Time of the Hunter's Moon

A Visitor in the Country

AUNT PATTY was waiting for us at the station in a hat made almost entirely of violets. We were all laughing as we embraced.

"My goodness," said Aunt Patty, "this is a bit of a change from last time. Do you remember, Cordelia? No Teresa."

"I'm glad I'm here now," said Teresa.

"Not more glad than we are to have you. Violet's in quite a state wondering whether those cousins of yours were going to foil us right at the last minute. She'll be in a fever of excitement till we get back and couldn't make up her mind whether to come with me to meet you or stay at home and watch the lardy cakes. She says they're a special favourite of yours, Teresa, and she wanted to have them ready for you."

"Let's get home quickly," said Teresa.

We got into the dog cart and Aunt Patty took the reins.

"What's the term been like?" she asked as we rode along.

"Full of incident," I said quickly. "Too much to tell you now."

"Well, we'll wait until we're sitting pretty," said Aunt Patty. "By the way, a gentleman came calling. He wanted to see you."

"Who was it?"

"It was Violet who saw him. She was bowled over by him. Said he was the handsomest and most pleasant gentleman she had ever met."

"But ... what was his name?"

"She didn't get it. Trust Violet. Too busy trying to lure him in and give him some of that almond cake of hers which she is always showing off with. She said he wouldn't stop though. He's staying at the King's Arms."

"How strange. I can't think who it could be."

I had thought at first that Jason had decided not to go to Switzerland and had come here instead. But then he would know exactly when I should be arriving and would not have called yesterday. Moreover, Violet had already met him.

"Violet will tell you more. Nearly home now. Come on, Buttercup. He always gets excited when we turn in at the lane. You couldn't get him to go past the house if you tried."

There was the house, set back from the road with its green lawns and the hedge of macrocarpas which Violet had planted. At first when they arrived they had been little feathery sticks, I remembered, and they were already growing fast. There was the lavender and the buddleia covered in white butterflies-and that air of perfect peace.

Violet had appeared hastily wiping her hands. She embraced Teresa and me.

"There you are. Welcome home. Cordelia, you look a bit pale. And you, Teresa, how are you? I was afraid those cousins of yours were going to put in their spoke again. Well, here you are and here you're going to stay. The lardy cakes are all ready and as soon as I heard the trap turn into the lane I put the kettle on."

I said: "It's good to be home." And we went into the house.

Violet was saying: "What do you think about tea outside? Bit sultry. The wasps are a pest this year. Let's have it indoors. We can have all the windows wide open so that we can see the garden. Best of both worlds, eh? You can go to your rooms after. Tea first."

"And Violet's word is law, as we all know," said Aunt Patty, comfortably seating herself. "Well, what's been happening?" she went on.

"The great news is that Fiona Verringer eloped after the pageant."

"Eloped! Is that the girl from the big house?" "Yes, one of the two sisters."

"Someone called here once," recollected Violet. "Wasn't he from there?"

"Yes, he's the uncle. There was a terrible upheaval, wasn't there, Teresa?"

"Oh yes. Miss Hetherington was furious."

"I should think so," said Aunt Patty. "Girls eloping!"

"It was very romantic," put in Teresa wistfully.

"I think they are somewhere in Switzerland."

"I wonder if they are anywhere near Schaffenbrucken?" said Violet. "Here, have another of these lardy cakes, Teresa. They're done specially for you."

"Oh Violet, I shouldn't. What's for supper?"

"Ask no questions and you'll hear no lies. You know very well I don't talk about my dishes till I serve them. Wait and see ... and it's a long time off and I'd have another lardy if I were you."

Teresa helped herself and I was amazed to see the moodiness which I had noticed last term drop from her. I was wondering whether I should tell Aunt Patty about the anonymous letter. I'd wait and see. I did not want to disturb the peace of the place. While I was here I could forget.

"By the way, Violet," I said. "Aunt Patty says somebody called."

"Oh yes. Yesterday. Such a nice gentleman. Wellspoken, nice-mannered, tall and good-looking."

"And you don't remember the name of this shining knight?"

"He did say. But bless me, if I can remember. He said he particularly wanted to see you ... Something about the past."

"What do you mean ... the past?"

"Well, apparently, he knew you then."

"And you don't remember his name. Oh, Violet ..."

"Well, he did say it when he came and you know what a one I am for names. You'll know tomorrow. He said he's coming then. I know he will. He looks like a man of his word, and he was so anxious to see you."

