I waited a while. Nothing happened. Minutes went by and the door of the master bedroom remained shut.

I was very young and I did not fully understand what this must mean.

Of course, later, so much became clear to me.

There was something different about Miss Carson. At times she would sit staring into space as though she could see something which was invisible to the rest of us. Her face would be gentle and beautiful and touched with a kind of wonder. Then one of us would say something which would bring her out of her dream. She was as kind to us as ever.

Moreover, there was something secretive going on in the house. It seemed to please and amuse Nanny Gilroy, although it was something she disapproved of. But then, I had discovered that she was often pleased about certain things, particularly if they were what she called shocking, as when the baker’s wife ran off with a travelling salesman, which she declared was downright wicked as she sat and smirked and said the baker’s wife would come to a bad end, which was no more than she deserved. She seemed highly gratified about that. I had never been the least bit fond of her, but now I disliked her more than ever.

One day Miss Carson told us that she had to go away to see someone and she would be away for a few days. When she left, Adeline was in a panic. She was terribly afraid that her mother would send for her and whenever we were on the ground floor she would keep close to me and hold my hand.

When Miss Carson returned after a week’s absence, Adeline clung to her more than ever.

“Don’t go away,” she kept saying.

Miss Carson looked as though she were going to cry.

She hugged Adeline tightly, and said: “I never want to go away, darling. I want to stay here for ever with you and Carmel, Estella and For ever and ever I want to stay.”

It was September. Lucian and Camilla, who had been home for the holidays, would soon be going back to their schools. Lucian was still kind to me, although he was so much older. He always took notice of me and would chat with me. Estella was not very pleased about that, which made me doubly appreciative of his attention. She was fond of Lucian and always trying to get him to talk to her.

The weather had turned hot and sultry. Tom Yardley said there was thunder in the air. In fact, we heard the occasional rumble of it now and then. Looking back, I think of that as being symbolic of what was about to happen in Commonwood House.

Mrs. Marline had been a little better, and for the last few days Tom Yardley had wheeled her chair out through the trench windows to a shady spot in the garden where she would sit reading or dozing.

On that particular day, Lucian and Camilla came to Commonwood and we all had tea in the drawing-room on the ground floor. As Mrs. Marline was in the garden, we did not have to worry about making too much noise.

Lucian always led the conversation; he was older than Henry, and seemed mature to all of us, so we respected him and when he talked we listened without interrupting.

He had been reading a book about opal mining in Australia, which had clearly fascinated him, and he was telling us about the stone. Adeline was present. She always wanted to take part in whatever was going on, and Lucian always included her.

“They are fantastic,” he was saying with that enthusiasm which he always showed for something which interested him and which made one share his pleasure in it.

“Just imagine searching for them and then coming across some wonderful specimen. The colours are magnificent.

They glow in reds and blues and greens. That’s why they call them black opals. There are the milky sort, too. They are found somewhere else. My mother has a black opal. She doesn’t wear it much. She keeps it with other jewellery in the bank. “

“People say they are unlucky,” said Camilla.

“That’s why our mother keeps hers in the bank. She thinks the bank will get the bad luck instead of her.”

“She does not!” laughed Lucian.

“She keeps it there for safety. It’s very valuable.”

“My mother has an opal,” said Henry.

“It’s in a ring. She wears it sometimes.”

“Perhaps that’s why she had an accident,” said Camilla, determined to pursue her bad luck theory.

“Nonsense,” said Lucian lightly.

“How could a stone be unlucky? People just say they are unlucky because they chip easily. You know how these stories start. People exaggerate and then you get superstitions. I’d like to see your mother’s ring.”

“It’s been in the family for a long time,” said Henry.

“It’s in her jewel case.”

“She doesn’t wear it very often,” said Estella.

“Of course, it will be mine one day. The opal has little diamonds round it.”

Lucian went on to tell us how they mined for opals, sorting them out and cutting them to the shapes they wanted. He said how strange it was that they were only found in certain places.

When we had finished tea. Henry said he wanted to go into the village to get something for his bicycle and Lucian was going with him.

