At nine o’clock t morning Miss inter sent for me and I  to he library.

    By daylige different. itters folded back, t  t flood in from till  from t’s doic plants by ts seemed to touce frame retco brancself, slig before, appeared as a mirage of books in t er garden.

    In contrast to te sun, Miss inter ic er garden. Soday, but ra-style erday. In t I sa before: along traiging in Miss inter’s copper curls was a narrow margin of pure we.

    ‘You remember our agreement,“ s do order. No cing. No looking aions.“

    I ired. A strange bed in a strange place, and I onic tune ringing in my art where you like,” I said.

    ‘I sart at t is. Our lives are so important to us t end to tory of t t t is not so.  pieces of string t can be separated out from a knot of ot straigo touc of it  setting t vibrating. Impossible to understand one part  he whole.

    ‘My story is not only mine; it is tory of Angelfield. Angelfield tself. George and Matunes, t. One stention to gs, s one, Miss Lea?“

    Sended not to see it.

    ‘A birt really a beginning. Our lives at tart are not really your o only tinuation of someone else’s story. take me, for instance. to look at me no  you? Accompanied by strange portents, and attended by c no. Not a bit of it. In act, w.

    ‘But ory t precedes my birt are tion come from? ell, icular. Not t I earned it all directly from imes, it is true, s t  my presence as ss and conversations and scenes rose to  afrescable. But sooner or later tory able for a cable in particular for me—t mid-sentence and start rubbing tlery vigorously, as if to erase t altoget ts in a ory togetalked ea, I learned to interpret t punctuated seemingly innocent conversations. it appearing to notice anyt glances t certain  talk privately… t in fact alone. In tood tory of my origins. And later, ory I  years divining. It is tory—t came to me in s, glances and silences—I am going to translate into words for you now.“

    Miss inter cleared , preparing to start.

    ‘Isabelle Angelfield was odd.“

    o slip aious.

    ‘Isabelle Angelfield orm.“

    It came again, t loss of voice.

    So used  it ropart, t, like a gifted musician  playing, takes up rument again, she finally found her way.

    Sold me tory of Isabelle and Charlie.

    Isabelle Angelfield was odd.

    Isabelle Angelfield orm.

    It is impossible to knos are connected.

    But  ime, people in t erday t tor e, delayed by t its banks. Ot t t strangling   birt, for on troke of six, just as tor rang t t of to t? So if tor  deprived t died…

    And if, and if, and if. Sucless. Isabelle  is all to say about tter.

    t, a  to all intents and purposes, it looked like soo. For o a decline. -blank to come out. t seem excessive; ten years of marriage is usually enougo cure marital affection, but Angelfield  was. he had loved his wife—

    empered, lazy, selfisty Mat never entered George’s o wonder w was,  of C all.

    Bereaved, driven  all day in ting not s too, on t sleeping but staring red-eyed at t on for montie stopped speaking. Specialists  again. t of affection, and iced.

    In t fed up  all. Sook airs. Srode past tler, ignoring estations, and  into t knocking. Up to t a urned , slamming the door behind her.

    tler made to go in, to retrieve t, but t you dare!” artled t s gatside t one anot knoo do. But tion hing.

    It ernoon, and at t one of to t! ter’s come out!”

    At airs to  had happened.

    ts ood about in tening at t first ter just sat t ts exconis, but toniser to  and ts reported, did not once take er’s face. t to crying. ensity and pitcil finally the door was flung open.

    tood my grandfath his baby in his arms.

    Seeing s standing idly about,  t: “Is a baby left to starve in this house?”

    From t day on George Angelfield took personal cer. , moved  into , fas ake o ters, ts pages and romantic novels), and ss and plans , as t companion and not a  child.

    Per -topped boy,  and a slo Isabelle ined s. to a ricretcter cter mouting eyes and long las  o reveal tonis  least, perfection itself.

    ted to tate of affairs. t to be irely normal for a fato dote on er. It  to be considered unmanly, ungentlemanly or ridiculous t  antly by him.

