‘uncle Charles always drops off after three cups of tea’ She reckoned up the number of hours she had been asleep… Four at least. She must have been very tired.

Penny lay perfectly still, savoring this moment of lazy comfort, not yet wishing to inform her that that she was awake. She looked round the room through half closed eyes and saw Benny curled up beside uncle Charles.

‘That’s weird’ she thought dreamily. ‘he never sleeps by Jeremy if I’m in the room. He always comes to me’

Jeremy! The memory of her lover struck sharply, almost painfully. He had probably only just arrived at his destination. It was strange to think how far separated they were after so short a time.

Penny smiled, remembering how young Jeremy often looked when asleep. The fair hair he tried so hard to smooth with brilliantine invariably curled over his forehead. He hated to see himself in the glass when he shaved, but she loved him best when his hair was ruffled and curly. Perhaps one day she would bear Jeremy’s son, a miniature edition of him… But not yet.. Dear God.. Not just yet

“Oh. So you are awake dear” said aunt Ann. “You had a nice long sleep, didn’t you. I will bring you some tea”

“thanks. That would be lovely” Penny replied.

“Feeling better? Your cheeks are nice and rosy”

Uncle Charles now woke up with a start. He addressed Penny. “Benny’s making great strides, child. Aha, intelligent dogs, these spaniels”

“I’m glad you like him, Uncle” Penny said, lifting back the blanket and swinging her long, slim legs to the ground. “Perhaps when he is a little bigger, Jeremy can bring him down for the shooting”

“Aha, not much game left” uncle Charles said. “But he might get a pot at a rabbit or two. You have to train that dog of yours you know. Anyways we’ll see”

‘It will be much better if I don’t have a baby now. It isn’t the right time’ Penny thought, drifting back to her previous thoughts again.

Aunt Ann brought the tea, and Penny drank it gratefully. Surprisingly, she had quite a keen appetite, and let aunt Ann persuade her to eat several slices of new bread and homemade jam.

“That’s right dear” aunt Ann said happily. “Appetite comes with eating”

“You made that one up yourself” Penny teased, referring to her aunt’s last cliché.

“Nonsense” said aunt Ann “It seems, young lady, that you are not as well-read as your old aunt”

“You are perfectly right” Penny laughed. “But I’m always willing to learn”

“Be age the guide of youth” aunt Ann announced triumphantly.

“Well, i know that one, aunt” Penny said smiling.

“It’s a very true saying too”

“Be age the guide of youth” Penny repeated, more to herself than to her aunt. Could age guide youth. Were they equipped to do so? How would her aunt advice her if she said I may be having a baby?

Of course, it would be impossible to say such a thing to aunt Ann. She would be dreadfully shocked.. Humiliated to think that Penny could be living the sort of life which could lead to such an event aunt Ann was very old fashioned. She never could tell her.

‘She would advise me to marry Jeremy right away’ Penny thought.

But Jeremy did not want to get married. Oh, what an impossible situation it was. She knew she could not bear this worry and indecision much longer. When she got back to town… If nothing happened in the meantime she would take a test or see a doctor. She wasn’t even sure if test sticks could tell in such a short while.

She felt hungry. Hunger was a sign of pregnancy. She was dying for her tea and aunt Ann’s chocolate cake.

Penny was not sure. She knew that expectant mothers had sudden unreasonable longings for particular types of food or special delicacies, but surely not at this stage…