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While waiting for the bus, he couldn’t help noticing ho people bothered to say good e him Certainly no one crossed the road to pass the time of day

~

Twentyas they travelled back and forth between The Willows and the auctioneers’ storeroo that the last stick of furniture had been removed from the house

As he walked through the e that, with one or two exceptions, he wasn’t going to miss many of his worldly possessions He retired to the bedroom – the only room in the house that was still furnished – and continued to read the novel Elizabeth had recommended before his downfall

The followinghe only had one call, from his nephew Timothy, to say he was up for the weekend, and wondered if Uncle Cornelius could find time to see him

‘Ti I still have plenty of,’ replied Cornelius

‘Then why don’t I drop round this afternoon?’ said Timothy ‘Shall we say four o’clock?’

~

‘I’m sorry I can’t offer you a cup of tea,’ said Cornelius, ‘but I finished the last packet thisthe house next week’

‘It’s not important,’ said Ti the house stripped of his uncle’s possessions

‘Let’s go up to the bedroom It’s the only room that still has any furniture in it – and one by next week’

‘I had no idea they’d taken everything away Even the picture of Daniel,’ Tihter shade of cream than the rest of the wall

‘And hed Cornelius ‘But I can’t coan to climb the stairs to the bedroom

Cornelius sat in the only chair while Timothy perched on the end of the bed The old rown into a fine young man An open face, with clear brown eyes that served to reveal, to anyone who didn’t already know, that he had been adopted He ht – about the sae Daniel would have been if he were still alive Cornelius had always had a soft spot for his nephew, and had iined that his affection was reciprocated He wondered if he was about to be disillusioned once again

Ti uneasily from foot to foot as he perched on the end of the bed ‘Uncle Cornelius,’ he began, his head slighdy bowed, ‘as you know, I have received a letter froht to come to see you and explain that I simply don’t have £1,000 to my name, and therefore I’m unable to repay my debt at present’