    But  Cted boy  o learn neroduced to ts to  instances of bad bes o foresee. ent disciplinarian; sometimes  otimes merely laugern, racted, and ts ended ly forgotten. Catc of t t be some misdemeanor to correct, and  if it  actually o  time. taugayed out of ther.

    itoo busy tle Isabelle to concern erical reports from  mice roasted  or pins pressed by malicious o to do as  pleased  top of ttic stairs and cumble doheir ankles.

    t to ’s content, in tain kno  a. Consistent adult beo be good for cent neglect certainly suited the day is long.

    George Angelfield’s adoration of er persisted trials a c on a parent. arted to talk, o be preternaturally gifted, a veritable Oracle, and o consult il to be run according to three-year-old child.

    Visitors ricity into cs began to complain among tler  before t up for a year longer imes t too, ice.  sook tc  to to ensure t odd  under no obligation to occupy t unreasonably t ted ts and bruises, sprained ankles and stomacs to Cic experiments. t and emporary ed long. Finally even temporary h.

    By time Isabelle o George Angelfield, tdoors, taking refuge in turned cold. If George Angelfield noticed tion, tic squalor,  regret it. he had Isabelle; he was happy.

    If anyone missed ts it  for subjects for s. ing around for someone to ,  er to do, on er.

    afford to make  y. o get her away?

    By enticement.  of t garden, bet topiary garden and along to ts.

    Cer im, and er, urn out exactly as ed. Cer’s sleeve up and dre, along te inside of ared at t urned  out  to omatically. Sured tion dre to .   once and trickled. Sisfaction as s it and to ioned to o pull up his sleeve.

    C o ed it, and he pain.

    Instead of a victim Crangest of conspirators.

    ** *Life  on for ties, sans  meetings, sans  of t people of took for granted in turned tate to be managed by tenants, and depended on ty of today transactions  were necessary for survival.

    George Angelfield forgot about time t about  o do h money.

    ty. Otocratic families. Among took great care of  out t advice, invested large sums ed and speculated small sums  t, in t completely. t up—moderately. ion  son and a goggle-eyed, ter. Someto be done.

    George Angelfield never saers,  e back. As a consequence of tead of expending itself cer anots bank vault and gre.

    Money talks. ord got out.

    ‘Doesn’t George Angelfield . ”y-six?“

    And if not t t t be reaco dote on  come empty-handed.

    ‘Nice  see tion.

    tation languisnig migil t of t not been for Isabelle. One afternoon, at a loss for someto do, sairs, puffed out ter up and opened it.

    ‘’s t?“ said Charlie.

    ‘Invitation,“ so a picnic.“

    A picnic? Curned it over. It seemed strange. But  it.

    Isabelle stood up and  to the door. “here are you going?”

    ‘to my room.“

    Co follohe mood.”

    ook a  time. But sed ahe door.

    An er, airs,  to to th me,” he asked her.

    ‘No.“

    ‘to the deer park.“

    “No.”

    iced t s do you look like t for?” upid.”

    S o te material and trimmed ead of ennis s on a pair of green satin sandals a size too big—also ttacick on.  darkened. “here are you going?” he asked.

    ‘to the picnic.“

    ohe library.

    ‘No!“

    he pulled her harder.

    S him, “Charlie, I said no!”

    ,  meant no.  out in t. Semper for days.

    Surned  door.

    Full of anger, Co . But

    s slackened;  of to the picnic.

    t tty picture from a distance, in te ss. t sparkled in t, and t t looked soft enougo go barefoot. In reality, tering beneat to take to ill, to feign jollity, in t tense hing.

    A young man at t sig up near trange outfit accompanied by a lump of a man. t her.

    o respond to o see ention and fell silent in turn. A group of young ernally alert to turned to see , y turned to face truck dumb.

    Across the wide lawn walked Isabelle.

    S parted for ed for Moses, and sraig to tood on a flat rock t jutted out over ter. Someone came tole, but s, it  ake more to cool her down.

    Sook off ree and, arms outstretc o ter.

    to ter streaming from  recalled they gasped again.

    to ter er, after s ime. ty and condemnation. t in  time. But on t  doo ss, and people eful to  ty to life.

    One of t, ie and leapt into t of ime at all, ter, diving, calling, sing and outdoing one anoticism and splash.

    to go. t on t excited faces and splaso ter, uttering cries t tmost to prevent any excessive dampening of their hair.

    ts he men had eyes only for Isabelle.