"Tall you say?"

"Tall and fair."

I was transported back to the forest. I thought: This is the time for strange things to happen. He has come back. He will explain.

A great excitement took possession of me. I thought how wonderful it would be to see him again.

I said: "Was his name Edward Compton?"

Violet considered. "It could have been. I wouldn't say it wasn't ... and then I wouldn't say it was."

"Oh Violet," I said in exasperation.

"Well, what's all the fuss? You'll know tomorrow. Patience is a virtue ... and I'm not talking about you, Patty."

Aunt Patty smiled, not betraying that she had heard that so-called joke a hundred times before from Violet. Tomorrow, I thought. It is not long to wait.

The familiar peace of Moldenbury descended on me. I unpacked my things and went for a walk with Teresa. After supper we sat in the garden and talked desultorily of village affairs. The usual "Bring and Buy" and the church fête were looming. There was a controversy as to whether the proceeds should go to the tower or the bells. Aunt Patty was on the side of the tower. "We don't want that toppling down on us," she said. But Violet was for the bells. "I do like to hear them. Specially on a Sunday morning," she said.

"Bells wouldn't be much use if the tower collapsed," pointed out Aunt Patty.

"Not much use having a tower if there's no bells to bring people to church."

And so it went on.

When I retired for the night Aunt Patty came to my room. -

"Is everything all right?" she said. "I thought you seemed a bit ... remote. Not worried about that girl eloping are you? They're not blaming you for letting her get away, I hope."

"Oh no. Daisy is most fair. It wasn't the fault of anyone at the school. It was the girls more likely. They had been meeting this man, some of them. If it had been Eugenie Verringer I wouldn't have been so surprised, but that Fiona should have been so bold ... well, it was unlike her."

"In love, I suppose. They say that changes people. Cordelia, do you want to tell me what's on your mind?"

I hesitated. Then I burst out: "I had an anonymous letter. It was horrible. Accusing me of being involved in ... murder."

"Good gracious me!"

"It concerned a woman who disappeared suddenly. She had been Jason Verringer's mistress at some Lime and he ..."

"He seemed rather interested in you when he came here. I remember that."

"Yes," I said.

"And how do you feel about him?"

"I try to avoid him all I can, but he is not the sort of man to respect anyone's wishes if they conflict with what he wants. He is arrogant and ruthless. He is very powerful. He seems to own everything in Colby ... including the school. Even Daisy Hetherington is a little subservient."

Aunt Patty nodded her head slowly. "I daresay there is a lot you haven't told me."

There was. I could not bring myself to speak of that scene when I had cut my hands at the window.

She went on gently: "You could always leave. Come back here. You could do something else later if you wanted to. Daisy's is not the only school in the country, you know."

"Leave the school? Leave Colby? I should hate that. Besides, I should have to give a term's notice, so in any case I should have to go back to all that gossip and rumour. Even Teresa is upset."

"Where is she involved?"

"There must be a lot of chatter about Jason Verringer and me. She thinks he is involved with that woman's disappearance, and I believe she is afraid for me. I fancy she wants to warn me against him. As if I needed to be warned!"

Aunt Patty was looking at me quizzically.

I went on: "The girls talk a great deal. They overdramatize. She has a notion that he killed this woman. To girls of Teresa's age there are only the good and the bad ... the saints and the devils."

"And she has put him into the devil's category."

"She certainly has."

"You too?"

I was faintly embarrassed, remembering so much about him and that peculiar kind of pleasure which his proximity brought to me.

"I remember him well from the time he came here," went on Aunt Patty. "He did not strike me as a very happy person."

"I don't think he has ever been really happy. His marriage was a failure and I imagine he has gone out in all the wrong directions."

"Tis strange," said Aunt Patty, "how so many who have worldly possessions lack real happiness. I suppose he is richly endowed."

"Very much so."

"I've always thought that the really successful people in life are those who know how to be happy. If you are not happy you're not a success. You may have all the kingdoms of the Earth and if you haven't found happiness you've failed. After ail, that is what we are all striving for, isn't it?"

"You're right. You and Violet must be the most successful people in the world."

"It makes you laugh, doesn't it? Here we are tucked away in our Little house ... of no importance to the world ... except to those who are near us... yet we have reached the goal to which everyone is striving. Yes, we're happy. Dear child, I want that same happiness for you. Perhaps it was easier for me. I've always been single. I've made my own life. It's been a good one."

