’ His hopes of marrying her, and saving her soul (as well as redeeming his) were suddenly resurrected. ‘Thank you, Lord,’ he said, looking upwa...rds. ***************** On Thursday morning, Camilla brought her bag of things with her to Father Josiah’s home. They went into his bedroom, she put the bag down, and they sat on the bed, her on his lap. He sensed her emotional numbness, and correctly feeling that it was unhealthy, he tried to break her psychic ‘dome’ down. She wouldn’t let him at. Next came the statement that Brenda had polished and refined in the course of her repeated trips to the dark basement's radiator. Knowing how much Reverend Paine loved to hear it, she had practiced her cadence and intonation to perfection:"Oh, no, Master, we have to do what you want to do! After all, you're the man, and I'm only the girl."Brenda averted her angry captor's glare, studying her fettered wrists and licking her lips nervously."Well, young lady, I'm afraid this next activity is going. I was tall and very fit for my age, but at school I had spent far too much time on sports, and I had badly neglected the academic side of my education. Hence I had to leave school and start work. I started work with the mail order company just past my sixteenth birthday. My job was really described as a trainee, but in fact I was the order office dogs body, there was little sign of any immediate training for me. The company was a leading mail order company and therefore they employed a lot of. .." She made a choking noise and her eyes filled with tears. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing. What is a bloke supposed to do? I thought. I got up and went across to her."Come here, my love," I said, and gently put an arm round her heaving shoulders. She stiffened, tensed for a moment, and I gave her a reassuring squeeze, perching myself on the edge of the seat in what I hoped would feel to the girl like a temporary, non-threatening position. Finally, she relaxed, and leaned against.