    C folloo ter. ood, a little fartcs. ung as t from o t  bear to take his eyes off Isabelle.

    er  t  seemed an eternity. Enlivened by Isabelle’s presence t on muced, and yet it seemed to ts to ayed longer if ty broke up s of oto come, a round of promised invitations and damp kisses.

    arranged around  far off a girl loitered, uncertain o t clear ser.

    ‘Come on,“ Co er.

    ‘So soon? I t er, and Sybilla, surprised at ted kindness, beamed back.

    C  imes— by ing  in public  dare, and so he buckled under.

    nesses to ts t took place in t. For  of nesses t least not at first. But one does not o be a genius to deduce from later events ook place under t evening.

    It would his:

    Isabelle  for sending the men away.

    ‘My s tree!“ And s Roland to fetcoo, for a sem.

    ttled tc ground. In ted in t and  t and t. to drive ture from tacickled.

    Isabelle kneime alone  to get it, so be rid of her.

    So talk ree. “So when?”

    ‘I don’t really ted.

    ‘But you sook t it run over  it run over the lips of her companion.

    ‘t tickles,“ Sybilla murmured.

    Isabelle did it again. Sybilla smiled, eyes , and did not stop  leaf doention to ts. Sybilla emitted a semi-nasal giggle.

    o  and beyond, Sybilla opened her yes.

    ‘You’ve stopped,“ she complained.

    ‘I ,“ said Isabelle. ”It’s just t you can’t feel it tter?“

    Sybilla reclosed her eyes.

    From t ts o a distinctly c stir until to top of  sigil Isabelle replaced tender fingers.

    Isabelle’s s once leave t t  of a flicker, she drew her hand away.

    ‘Of course,“ ster-of-fact, ”it’s a beau you need really.“

    Sybilla, roused unure, cickling,” Isabelle o explain. “It’s mucter h a beau.”

    And whe answer all ready: “Charlie.”

    By time turned, sain dis apparent in  and petticoat, regarded Cerest.

    C to tiny,  Isabelle.

    ‘  interc you say?“ S a s o understand. ”Roland and I are going to  fart Sybilla’s tired. You stay ook Roland’s arm.

    C Sybilla, registered t of ared back at ly open.

    urned back to o er and t er. ime and time again shis.

    In time o vent his feelings somehow.

    urned to Sybilla.

    t  for Isabelle t of C, escaped  oo sloo follourn until darkness imes not even t urned  tried to  o maim  as sime after time, slipping ter,  on  rengt s away from ime. Like a boar enraged by a bee, he was powerless.

    Once in a ies. For an  s everyt al erludes he more agonizing.

    C arily ime er prepared ted  to make s. er’s subtlety; t t could lave been a scandal, and a vexed Isabelle told  if t o go about to c sort of ers of minor aristocrats to ters. Personally  tell t to mind less.

    Frequent tances of forgetfulness ing. t urned aouc passion in his life: his feelings for Isabelle.

    One morning tourned ted t in tfully.  doairs to udy.

    o see aken to going out more ified his.

    ‘Darling Pa!“ S him.

    a glint of somet?”

    raveled to a corner of t lifting old him she was leaving.

    At first ood   inside eorite strikes and explosions.  in  a silent, devastated landscape, he opened his eyes.

    had he done?

    In tac one end. Isabelle o tiful green eye rickle of blood crept from ed away from her eye.

    at  urned ahe room.

    Aftering t ing and ting, tigigil it dug deep into il it ted t it could not be un completed its slow journey from o his consciousness, he cried.

    C t day and did not return il midnigy  disaster ruck. Not finding er,  to udy. One look at told , but t t t unite ther.

    In  on t to t tte against a rectangle of moonlig some point ained by extortion from a local poacimes  to emple. Eacime ty soon returned it to his lap.

    At four o’clock in t took up instead t rouser leg, pusure mark in  eady as on his shinbone he scored a single word: Isabelle.

    Isabelle by time o es and t it again, taking tairs to tcrange, e unlike  of ted tco in a stone  ime, but sy to judge people’s movements by sensing vibrations in t Isabelle ated, for t of moments, before she garden door behind her.

    became apparent to George Angelfield t Isabelle o ors. tor to come calling no s s. “tell your God o  a  you!”  of their welcome.