"You have made it so."

"We all make our lives what they are. Sometimes there is a partner to help you make it. Then it's not always easy to go the way one wants to. That's where the difficulties lie. That poor man! Interesting... but I sensed something dark there. He's not a happy person. You are, Cordelia. You came to us ... and everything was right ... from the start. We gave you love and you took it and gave us love in return. It was easy ... no complications. I'm not being clear, but I want you to be very careful if the time should come when you decide to choose someone to share your life."

"I am not thinking of sharing my life with anyone, Aunt Patty, except you and Violet."

"You think a great deal about that man."

"Aunt Patty, I dislike him. I find him most ..." She held up her hand. "You are so vehement."

"So would you be if -"

She waited and I did not go on.

Then suddenly she bent forward and kissed me. "My dear," she said, "you have chosen your profession and it suits you. You were meant to guide, counsel and protect. He is, as you imply, a man of the world and sometimes they are the ones who need most care. Well, we shall see. Now you are here and you are going to be lazy and rest, and we shall talk and talk. But it is time you were in bed. Good night, my dear."

I threw myself into her arms and she kissed me. Then she released me and went to the door. Neither of us cared to show the depth of our emotion; but our love and trust in each other was known to us both and there was no need to talk of it.

I lay between the cool lavender-scented sheets and thought of Violet assiduously collecting the blooms and making them into sachets to scent the household linen as well as Aunt Patty's clothes. Peace ... and yet how could I enjoy it?

Then I was thinking about the next day when the mysterious gentleman would call. I was convincing myself that it was the stranger of the forest who had at last come in search of me. I could remember his face clearly. Yes, he was undoubtedly handsome. His fair hair grew back from a high forehead and he had strong features and rather piercingly blue eyes; and there was something about him which made him different from other men, something not quite of this world. Or had I imagined that after I had had that eerie experience in the Suffolk graveyard?

How strange it would be if I really did see him again. I wondered what the explanation could be and how I should feel when I came face to face with him.

We had breakfasted and Teresa was helping Violet with the washing up. Aunt Patty was going to the Vicarage to discuss the "Bring and Buy" and was wondering if I would like to go with her.

"You'll be roped in for a stall," she said. "For Heaven's sake don't take the white elephant if you can help it. They turn up year after year. Everybody's got to know them by now."

"Elephants never forget," called Violet from the kitchen. "And people never forget white elephants."

"Violet's in a spry mood this morning," commented Aunt Patty. "It's because she's going to get Teresa to help her in the potting shed.

"I'll go and get my coat and come with you," I said.

When I came down, a man was coming up the path. He was tall and fair and I had never seen him before.

Violet had glimpsed him through the kitchen window.

"He's here," she cried. "The gentleman who called."

I went into the front garden.

He said: "You must be Cordelia ... Miss Grant."

"Yes," I replied. "I'm afraid I don't know-"

" You wouldn't know me but I felt I had to come and see you. I'm John Markham, Lydia's brother. You remember Lydia?"

"Lydia Markham! But of course. Oh, how nice to meet you."

"I hope you don't mind my coming like this."

"I'm pleased you called." Aunt Patty had come up. "Aunt Patty," I said, "this is Mr. Markham. You've heard me talk of Lydia who was with me at Schaffenbrucken. This is her brother."

"It's nice to see you," said Aunt Patty. "Did you call the other day?"

"Yes, I did, and I was told I would fend Miss Grant here today."

"Do come in."

"Weren't you just going out?"

"It doesn't matter."

I took him into the small drawing room. Violet came in.

"You came back then," she said. "Now do sit down. I'm going to get you something. Would you like coffee or tea?"

"First," he said. "I would like to talk to Miss Grant."

"I'll bring you something later," said Violet. "The parsnip wine was particularly good this year."

"Thank you."

"I shah get off to the vicarage," said Aunt Patty. "You two can have a talk and we'll all meet later."

So they withdrew and left us.

He said: "I hope I haven't come at an inconvenient time."

"Certainly not. I'm so glad to meet you. I have wondered about Lydia quite a lot because I wrote to her and I never had a reply. How is she? I wish you had brought her with you."

"Lydia is dead," he said.

"Dead! But ..."

"Yes. It was a great blow to us. We miss her very much."

"But she was young ... She was never ill. How did she die?"

