"Where have you been?" demanded Milly. "Mrs. Roland, from around the corner, came to me three hours ago, asking if I knew that you were both out with a couple of young men on motorbikes. They were all done up in leather jackets, and you two"--she spat out the words-- "were even wearing leather helmets. If you were wearing borrowed helmets, that tells me it was a planned outing. Don't you dare disappear!" Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Beaty sidling towards the stairs. "You have some explaining to do, my girls."
Gerty spilled the beans, no doubt because she felt so guilty, and expiation was her only relief. Beaty pressed her lips together, remaining above the fray and staying out of the line of fire. After sharply rebuking both of them, the normally easy-going Milly extracted Gerty's promise that she would not remove Fred's ring under such circumstances again, and crossly told Beaty that she was far too young to go out with a man in his twenties. "Off to bed, the pair of you. I'm that embarrassed-- a neighbor coming to me with such a tale."
The girls squabbled their way to bed. "Old tattletale," muttered Beaty. "Why couldn't she mind her own business?" "See what you've done?" fumed Gerty. "Don't ever ask me to do a favour for you ever again. And why didn't you say anything? You could've taken some of the heat. But no, you left it all up to me."
"Why should I?" answered Beaty. "You're the oldest. You're supposed to set an example."
Gerty was too upset and tired to come up with a suitable retort, so she simply grabbed her sister's arm and demanded her jumper back.
The next morning, at the mill gate, Ernest was sitting on his motorbike waiting for Gerty to arrive at work. "I got into trouble last night," she told him. "I'm engaged, and my Mam said it was a terrible thing that I did." Ernest's eyes narrowed as he saw the beautiful, three-diamond ring on her finger. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go to Knaresborough on Saturday," he said. "I thought I'd rent a rowboat and we can go on the river. You can wear your engagement ring," he added.
So began a series of outings with Gerty wearing her ring, and Ernest entertaining her with his quick mind and wit. She loved being on the motorbike, and they traveled all over Yorkshire--going to the coast, riding through the moors, stopping off at pubs, and walking in the dales. One day, as they hiked through the heather on the Ilkley Moors, she told Ernest that she didn't like being called Gerty and wished she had another name. "Gertrude," said Ernest thoughtfully. He looked at her closely. "I agree," he said. "Trudy suits you much better. That's what I'll call you from now on." Because she was always so "busy," Gerty didn't have much time available to devote to her fiance, and Milly became increasingly dismayed at her daughter's seeming insensitivity to Fred's feelings.
A couple of weeks later, the sound of an enormous motor outside the house startled the entire street. It roared loudly, and then sputtered and stopped. All four sisters were home and rushed outside to see what was going on. The neighbors were also out in full force; Lily from next door, Mrs. Harbottle from across the street, and even the bow-legged Mrs. Cattel from a few doors farther up. There sat Fred, white-faced and uncomfortably perched, on a top-of-the-line, brand new Harley Davidson. He was dressed in a shiny leather jacket and shiny leather riding boots. His leather helmet was replete with fancy buckles and huge goggles that seemed to match the sparkling chrome headlight on the front of the machine. "Thought you might want to take a spin," he said in a macho voice that trembled in spite of itself. Gerty's heart sank as dread rose up in her bosom. She glanced at her two younger sisters, Laura and Kathleen, who were giggling uncontrollably, and then at Beaty, whose mouth was open in amazement. "Go inside," she ordered them, and to her surprise they obeyed. She also stared down the neighbors, who lowered their eyes and also went back inside their homes.
Meanwhile, Fred was having difficulty starting the bike and keeping it upright at the same time. His white face became red as he struggled to maintain balance. To Gerty's relief he took back his invitation for a ride, and decided he ought to drive around on it for a few days until he could vouch for her safety.
The next day, Ernest came by the house, smoothly dismounted from his motorcycle and parked it outside the door. He was greeted quite coldly by Milly, but Gerty grabbed her coat, and ignoring her mother's attempt to communicate via a pursed mouth and swishes of her head, off they went for a walk down the street. "I heard about Fred and his Harley," began Ernest. "Oh, that," said Gerty faintly. "I know it's a much fancier bike than my BSA," he continued, "but you like to go with me on it, don't you? "Yes, I love it," she answered brightly, finally looking at him. He fished around in his pocket and brought out a small box. "And I love you, Trudy," he declared, "and I wish you'd take off that ring and wear this instead." He opened the box and nestled in it was a three-diamond engagement ring, beautifully designed, but much, much smaller than the one she was wearing. (to be continued)
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