    A feer turned and called to break tion ablis ticemia, caused by t he flesh of his ring finger.

    C die, t understand rail of footprints in t and follo every day, starting at top of ttic bedrooms not used for years, servants’ rooms, family rooms, tudy, tc less, endless,  nig out to roam tate, irelessly for. ips were a bloody, scabby mess. he missed Isabelle.

    Cember, October, November, December, January and February, and at turned.

    Ccracing steps, o ted no visitors.

    A familiar figure stepped do stood still.

    teps, beside t, and Isabelle here.

    ared at her.

    Isabelle laugake to took somet. “And tucked it obediently under  I’d like most in the world is a very large brandy.”

    Stunned, Co to tudy. Sraigook out glasses and a bottle. So a glass and drank it in one go, seness of , t to ood tiger resounded about  oo close to an enormous carted to spin and tears sprang to  tructed. “e’ll drink a toast.” ook t fumes. “to ture!”  its unfamiliar burn.

    ‘You  even seen them, have you?“ she asked.

    he frowned.

    ‘Look.“ Isabelle turned to tudy desk, pulled t ood back so t urned  some kind of response  didn’t know w o say or do.

    ‘Oer took boto a madcap dance around til tarted to clear o a  sook o ’s you and me noand?“

    he nodded.

    ‘Good. Now, where’s Pa?“

    old e erical. tc o bed in  last s again, asked, “t are they called?”

    ‘March,“ Isabelle responded.

    But t. ord of t needed to count t s anyed by ter-in-laly so grieve.

    ‘ about Cian names?“

    ‘Adeline and Emmeline,“ said Isabelle sleepily.

    ‘And ell t?“

    But tier old bed, ten, ored to  ernal bone in her body—

    but as mere spirits of the house.

    t, too. In tc over talked in low voices.

    ‘hich one is which?“ he asked.

    ‘I don’t know.“

    One eacctle flutter of t to sleep.

    ‘t one can be Adeline,“ took a striped tea to strips from it. Sed trips into tied t of tirred, te one around t of t.

    cil turned a glad and tender face to the gardener and spoke again.

    ‘t our age!“

    ears t misted her round brown eyes.

    across t  tness of ears pressed against his own fingers.

    Beneatrembling line of the babies were dreaming.

    It e ory of Isabelle and Cernoon and evening and for part of t I  over my desk, ory retelling itself in my ears s dictation. My pages : Miss inter’s oime to time my o t and I scribbled a note in t-one of voice or a gesture seemed to be part of tive itself.

    No docer’s voice  t s  ly  under roking s, if s,  seem t perturbed, but only blinked and continued to stare indifferently.

    ‘’s his name?“ I had asked.

    ‘Sly replied.

    At last in bed, I turned out t and closed my eyes. I could still feel t s from ing  yet ready to untie itself. t  of paper, lines of my o-tention. Unmarked, pristine, it gloing. It s, notes and questions.

    In t pencil and tco tions t penetrated my dro t tattoo Cer’s name etco ion self? Or  ill ted ao tten… Isabelle and Cs, ter’s palm rose into vieter Q for question, seared into human flesh.

    As I started to sleepe my questions, to expand. t. S engulfed me, until I realized ure of trepidation and  t I e interior of tory itself. eig long in Miss inter’s story, plotting its landscape, measuring its contours and, on tiptoe at its borers, peering at teries beyond its bounds.

    GARDENSI oo early. tonous fragment of a tune c my brain. ito  before Judit t, I made myself a cup of cocoa, drank it scaldingly  and  outdoors.

    Miss inter’s garden  .  I aken at first sigo be the formal beds—

    divided one part of t and copper beecone er clematis and tems of rambling roses, and fences, neatly paneled or woven in willow.

    Folloion to anot I could not fat.  looked solid vieraigimes revealed a diagonal passageo and near-impossible to escape from. Fountains and statues t I t I   of time stock-still, looking around me in perplexity and sure self and ting out deliberately to t me.

    turning a corner, I came across ticent, bearded man ion. “Maurice is antly introducing himself.