"It was an accident ... in the mountains ... in Switzerland. She was skiing."

"Lydia skiing! She always avoided outdoor sports when we were at school. She even used to dodge gym if she could."

"She was with her husband."

"Her husband! So Lydia married!"

"It's quite a long story. I wanted to see you because she had often talked of you. I think of all her school friends, you were the favourite. Then you wrote to her. I found your letter and I felt that I had either to write and tell you what happened or come and see you. So I came."

"I'm sorry ... I can't think clearly. This is such a shock. Lydia ... dead!"

"It was very tragic. Her husband was heartbroken. They had not been married more than three months."

"I can't believe this. I thought she was to have another year at Schaffenbrucken.

"Yes, I know. She was only seventeen. But she met this man and fell in love with him. We wanted them to wait but Lydia wouldn't do that. She could be very headstrong. Our father was most uncertain but he doted on Lydia. My brother and I were several years older. He was devoted to us all but he just adored Lydia. He died soon after she did. He had a weak heart and the shock just finished him."

"I can't tell you how upsetting this is."

"It is good of you to care so much. I wanted you to know. I thought you might write to Lydia again."

"Where did she meet this young man?"

"Mark Chessingham was staying near our farm in Epping. We're not farmers. The farm is run by a manager but it is a hobby for us. We live mainly in London and escape to the farm for weekends and when we can get away. He was there studying law. His family had their business in Basle and quarters in London, but he had come down to the forest to work. He had examinations to pass. Our farm is right on the edge of Epping Forest which is very convenient being so near to London. Actually that was why my father selected the spot in the first place."

He paused for a short while and then went on: "She met him one day. They fell in love and wanted to marry. My father would have preferred a long engagement but Lydia wouldn't hear of it and threatened to elope if consent was not given. In the end my father gave way ... with misgivings, of course ... But Mark was charming and it seemed quite a suitable match. As it was so quick there was a quiet wedding."

"She didn't write and tell me."

"Strange really, because she often mentioned you, and was so proud of him and of being married. He was a very pleasant fellow. Lydia had a little fortune which came to her on marriage. At first I thought that might have had something to do with it, but he seemed to be so well-off himself and his family's business was known, even in England, and he never showed the slightest interest in her money. They left England almost immediately after the wedding and three months later ... she was dead. We had such happy letters from her and even my father had come to the conclusion that after all he had been right to allow her to marry. Then one day we got the news. Mark was heart-broken. He wrote a most pathetic letter to us. She was too reckless, he said. Many times he had warned her. But she took risks. She was so enthusiastic, so anxious to shine in his eyes and tried to undertake what the experts did. That was the end. They didn't recover her body until a week after the accident."

I was silent and he said gently: "I am sorry to distress you like this. Perhaps it would have been better if I hadn't come."

"No, no. I'd rather know. But it is such a shock. When you have known someone as well as I knew Lydia ... even though it is some time since I saw her..."

"I'm glad you were so fond of her."

"Tell me," I said, "are you on holiday?"

"No. I am working in London but I thought I would take a few days off and come to see you. I just had the feeling that I wanted to. I have to confess that I read your last letter to Lydia and I felt then that I had to let you know. I didn't want you to think she hadn't bothered to answer."

"Lydia used to talk about her family quite a lot. She was so fond of you ail. I suppose you are the head of the family now."

"You could say that. There has never been a patriarchal attitude in our family. We were all such good friends."

"You're in banking, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"In the City of London?"

He nodded. "We have a house in Kensington, and then of course the farm. My mother died but we were always lucky in having good governesses for Lydia. There was always a lot of fun at home. Our father was more like a brother to us. Perhaps he wasn't strict enough ... with Lydia for instance. If she had waited ... If she had not been so reckless ..."

"She was such a happy girl. The way she talked about home ... you could tell what it meant to her."

"Then she went away with a man she scarcely knew."

"That," I said, "is love."

"I suppose you are right. If only ... This is a morbid subject. Please tell me about yourself. Lydia used to say you were going into partnership with your aunt in some wonderful Elizabethan manor."

"I think I must have exaggerated about the glories of that Elizabethan manor. Perhaps I tend to exaggerate when I'm proud of something."

"It may be that we all do."

"I seemed to give the girls an impression that we were fabulously rich and that we had this priceless manor with a very successful school as a kind of hobby. When I got home for the holidays I found that my aunt was in financial difficulties, was selling the house and that I was to have a post in another school."