Adeline said: “Will you come back here?”

“I expect so,” said Lucian.

We took Camilla up to the schoolroom and played guessing games which Camilla said the girls played in the dormitory after lights out.

Just before the boys had left, Mrs. Marline had come in from the garden. But after a while she had apparently decided that, as it was such a fine day and she was feeling better, she would like to go out there again, so Tom Yardley wheeled her out and the house was peaceful again.

Lucian and Henry had not returned. I expected they had gone off somewhere. We all walked back to the Grange with Camilla. Mrs. Marline was still in the garden.

I went up to my room and soon after the trouble started.

It was on the ground floor and I went down to see what it was all about.

Adeline was in great distress. She was seated on the floor in her mother’s bedroom with the drawer of the bureau upside down beside her and its contents scattered around. Apparently she had opened it and it had come right out. She had dropped it and it now lay upturned on the carpet. Finding herself in such a position, Adeline could think of nothing to do but cry for help, hoping that one of us, preferably Miss Carson, would come in and help her emerge from this situation before her mother discovered she had been in her bedroom and meddled with her bureau.

Unfortunately, her cries were heard by Mrs. Marline. Tom Yardley happened to be nearby and Mrs. Marline ordered him to wheel in her chair, and in her bedroom she found Adeline seated on the floor with the contents of the drawer around her. By this time Nanny Gilroy had arrived. There followed a heart-rending scene which, being in the hall, I was able to observe through the open door. Mrs. Marline was looking at the sobbing Adeline with disgust.

“I only wanted to show Lucian,” cried Adeline between her sobs.

“Just a look. I didn’t mean … it all came out when I pulled …”

“Stop snivelling, child,” said Mrs. Marline.

“You look ridiculous

Yardley, pick up those things and put them back. “

Tom Yardley did as he was bidden.

“Come here,” snapped Mrs. Marline to the cowering Adeline.

“You stupid child, when will you learn a little sense?”

“I only wanted Lucian to see the opal ring. I only wanted …”

“Be silent! How dare you go into my bedroom and open drawers?”

“I only wanted …”

Miss Carson had come down.

“What has happened?” she asked me.

“I think Adeline went in and opened a drawer which came right out,” I said.

“Lucian was talking about opals and Adeline wanted to show him her mother’s ring.”

“Poor child. That’s not the way to treat her. It won’t help at all.”

“You shall be punished,” said Mrs. Marline.

“You shall go to your room and stay there without a light when it is dark.”

Adeline let out a wail of terror. Then Miss Catson went into the room.

Adeline gave a cry of joy and ran to her, clinging to her.

“It’s all right,” said Miss Carson to Adeline.

“Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

Adeline went on sobbing and clinging to Miss Carson.

“How dare you interfere?” cried Mrs. Marline, “What impertinence! This is really too much. You are to leave this house at once.”

“No, no, no,” screamed Adeline.

“I can’t believe my ears,” said Mrs. Marline.

“Has everyone taken leave of their senses? Miss Carson, how dare you come in here!”

“Adeline meant no harm and has done none,” said Miss Carson firmly.

“Come along, Adeline.”

Adeline gripped Miss Carson’s hand while Mrs. Marline stared at them in amazement. Miss Carson walked to the door with Adeline and into the hall. Then suddenly she gave a little cry. She stumbled and would have fallen if Nanny Gilroy had not stepped forward and caught her. As it was, she slipped to the floor and lay on the carpet. Her eyes were shut and she looked very pale.

“She’s fainted,” said Nanny, with a look of grim satisfaction on her face.

“She’s fainted clean away.”

“What on earth is happening?” demanded Mrs. Marline from her bedroom.

“The governess has fainted. Madam,” said Nanny Gilroy.

“I’ll see to her.”

Adeline was staring in dismay at Miss Carson. I was horrified. It seemed so unreal.

Mrs. Barton ran out and said: “What’s up?”

“The governess has fainted clean away,” said Nanny, and there was something significant in her manner of which I was faintly aware. It was almost as though she were saying to Mrs. Barton: “I told you so.”