    ‘ to get lost?“ I ed to knorick to it?“

    ‘Only time,“  looking up from  and pressing ts of ts.

    Maurice, I could tell, did not  mind, being of a solitary nature myself. After t I made a point, e direction, and I tion, for once or tc out of to see Maurice backing out of an entrance or making a sudden, divergent turn. In t eaco avoid eac any sense of constraint.

    Later t day I  to Miss inter and sold me more about t Angelfield.

    t to t seemed forever. ty: Staff came and  quickly at Angelfield, and since departures  remaining. tecy ss and laid fires like an under ime to make a meal  ime to serve it sler. Yet by time t like to admit it, t manage.

    t to be brougimes, regular bedtimes, regular bated at time, and it broke  to see urned out. t of ttern. S of all t to raise ttle girls. time at six, church on Sunday.

    But it was .

    For a start ting. Adeline  er, fists and feet flailing, yanking at er ongs. t  and merciless aggression, or Emmeline’s constant, ungrudging acceptance of it. For Emmeline, ter to stop tormenting aliated. Instead, sed for t rained doop. to raise a  Adeline. S, it made sense.

    t mealtimes, more often t, t be found. Emmeline adored eating, but ranslated itself into t be accommodated by t en, ty, fifty times a day, it struck, making urgent demands for food, and  departed and food became an irrelevance again. Emmeline’s plumpness ained by a pocket constantly full of bread and raisins, a portable feast t sake a bite from able only to repleniss before o loll by the fire or lie in a field somewhere.

    er e different. Adeline s for knees and elbo of otals. Meals  for ; like tual motion s, running on energy provided from some miraculous inner source. But t spins eternally is a myticed in ty plate   food off a plate, like normal children?

    Per ter if sead of t t no amount of nursery food and strict routine could ree. S  to see it; sried not to see it for a long time, but in t it. trange all t into ts.

    talked, for instance. Sco be moving nineteen to t fragments of t. “Speak up!” selling t s  for ot be silly,” sold Dig opping t going.”

    tion came to er. For once boto stay in t of ted clearing in  a fragment of topped. Sounds fleennis balls in some game; sounds t made tance you’d  it tter of ordinary c  sank. It  s used to . t talk properly.

    tanding froze imes ion opened to anotelpiece c a little bird out of a cage to flap a mec before reentering t c tche bell, wings up, wings down, wings up, wings down.

    ticularly cold, particularly in t  t inanimate moving objects. But it froze to t ly t ed.

    t realize t I am alive, s. t kno anyone is alive but themselves.

    It is a tribute to  s find trous. Instead, s sorry for them.

    be. how very lonely.

    And surned from the doorway and shuffled away.

    From t day on tations. Regular mealtimes and bat of t one job noo keep the girls safe.

    turning it over in  sood oget o be t in t ones, seem like to t seem like range   time, t meant people s of tees. t’s o tees.

    Normal? No. t and , sural.

    Of course all amputees er tate of te, take lovers, marry. tormented by teness trive to be part of a pair. t from anyone else in t. And she-dig.

    t a couple in traditional sense. t married; t even lovers. A dozen or fifteen years older t old enougo be e, but ed for a  time t, sed to marry anyone. ed to marry, but someea ting at tcable to eat  of t of seeking t more imagination t o leap tations; t  t and most respectful kind. In anoture,  o be   t, one can imagine t some Friday niger ter t pie and custard,  aken  o one or ot t never entered ten do, and enjoyed tender loyalty t as t ever living tself.

    o t knoing, once t (and t, for t many of took to leaving off t letters of o save time. t tters seemed more te: Did t say ely, even, to sign o the-dig.

    e  greraigop of s reac  brigion s cycles. In tables of figures, calculating t time for everyt-grandfat, and ained the knowledge.

    Jo Angelfield. In t-grandfated out a box  to be eful, aken tings a feo loook o ted to be pyramids, cones, top s. to serial, tient, meticulous delicacy of a lacemaker. ed no animals, no  for  you sa pleased rictly geometric or bafflingly, bulgingly abstract.

    By time of  years, topiary garden  mattered. o be finised o be in “ime, fifty, a o maturity.

    At o ter,  y miles aake on t o be opiary y from t be oto s  the grooves. he was home.

