It meant nothing . simply nothing. It was like the Comte’s kisses.

I must remember that, and make her realize it too.

Joel said what a pleasant evening it had been. His parents gave these musical soirees fairly frequently, but this was one he would always remember.

“I shall certainly remember it,” I replied lightly.

“For me it is the first and only one.”

The first perhaps he suggested.

“You do enjoy music, I know. What a sky! It’s rarely so clear. The moon dims the stars somewhat, though.

Look at the Pleiades over there to the north-east. Did you know that when they appear it’s a sign of the end of summer? They are not welcome for that reason. I have always been interested in the stars.

Stand still a moment. Look up. Here are we two little people looking into eternity. It’s rather overwhelming. Do you find it so? “

As I stood there, looking up with him, I felt quite emotional. It had been such a strange evening quite different from anything I had known before and something told me that big events were closing in on me, that I had reached the end of a road, the passing of a phase, and that Joel Derringham and perhaps even the Comte Fontaine Delibes were not merely passing acquaintances but that my future was caught up with theirs in some strange way and it was a beginning.

Joel went on: “They are supposed to be the seven daughters who were pursued by the hunter Orion. When they appealed to the gods to save them from Orion’s lustful embraces, they were changed into doves and placed in the sky.”

“A fate presumably preferable to that which is said to be worse than death,” I commented.

Joel laughed.

“It has been good to meet you,” he said.

“You are so different from other girls I normally meet.” He continued to look up at the sky.

“All the Pleiades married gods, except one, Merope, who married a mortal. For that reason her light was dimmed.”

“So social distinction exists in the heavens!”

That is just the legend. “

“It spoils it in my opinion. I should have liked Merope to shine more brightly because she was more adventurous and independent than her sisters. But of course no one would agree with me.”

“I do,” he assured me.

I felt exhilarated, excited, and the feeling that I was on the threshold of adventure increased.

“You must not be late in returning,” I warned him, ‘or they will wonder what has become of you. “

We were silent as we made our way to the schoolhouse.

As I had guessed my mother was waiting up for me. Her eyes widened with delight when she saw my companion.

He declined to come in but handed me to her as though I were some valuable object to be safely deposited. Then he said good night and was gone.

I had to sit up for a long time telling my mother every detail. I did, but I omitted to mention the Comte.

II

The excitement in the schoolhouse continued. My mother went about with a faraway look in her eyes and there was a smile and contentment on her lips. I knew very well what was in her mind and I was mildly appalled at her temerity.

The fact was that Joel Derringham was determined to be friendly. I was eighteen years of age and in spite of a lack of worldly experience appeared to be quite mature. This was probably due to my having a more serious nature than the! Derringham girls-and certainly than Margot. I had had it brought home to me that I must acquire the best education! available to me with the purpose of earning my living through it; this had been so impressed on me by my mother since the death of my father that I had accepted it as my way of life. I ) had read extensively anything that came to hand; I had felt it i my duty to know something of any subject which might be mentioned; and it was no doubt due to this that Joel found me different. Ever since our meeting, he had sought my company When I went for my favourite walk across the meadows I would find him seated on a stile over which I had to cross, and he would join me in my walk.

He was often riding past the schoolhouse and on several occasions he called in. My mother received him graciously and without fuss, and the only reason why I knew she was inwardly excited was by the faint colour in her cheeks. She was delighted. This most prosaic of women was vulnerable only where her daughter was concerned, and it became embarrassingly clear that she had decided that Joel Derringham should marry me. Instead of at the schoolhouse my future was to be at This was the wildest dream” for even if Joel thought it a possibility, his family would never permit it.

Yet in the space of a week we had become very good friends. I enjoyed our meetings, which were never arranged but seemed to come about naturally, though I suspected they were contrived by him. It was amazing how often I would go out and come upon him. I rode Jenny, our little horse which drew the jingle-our only means of transport. She was not young but docile and my mother had been anxious for me to ride well. Several times when I rode out on her I would come upon Joel on one of the fine hunters from the Derringham stables. He would ride beside me and it invariably happened that where I proposed to go was just where he was going also. He was so gracious and charming as well as informative and I found his company interesting. I was flattered, too, that he should seek me out.

Margot told me that her parents had left England because of the way things were going in France; she did not seem to be very perturbed and was delighted to be left alone in England. Vaguely I wondered about Margot, who was very merry and abandonedly gay one day and subdued and serious the next. Her changes of moods were quite unpredictable, but being absorbed in my own affairs, I put it down to her Gallic temperament and forgot her.

It was Joel who told me about the reason for the Comte’s sudden departure. I had ridden out on Jenny for I used to exercise her after school in the evenings, so the time when I would be at liberty to ride was almost certain to be early evening. Invariably I would see the tall figure coming towards me through the trees and it happened so often that I came to expect it.

Joel looked grave when he discussed the Comte’s departure.

“There is a great scandal brewing at the Court of France,” he told me.

“Some members of the nobility seem to be involved in it and the Comte thought it would be wise for him to go back to be on the spot. It involves a diamond necklace which the Queen is said to have acquired with the assistance of a Cardinal and that in exchange for his services he hoped to become her lover … might, indeed, have been her lover. Of course it is denied by the Queen, and the Cardinal de Rohan and his accomplices have been arrested. It is going to be a cause celebre.”

“And does this concern the Comte Fontaine Delibes?”

“There is a strong feeling that it might concern the whole of France.

The royal family cannot afford a scandal at this time. Perhaps I am wrong . I hope so. My father thinks I exaggerate, but as I told you I sensed a seething unrest in the country when I was there. There is a great deal of extravagance. The rich are so rich and the poor so poor.

“Is that not the case everywhere?”

“Yes, I suppose so, but there seems to be a growing resentment throughout France. I believe the Comte is very much aware of it. It was for this reason that he decided to return without delay. He made arrangements to leave on the night of the soiree.”

I thought about; his leaving in haste and supposed he had not given me another thought. And that, I told myself, is the last I shall see of the distinguished gentleman, and that is not such a bad thing. Something told me that his acquaintance would bring me no good.

I must dismiss him from my mind. That should not be difficult, for at this time I was enjoying a very pleasant friendship with the most eligible young man in the neighbourhood.

We did not speak much of the Comte after that. Joel was interested in the country’s affairs and was hoping one day to become a Member of Parliament. His family were not eager for , this.

“They think that I, being the only son, should give my attention to the estate.”

“And you have other ideas.”

“Oh, I am interested in the estate, but it is not enough to occupy a man’s lifetime. One can delegate to managers. Why should a man not go out and take an interest in the governing of the country?”

“I dare say Mr. Pitt makes a full-time job of his parliamentary career.”

“Ah, but he is Prime Minister.”

“Surely you should aim for the highest office.”

“Perhaps I should.”

“And delegate more and more of estate matters to your managers?”

“That could be. Oh, I like the country. I am interested in managing affairs here, but these are uneasy times. Miss Maddox. They are fraught with danger. If there was trouble on the other side of the Channel…”

“What trouble?” I asked quickly.

“You remember the ” ‘rehearsal I mentioned. What if that really should have been a rehearsal with a full-scale performance to come? “

“You mean a kind of civil war?”

“I mean that the needy might rise against the affluent … the starving against the extravagant spendthrifts. I think that could be a possibility.”

I shivered, picturing the Comte, proud in his chateau and the mob marching . the bloodthirsty mob . My mother said that I allowed my imagination to run away with me.

“Imagination is like fire,” she used to say.