“What happened?” he coaxed.
“Well, I kept riding past, night after night, and then finally plucked up the courage to go and knock on the door. Her father wasn't surprised to see me, nice chap too, it seemed he'd known about me all along.”
“Did he stop you from seeing Maude?” asked Geoff cautiously, knowing how old-fashioned and protective some fathers could be about their daughters, himself included.
“Oh no, he was fine about that. Very sad it was, Maude had contracted TB and become ill very quickly you see. She was hospitalised but didn't see the month out. She passed away on October 2nd, which just happens to be my birthday too.”
Geoff cast his eyes downwards, not quite knowing what to say. Luckily Bert continued.
“Anyway, over the months I ended up getting friendly with her father,