    In ter George Angelfield lost aff diminisically, Joayed on. Gardeners left and  replaced. ill a young man , ook no interest;  to see o trust   Angelfield. opiary garden, putting o t began to fade,  need to reflect t trees rees t -grandfated, t tines and motions of  tions of oo deeply knoo require t. ake it for granted. Like rees, ed to Angelfield.

    o  ravaged? Great gass. tated, tops lying at t. t balance of t, top s co and left in tatters. ared at till green, still fres reion, t to come.

    Stunned, rembling t seemed to pass from  to o t, ried to understand  from t  ruction? But orm is it t strikes in silence?

    No. Someone his.

    turning a corner  to the saw.

    come in for lunc to find opiary garden so h a new urgency.

    ender care to tc ea, s and , and ared, unseeing, into space. it a ed sips of to  last   ears spring up.

    ‘Oh Dig! I know. I know.“

    he shaking of her body.

    t appear t afternoon, and t go to find turned up in till in e and  t of t, t as the drawing room clock.

    Before s to bed ts on t touc you.”

    And till not expecting to be ? O? You .”

    S touc was Emmeline.

    Startled, tears and stared.

    the-dig sad.”

    ‘Yes,“ the Missus whispered. ”e are sad.“

    t  malice. it guilt. It isfaction at ed sometly identified it. Sears. S no was sadness.

    t doairs. t ion, and it er t. as it possible t one day t understand?

    So tc in to rejoin John in his despair.

    t night I had a dream.

    alking in Miss inter’s garden, I met my sister.

    Radiant, s golden o embrace me, and I  .

    aking, I curled into a ball until tinging  on my torso had subsided.

    MERRILY AND tORMiss inter’s ed, and ts inants so solitary, t I  o  t of t a glimpse of a tall, dark-o the bell.

    I saen feet from t porcires on gravel. I stood still, retreated inside myself. to anyone rouble to look, I  o see not is usually  see me.

    o s of inguisillness. o  up teps to ring the bell.

    I he house.

    Later t day, Miss inter told me tory of Merrily and tor.

    As tate. tanding of property, and so t  al in tried kitc lock doors muc inside. to anytasty in try, slept for an airs if t ook saucepans and spoons ao scare birds in the fields.

    t upset about it. For every accusation made, t t time in anotant place; at least t least t t came about t all t stories s stories; no old  its gs. And t it. t rig t o be a disinclination to approacs as t mighere.

    But eventually t talk, and ted. Anger pulled t of s made t understand

    it  and sed even more. For a time tayed to cacle of turned their backs and walked off.

    o be done, and tting turn, “Big  ougo be alloo run riot t’s not rig to be done.” And t quiet over tes of potato and meat and shing would be done.

    Until t of tor.

    ts in one of ttages. ted for  er of a  tte. all bro and o put  and tickle  of o make ried not to laugo tease  sed to laugually she always did.

    S  for t laugy color t oo dark to be blond,  s laug iful t   moon ciced e teeteeto matctle pink tongue t ten’s. And t beautiful, rippling, unstoppable music t came gurgling out of  like spring-er from an underground stream. It . And , and   ion of ickled her and made her laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

    Anyer,  to t tle clotor.

    to  it  c seeming very dear) in order to mark tance of t c for anottle vest, anottle c oo, and ined for tiful black perambulator. Its wlessness.

    to fields at t kno from beor.

    Babies make a lot of  in tting t and taking it in. From tcs in t an eye on tor outdoors in tes it seemed sdoors to adjust tuck in an extra blanket or simply sing.

    Merrily  ted to tor. Emmeline and Adeline ted.

    Merrily emerged one day from under t of  ted abruptly. o  tumbled into tipping collars and socks onto tourned  and rig believe  and rig and rig and rigime  out a sc rose into t could rend it in two.

    Mr. Griffin looked up from able plot and came to t door old Granny Stokes fro tc onto ounded, t Merrily, ruck, as time’s supply of words.

    Eventually s. “My baby’s gone.”

    And once t to action. Mr. Griffin jumped over took Merrily by to t of okes disappeared from er ed in t garden, calling out for help.

    And t is it? ’s happened?”

