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Tom was a powerful lout who worked about the farm attached to the main building. He was an excellent servant and reliable in work which required strength but no initiative or intelligence. His grin was a feature of the homestead. Roland had sometimes spoken of his cruelty, but Alice did not think it amounted to much more than the thoughtlessness of a good-humoured but otherwise likeable person. It was exasperating when Rosemary complained that she had been assaulted by him. Roland was unwilling to dismiss him. He was too valuable a worker, he said; besides, who knew what Rosemary had been up to? She was no saint – always making eyes at all and sundry. ‘Well, you ought to know’, said Alice with meaning that made Roland colour angrily. ‘Don't be ridiculous, Alice. You're jealous. She's pretty in a servant-girlish sort of way and she may have made eyes at Tom I admit – very probable in fact; but I don't want to lose a good workman.’ So it fell to Alice to see her lady's maid as the culprit. This she was willing to do, for she was jealous and her jealousy was not appeased by her own very good looks. After thinking the matter over she called Rosemary to see her privately.
‘I am very worried by what you told me yesterday, Rosemary. The master says Tom is a good worker and he is certain – he told me positively – that he would not do anything bad. Are you sure you didn't lead him on?’ The girl coloured indignantly. ‘Oh no, Ma'am – I would never do such a thing. I was passing by the dairy and he called me to tell me something – I went into the barn where he was standing and …’ Alice dropped her eyes but listened with attention to a sordid story of near rape and not so distant seduction. Rosemary was angry – and frightened. Alice paused; then went on thoughtfully, ‘You have to be careful. You are a girl that men find pretty and it would be
awkward if you had a baby. Especially by Tom because I know my husband, Mister Roland, wouldn't like that.’ Alice's face, despite its bea