"Which you did."

"Yes, in Devon-a rather marvellous old place in the midst of a ruined Abbey. The school is the old Lay Brothers' quarters."

"It sounds fascinating."

"Yes, it is."

"And you enjoy it immensely."

"It is exciting. I have the utmost admiration for my headmistress and the way the school is run and for holidays I escape to this place."

"It's a lovely house. I don't know why ..." He stopped short. "I'm sorry that sounded ..."

I laughed. "That sounded like the truth. An ordinary Little house ... not much more than a cottage, but there is something about it, isn't there? You haven't been here half an hour and you feel it. It's my aunt. She does that to places."

"I hope I have an opportunity of seeing her again." "When do you have to go back?"

"I thought of leaving tomorrow."

"Well, I feel sure you'll be invited to stay to lunch if you play your cards right. At any moment Violet ... my aunts devoted friend and companion ... will appear with a tray on which will be glasses and a bottle of her parsnip wine. If you drink it with relish and if you will go so far as to tell her that you have never tasted better parsnip wine, you will surely be asked to stay to luncheon."

"Does it depend on that?"

"Of course not. My aunt will ask you, and I have already decided to do so. That is good enough. But it would please Violet. Don't be too effusive for she is shrewd. Just savour, put your head on one side and say Ah. She is such a dear, though people don't always realize it. We like to tease her and please her."

"Thank you for the warning."

"And here is Violet," I said; "and yes, she is bringing her parsnip wine."

"It was a good year," said Violet, "and no one can make good wine without a good crop. You'd know that, Mr... ."

"Mr. Markham," I said.

"Oh yes, I remember now. Mr. Markham, now try that. Teresa, bring in those wine biscuits."

"You are spoiling me," said John Markham. He took the glass reverently and raising it to his lips sniffed the aroma as though he were testing wine in the cellars of some château vineyard. He sipped, there was a deep silence.

Then he raised his eyes to the ceiling and said: "I knew before I tasted it. The bouquet is superb, and this must indeed be a vintage year."

Violet flushed pink. "Well, I can see you are one to know what you are talking about."

"I was suggesting to Mr. Markham that he might care to stay to lunch," I said. "He's at the King's Arms."

Violet grimaced. "I heard the food's not up to much there. Well, if I'd have known... but there's only shepherd's pie and apple tart."

"I can think of nothing I should like better than shepherd's pie and apple tart."

"Well," said Violet, still pleased. "It'll be a pleasure. I'll see about laying another place." Teresa had come in and was introduced.

By the time Aunt Patty returned John Markham had succeeded in making a remarkably good impression on both Violet and Teresa. For me he was Lydia's brother and hardly seemed like a stranger.

He stayed to lunch and went back to his hotel afterwards but not before he had received an invitation to dine with us.

I knew that he had been deeply saddened by Lydia's death, but he was not the sort to burden others with his grief. He was amusing and interesting. He talked about banking, his life in London and on the Epping farm. He said that his brother Charles was in London. It was always pleasant to get down to the farm when they had a chance.

"It is amazing," he said, "what pleasure there is in haymaking and bringing in the harvest ... particularly after you have spent your days in an office juggling with figures and doing all that makes up a banker's life. Not that I'm averse to banking. I find it fascinating. It's just the change ... the joy of rolling up one's sleeves and getting into my old farm clothes and throwing off the polish of the city for a bit of rural activity."

Violet, who had been brought up on a farm, listened avidly. I had never seen her take to a newcomer so quickly. He had so many stories to tell of the farm and how in the old days he had not had the faintest notion of how to go on. He made it all sound very amusing.

Teresa listened to his anecdotes with great interest. "I should like to live on a farm," she said. After dinner we sat in the garden.

"The cool of the evening is the best time of the day," said Violet.

We all walked down to the gate to say goodbye to him, all very sorry that his visit was at an end. But the next morning he called again.

Violet was in the garden peeling potatoes which she often did out of doors on fine days, and Teresa was beside her shelling peas. Aunt Patty was dressed for going out and I was going with her to the village to shop. And there he was. From my window I saw him coming up the path.

I called out: "Hello. I thought you'd gone." "Couldn't tear myself away," he said.

"Go into the garden," I replied. "I'll be down shortly."

Violet said: "My patience me!" And was pink with pleasure, and so was Teresa.

"As a matter of fact," he said, "I thought I'd stay another day."

