In my study I transcribed; in troked t and mares by staying a nigo me no.

    itional c into Miss inter’s story. as it Emmeline—t alarming figure in tampered  and let tory reveal itself. Meanense. ance broke my , every sigion of fear and longing.

    I got to ter—morning or afternoon or evening, I don’t knoood by to . My pale sister pressed o mine, trapped me in ed to break the glass, and I could join her.

    ‘ever are you looking at?“ came Miss inter’s voice behind me.

    Slourned.

    ‘Sit do anoto eat.“ I sat down.

    Judit cocoa and toast. Miss inter continued ory  cocoa.

    ‘I’ll  w could  a boy.

    I got  of t o fetcrong, s tea and drank a potful. I t s and I t time I  tears e retreated from my eyes. It ime for action.

    By time turned or, I  I eps approacurned to meet them.

    ‘Emmeline, poor cor exclaimed as stretcic gesture, as to embrace me.

    I took a step back, and ed. “Emmeline?” In ainty flared. Adeline? It  possible. It could not be. tammered. But still  know.

    I did not  of ead I cried.

    Not real tears. My real tears—and I y of tored up. Sometime, tonigomorroime soon, I did not exactly knoo cry as a little girl obacco and t, ugly tears t came— my eyes o see out of.

    But te tears, and not for tears I gratified o set off my green eyes t off emeralds. And it ized t  notice the eyes spying on him.

    ‘I’m afraid the body.

    It o hear John’s real name.

    ‘  trade y catch fail?“

    I could look at t emotion, almost. “Mig t doer him?”

    ‘No one saw him fall?“

    ‘Our rooms are at table garden.“ tood slig from us, looking ahe body.

    ‘o remember.“

    ‘e alone.“

    ‘I see. And  me?“

    I  Joold t our situation. I o play it by ear.

    ito my voice, I told tor t my uncle had gone away.

    ‘Aor frowned.

    t react. Noto surprise ood looking at  so as not to look at time to to say, “My uncle  be back for a few days.”

    ‘how many days?“

    ‘O exactly  atle pretense of counting back to rest on t my knees quiver.

    tor and to my side, taking an elbow each.

    ‘All riger, my dear, later.“

    I permitted to lead me around tochen door.

    ‘I don’t knoly o do!“ I said as he corner.

    ‘About ly?“

    ‘the funeral.“

    ‘You don’t need to do anytakers, and take care of t.“

    ‘But  the money?“

    ‘Your uncle tle t wurns. he way?

    ‘But w if he should be delayed?“

    ‘You t likely he will be delayed?“

    ‘able man.“

    ‘Indeed.“ tcor guided me in and pulled out a co it.

    ‘tor  out anyt needs doing, if it comes to it. Now, wer? Does s’s happened?“

    I didn’t bat an eyelid. “She is sleeping.”

    ‘Just as  her sleep, perhaps, eh?“

    I nodded.

    ‘Now, wer you when?“

    ‘Look after us?“

    ‘You can ay  after t  place so soon after losing your  finding a replacement. Someone must come.“

    ‘Is it really necessary?“ I ears and green eyes; Emmeline  to be womanly.

    ‘ell, surely you—“

    ‘It’s just t t time someone came to take care of us— You do remember our governess, don’t you?“ And I flas. o blus emeralds and diamonds again.

    t. “My grandmot to stay like, but s for a bit.”

    Dr. Maudsley, disconcerted, considered. It , and .

    ‘ell, Ambrose, I t . In t term, at least. And no doubt your uncle will be back in a very few days, in wo, o—“

    ‘Indeed.“ I rose smooto takers, I  my hank you for coming so quickly.“

    t ing entirely. o  at my prompt, and I felt toucy.

    Once again ook t. “I’m sorry about Mr. Digence. truly I am, Miss March.”

    ‘tor.“ And I ears.

    Dr. Maudsley nodded at t and closed the door behind him.

    Nohe boy himself.

    I ed for tor to get aed to go t. “By t sress of to come in.”

    hem.

    ‘Just as  got a grandmother.“

    ***‘I’ll  o drive a car, though.

    t day o tor in Banbury, I beside er a quarter of an ing under tionist, o Mr. Lomax’s office.  Emmeline and  me and o ask wwo are.”

    ‘e’re in somet, and our gardener  . A tragic accident, since tle s…“

    o Emmeline and back again.

    ‘Please excuse my sister. S quite o leave room for anytelligence.

    ‘Yes,“ said Mr. Lomax, and ic one. ”I o t effect.“

    Responding to  you? t alerribly easy t transparent stare. ”In fact, it’s a real treat to talk to someone sensible for a change!“

    urned t quite righer one.

    ‘tirely mutual, Miss, er, forgive me, but her’s name again?“

    ‘ter is Marc o meet  all en t it ter to change our names formally.

    ‘Can be done. ? Simple matter, really.“

    ‘But t’s for anotoday’s business…“

    ‘Of course. No me put your mind at rest about t kno?“

    ‘It may be quite some time,“ I said, ly a lie.

    ‘It doesn’t matter. Eitime to settle t, ttle it on  t when he comes home.“

    I turned my face into ture of relief ill o take tions about er like mine, sune of mislaying uation to me, and I saeps I ake and o take t t any of to you, in your position!” e run aing take back ters of  days.”

    ‘God  him.

    e  tial thing.

    ‘Incidentally, I don’t suppose  an address?“

    ‘You know my uncle!“

    ‘I t as mucely whough?“

    I liked Mr. Lomax, but it didn’t stop me lying to o. Lying ure to a girl like me.

    ‘Yes… t is, no.“

    knoo all ties  enumerated for me.

    ‘ell, I can tell you where he said he was going.“

    Mr. Lomax looked at me, eyebrows raised.

    ‘o Peru.“

    Mr. Lomax’s rounded eyes bulged, and h dropped open.

    ‘But of course, ’s ridiculous, don’t we?“ I finis possibly be in Peru, can he?“

    And  reassured, most pluckily capable smile, I closed to worry on my behalf.

    till I  o cry. Every day t t ting to kno e but cold, as tainted er’s crime. “Mrs. Proctor, told ing it.”

    t all I suspected t tor boy e catc it.

    Jo to cry, eit  place. For I o Emmeline—ould so attend cly? God’s love o all ures—I listened to Mr. Lomax and Dr. Maudsley,  of ears behind my back.

    ‘A competent girl,“ tor said to tor. ”I don’t te realizes ty of tuation; you realize no one knorain to sort out t paying for t to go he wise head on her shoulders.“

    ‘Yes,“ said tor weakly.

    ‘I  kno t quite rig no t’s plain as day t it’s only ted. A mercy. Of course, you’ll  or.“

    tor murmured somet hear.

    ‘’s t?“ tor asked. ”Mist, did you say?“

    tor asked anotion. “ he one who is sensible?”

    I turned just enougo be able to see t of tor  me  in  lift a spoon to  alone give instructions for a funeral and ask intelligent questions of a solicitor. I understood t.

    o Emmeline, from Emmeline to me.

    ‘I t’s Adeline.“ I saumbling do .

    Catco ture of to to to be of service to me. t’s or took it for. tor may aken it ratly.

    Later. Many er.

    t last I could cry.

    Except t I couldn’t. My tears, kept in too long, had fossilized.

    to stay in forever now.