Ending3


 * __SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ENDING[[image:Denniston-Rose.jpg align="right"]]__**

At the ending of the novel Rose is forced to leave Denniston with her mother. It is not known where she has gone or what happened to her. She becomes almost a phantom about whom stories and songs are told. A song is even sung about her called "The Denniston Rose". However in the last chapter of the novel Rose suddenly reappears on Denniston outside Bella Rasmussen's house. Rose is heard raiding Conrad IV's tomb, she retrieves her 'treasure box' and asks Bella if she can stay. She also tells her that she can pay for her board "In a voice older, much older than any child's should be".

This event is unexpected as the passage up to Denniston is hazardous and not easliy travelled, especially by a child. The only way up to Denniston is either to ride the incline or scale the crude foot track cut into the side of the hill.

The fact that Rose arrives unaided and without her mother shows how she has rejected the help of adults. She relied only on children to help her on her journey. The fact that she also takes responsibility for paying her board shows that she is no longer an innocent, carefree child.

__**WHY IS THE ENDING IMPORTANT?**__

This ending is important as it clearly highlights the effects of losing childhood innocence. Rose has clearly grown up too fast as a result of her experiences. She has no trust or respect left for adults as every adult in her life has let her down in some way. She has also become incredibly independent and resourceful - too much so for a child of her age. The last line of the poem that describes her voice as "older than any child's should be" reinforces that Rose has experienced aspects of life that have aged her and are things which she was not ready or equipt to deal with. She is a dramatically altered child because of the issues she has had to deal with.


 * **//"Rose said she lost her mother"//**
 * **//"Rose trusted people her own age"//**
 * **//"She was wary of people...no one could get near her"//**
 * **//"I can pay for my board she says in her tight clear voice, older, much oder than any child's should be"//**