Black Welcome

by Nigel Fitzgerald

  Her family stared for a moment at her still youthful back. “How have you been selfish?” Ivy asked at last.

  “By trying to remain the master and the mistress of Moore Court long after my time. No one has said anything about it, so now I have to say it myself: I’ve been a barrier between you and Dominick and I’ve done my best to come between you and your children. It won’t happen again. I shall go to Switzerland for a year when all this is over, and when I come back–if I come back–I shall five here.”

  She was silent for a long time. So still was the room that the faint lapping of the water against its muddy banks came clearly through the open windows. Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted.

  “Oh God, why did it have to happen?” Mrs. O’Brien Moore whispered.

  THE END

  Garcia’s London

  NIGEL FITZGERALD made his first appearance in this country in 1959 with MIDSUMMER MALICE.

  He has been, by turns, a law student, an actor, a journalist, a broadcaster, and an artillery officer. He also runs a farm in Ireland, where he was born. Now living in London, he devotes his time to writing and broadcasting.