"We're all rather pleased about that," I told him. Aunt Patty came into the garden wearing her sunflower hat. "This is a nice surprise."

"It's a nice welcome," he replied.

"He's staying another day," said Violet. "Teresa, pop in and get me three more potatoes. I think there'll be enough peas."

"Thank you," he said. "I was rather hoping you'd ask me to stay."

"When I think of what that King's Arms serves up in their dining room it wouldn't be right not to get you out of that," commented Violet.

"I was hoping," he said, "that I might be asked for another reason."

"What was that?" asked Teresa.

"That you found my company entertaining enough to want to put up with me for another day." "Oh, we do," cried Teresa.

"And there's roast pork for dinner," said Violet. "Is that a statement or an invitation?"

"Knowing Violet," put in Aunt Patty, "it's both."

"It seems as though I have arrived just as you are going out," he said, looking at Aunt Patty and me in our outdoor clothes.

"Just down to the village shop. We were going in the dog cart. Would you like to come? Cordelia can show you the church while I'm in the shops and we can all come back together. The church is well worth looking at, though the tower is in danger of falling down at any moment."

"And the bells are cracked," put in Violet. "You should hear them, Mr. Markham, or rather you shouldn't. It's a shame."

"I think we should be going before we get into the tower versus the bells controversy," said Aunt Patty. "Come on."

It was a pleasant morning. John Markham and I went to the church and I showed him the stained glass which was renowned in the neighbourhood and the brass effigies of our most illustrious inhabitants and the names of the vicars dating from the twelfth century. We went through the graveyard stepping over ancient tombstones, the inscriptions on which were almost obliterated by time and weather; and by the time Aunt Patty joined us, I felt I knew John Markham very well.

Over dinner that night, he said: "I shall have to go to London tomorrow and I shall be going to the farm the week after next. I shall be there for a whole week. I wish you would come and see it."

"What!" cried Teresa. "All of us?"

"There's plenty of room and we like visitors. The old farmhouse doesn't get used enough really. Simon Briggs, our manager, has his own place. He never uses the farmhouse at all ... it's purely for the family and we're always saying it ought to be used more. So, what about it?"

Aunt Patty looked at Violet and Violet looked down at her plate. Normally I should have expected her to raise all sorts of objections. But she did not.

Aunt Patty, who liked unexpected things to happen, was smiling at me.

Teresa said: "Oh, do let's ..."

"Are you sure?" I said. "There are four of us."

"That's nothing for Forest Hill. The old place can take twenty without cramping. What do you say?"

I said: "It sounds ... inviting ..."

Everybody laughed and then we were making excited plans to go to the Markhams' place on the borders of the forest.

The week we spent at Forest Hill was one which would remain in our memories for a long time to come.

I thought often of Jason Verringer and wondered how he was faring on the Continent in his search for Fiona. But I did wonder what he would do if he found her. If she were married he would not very Well bring her home. It did occur to me that when he returned he might come to Moldenbury and I did not want him to arrive when we were at Epping, so I wrote a brief note, saying that I hoped he had found satisfactory information about Fiona and that I should not be at Moldenbury as we were visiting friends.

There was a great deal of bustle getting ready for the visit. Violet insisted on doing a minor spring clean, "Just in case anything should happen. I wouldn't want people coming in and finding the place all at sixes and sevens."

"What do you mean ... anything?" I asked.

Violet pressed her lips together and wouldn't say, but being Violet she had thought of accidents on the railway in which we were all killed or some such dire event. In any case the house must be as it would for a special visit.

We let her get on with it. Teresa and I packed our bags discussing interminably what to take for a week on a farm. Aunt Patty had three hat boxes each containing two hats. We did not comment on that, knowing that Aunt Patty and her hats were inseparable.

John Markham met us in London and ail went down together, and from the moment we arrived we loved the place.

Because of the hot summer, harvest started early and we played our part in it. Anxiously we watched the sky for signs of rain; Teresa and I took out bottles of cold tea and bread and cheese to the workers. We sat down with them in the shade and listened to their talk.

Teresa and I went off for rides through the forest. Sometimes we walked. The forest was beautiful but the trees were already beginning to show the tints of autumn and the beeches, elms, birches and sycamores were tinged with yellow; and the oaks were turning reddish brown. I remember the smell of the honeysuckle which grew profusely round the door of the farmhouse. Even now it brings back to me a memory of peace.