    ‘taken! From tor!“

    ‘You t  way.“

    ‘Run and fetch her husband, somebody.“

    All tion at t of the house.

    At t. Merrily’s ed tranquilly in turned soil, Emmeline caressed t ecstasy and Adeline kicked  of t t thing moving.

    t. It he voom.

    tor along t art t appeared, and also t along very uneven ground. tly banked, ed t an angle. t all four urned earter to tles and brambles snagged in t  t going after t ty yards. But t. t to get t pram  all trengto feel t at all. tearing tles a on t, Emmeline still crooning o it, giving it a surreptitious stroke ime to time, kissing it.

    At last to t. But instead of making directly for it turned toed to play. o top of t slope igable energy, t it in position. ted out t it on to to te-faced. At a signal from  powerful push she could manage.

    At first t slo. But te sun as turned. Faster and faster, until t even a blur. teeper, and to so side and ten to take off.

    A noise filled the air.

    ‘Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!“

    Adeline, sled doling her senses.

    Suddenly it o happen.

    One of truck against a piece of rock sticking out from tal screec stone, and t doo t traced a serene curve against til t o snatc, and ter tion reverberating in t.

    Emmeline ran doill turning, slos urgency lost.

    A ended from ty of ted at a strange angle on tony ground. On tains and tle scratches.

    Emmeline knelt. Inside ty of the carriage, all was dark.

    But t. A pair of green eyes staring back.

    ‘Voom!“ she said, and she smiled.

    t ime to go home.

    Aside from tory itself, Miss inter spoke little in our meetings. In to say “ sempered edge to ion, and s expect me to, so to an end. I ly a minute early, take my place in take my notebook out of my bag. t all, sory  governed by times Miss inter il sural break at t ion of y about it t akable. It e space at ter. I  note in my book, close togetake my leave. At otimes, tedly, in times in tence, and I o see e face tigo a mask of endurance. “Is t time I sao go. elling me tory of Merrily and tor, I put my pencil and notebook into my bag and, standing up, said, “I shall be going away for a few days.”

    ‘No.“ She was severe.

    ‘I’m afraid I must. I ing to be ially, and I’ve been  ay.“

    ‘Maurice can take you to too buy wever you need.“

    ‘I need my books…“

    Sured at her library shelves.

    I s I really o go.”

    ‘Miss Lea, you seem to t  let me remind you, I am a busy   to alk of going a t be t.“

    I bit my lip and for a moment felt co I rallied. “Remember our agreement? true to do some checking.”

    Sated. “You don’t believe me?”

    I ignored ion. “true t I could check. You gave me your word.”

    ig she concurred.

    ‘You may leave on Monday. take you to tation.“

    I ing up tory of Merrily and tor   time for dinner, so I errupted my work before.

    ‘ould you come to ton is h you.“

    As I entered t to . I am no good at so decide not to offer me  it left us at a loss to find some oto start.

    ‘You are Miss inter’s biograpand?“

    ‘I’m not sure.“

    ‘Not sure?“

    ‘If selling me trut an amanuensis.“

    ‘ matter?“

    ‘to wo you.

    I didn’t kno I kneinent, so I didn’t ans.

    ‘You are Miss inter’s doctor, I suppose?“ I am.

    ‘o see me?“

    ‘It is Miss inter, actually, o make sure you are fully ae of h.“ I see.

    itific clarity, o ion. In a fe  and least effectively masked by tioned a number of otions so kill  t to get t. And  out, as far as o ration to er, , s.

    ‘ion came to an end.

    ‘I can’t tell you. Anoter is made of strong stuff. And since you ently on the brink of breaking a confidence.

    ‘Since I have been here… ?“

    me and seemed to o be managing a little better. S is tic qualities of storytelling.”

    I  sure o make of ts, tor inuing. “I understand you are going away…”

    ‘Is t o me?“

    ‘It is only t ss you to understand t time is of the essence.“

    ‘You can let  I understand.“

    Our intervieale… ? I don’t suppose…”

    In  a flasience of the reader.

    ‘S it,“ I said. ”t be at liberty to tell you.“

    remor ran from o the corner of his nose.

    ‘Good day, Miss Lea.“

    ‘Good day, Doctor.“