Free The Burden by writing as Mary Westmacott Agatha Christie

vicarage seems to be making sheep’s eyes at her, young Peter has got it badly, and even Edward Westbury has started putting brilliantine on what’s left of his hair. Smelt it in church last Sunday. Thought to myself: “Now, who’s he after?” And sure enough there he was when we came out, wriggling like an embarrassed dog as he talked to her.’
    â€˜I don’t think she cares about any of them.’
    â€˜Why should she? Give her time. She’s very young, Laura. Come now, why do you really want to send her away to London, or are you going too?’
    â€˜Oh no. That’s the whole point.’
    Mr Baldock straightened up.
    â€˜So that’s the point, is it?’ He eyed her curiously. ‘What exactly is in your mind, Laura?’
    Laura looked down at the gravel path.
    â€˜As you said just now, Shirley is the only thing that matters to me. I – I love her so much that I’m afraid of – well, of hurting her. Of trying to tie her to me too closely.’
    Mr Baldock’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
    â€˜She’s ten years younger than you are, and in some ways she’s more like a daughter than a sister to you.’
    â€˜I’ve mothered her, yes.’
    He nodded.
    â€˜And you realize, being intelligent, that maternal love is a possessive love?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s exactly it. And I don’t want it to be like that. I want Shirley to be free and – well – free.’
    â€˜And that’s at the bottom of pushing her out of the nest? Sending her out in the world to find her feet?’
    â€˜Yes. But what I’m so uncertain about is – am I wise to do so?’
    Mr Baldock rubbed his nose in an irritable way.
    â€˜You women!’ he said. ‘Trouble with all of you is, you make such a song and dance about things. How is one ever to know what’s wise or not? If young Shirley goes to London and picks up with an Egyptian student and has a coffee-coloured baby in Bloomsbury, you’ll say it’s all your fault, whereas it will be entirely Shirley’s and possibly the Egyptian’s. And if she trains and gets a good job as a secretary and marries her boss, then you’ll say you were justified. All bunkum! You can’t arrange other people’s lives for them. Either Shirley’s got some sense or she hasn’t. Time will show. If you think this London idea is a good plan, go ahead with it, but don’t take it so seriously. That’s the whole trouble with you, Laura, you take life seriously. It’s the trouble with a lot of women.’
    â€˜And you don’t?’
    â€˜I take bindweed seriously,’ said Mr Baldock, glaring down balefully at the heap on the path. ‘ And greenfly. And I take my stomach seriously, because it gives me hell if I don’t. But I never dream of taking other people’s lives seriously. I’ve too much respect for them, for one thing.’
    â€˜You don’t understand. I couldn’t bear it if Shirley made a mess of her life and was unhappy.’
    â€˜Fiddle de dee,’ said Mr Baldock rudely. ‘What does it matter if Shirley’s unhappy? Most people are, off and on. You’ve got to stick being unhappy in this life, just as you’ve got to stick everything else. You need courage to get through this world, courage and a gay heart.’
    He looked at her sharply.
    â€˜What about yourself, Laura?’
    â€˜Myself?’ said Laura, surprised.
    â€˜Yes. Suppose you’re unhappy? Are you going to be able to bear that?’
    Laura smiled.
    â€˜I’ve never thought about it.’
    â€˜Well, why not? Think about yourself a bit more. Unselfishness in a woman can be as disastrous as a heavy hand in pastry. What do you want out of life? You’re twenty-eight, a good marriageable age. Why don’t you do a bit of manhunting?’
    â€˜How absurd you are, Baldy.’
    â€˜Thistles and ground