At night I would lie in my room and savour the pleasures of being physically tired and intoxicated with sunshine and fresh air. I slept better than I had since I had received the anonymous letter and I was amazed to realize that ail through the day I had not thought of it and the rumours and scandals; so tired was I, so full of the impressions of the day that I could not feel the same apprehension and horror that I had known previously. I felt that I was being healed.

We ate the midday meal at the big wooden kitchen table with the windows wide open to the smell of new mown corn, and we listened and joined in the talk of the harvest.

"It's a pity you won't be here for the harvest home," said John. He seemed so different from the immaculate gentleman who had called on us at Moldenbury. I felt-and I knew the others did too-that I had known him for a very long time.

"Perhaps we could be," said Teresa hopefully.

"Teresa," I said, "we have to go back to school soon."

"Don't talk of it," replied Teresa gloomily.

John told us about the harvest home and the festival. "It's the best time of year. The children make the corn dollies when it is ail gathered in."

" `Ere the winter storms begin,'" quoted Violet.

"And we hang them on the walls. They are talismans in the hope of getting a good harvest next year."

"We used to do that in my home," said Violet. "It's a universal custom," added John. "And I think it goes back to the Middle Ages."

"I like to see the old ways kept up," said Violet.

I think she was the one who amazed us most. She was really enjoying being at Forest Hill. She had taken over the kitchen. The manager's wife, who usually looked after the household when the family was there, was only too pleased to pass over the responsibilities, and Violet was in her element. She grew quite sentimental talking about her childhood.

In spite of the happy time we had I could not get Lydia out of my mind and when John told me: "You have Lydia's bedroom!" I seemed to sense her there and I dreamed of her once or twice.

I thought I heard her voice in my dreams. "You mustn't worry about me, Cordelia. I'm dead."

I woke up with the words echoing in my ear. The light curtains were blowing outward, for the wind had arisen and the window was wide open. Startled from my sleep, I thought it was a ghost standing there.

"Lydia!" I cried and sat up in bed.

Then I saw what it was and, getting out of bed, half shut the window. It seemed quite chilly.

I went back to bed but not to sleep. I kept going over days long ago, remembering Lydia.

But in the morning I forgot her and was out in the fields laughing with the rest of them.

John came with us to London. He was going to Kensington which he did after putting us on the train to Moldenbury.

"It was a wonderful week," said Teresa. "Oh, I do like John."

The holiday was coming to an end. The next day Teresa and I would leave for Colby.

On that last night, after everyone else had retired Aunt Patty came to my room for one of her chats.

"It was a very happy holiday after all," she said. "I like the Markhams."

"Yes, what a happy family. I think they are all feeling the loss of Lydia."

Aunt Patty was silent for a few seconds. Then she said: "I think John Markham is half way to falling in love with you, Cordelia."

"Oh, Aunt Patty, I've known him such a short time. You're very romantic."

"I know you think I'm an ignoramus in these matters because I am an old spinster living in the country. But I do send to Mudies for my three-volume novels and the goings on in them is something of an eye-opener, even to a silly old spinster like me."

I put my arms round her and kissed her. "I don't allow disparaging remarks about you, even when you make them yourself."

"It was such a lovely house." She looked a little wistful. "I often think of your being married and having babies. Do you know, I should love some babies."

"Oh, dear Aunt Patty. I'm sorry I can't oblige."

"You will one day, I don't doubt. I just thought what a lovely household that was... how friendly and easy to get on with. I think John Markham is such a good man. You could put your trust in him. You'd know that he would always be there when needed ... to do what was best."

"I'm sure he's all that."

"I daresay we shall be seeing more of him."

I laughed. "You're weaving dreams of romance, Aunt Patty."

"Do you think they are only dreams? I know the signs. You smile. That is because you are considering my lack of experience in such matters. I am not wholly ignorant. I might have married once... only it went wrong."

"You never told me."

"It was not worth telling. He met someone else."

"What a fool he must have been."

"He was very happy, I believe. Life is a matter of taking the right road at the right time. Time is the important thing ... opportunity too ... and they must come together. The important thing is to recognize the opportunity while there is time. Cordelia, when the time comes, you must make the right choice. Good night, my dearest child."

She held me tightly against her.

"I was always comforted when you held me like that," I said. "You did, the first time we met. I remember the hat and the smell of lavender ... and it was just the same then."

"It will always be, Cordelia," she said.

Then she kissed me and went out.