I saw that he was studying me with a certain interest and I said, "Do you remember when you kidnapped me?"

He smiled. "Yes, I remember. I thought if I wanted a baby all I had to do was find one."

We laughed.

"And you found me," I said.

"I think you must have been a very tolerant baby," he went on.

"I don't remember anything of it. I was rather flattered when I heard of it. Flattered to have been chosen, I mean. But I suppose any baby would have done."

"You seemed to me a suitable subject for adoption."

"I believe there was a great fuss."

"People always make fusses if something unconventional happens."

"Well, you wouldn't have expected my family to let me go without a word, would you?"

"No. But I kept you for two weeks."

"I have heard the story often. I wish I had been aware at the time."

"You would probably have protested if you had known what it was all about. As it was you took it very calmly."

I was very pleased, because it seemed that in talking of the matter, we had broken through some barrier. I imagined that he felt the same and that our relationship would be easier from now on.

We suddenly became involved in the general conversation and after a while Dougal and he left. Dougal was leaving Framling the next day and at the end of the week Fabian would be gone, too.

I could not resist telling Lavinia that they had called.

"Well, they didn't come to see you, " was her comment.

"I know that, but they came and I was there to talk to them both."

"Dougal is lovely, but he's only interested in old things." She grimaced. I imagined she had flaunted her flaming hair before him and had expected him to be overcome by admiration. I was rather pleased that, presumably, he had not been.

I said, "Fabian talked about that time he abducted me."

"Oh, that," she said. "That's all rather boring."

But I could see that my meeting with Dougal rankled. She was quite annoyed when we rode out that afternoon.

Jos was with us. I think he contrived to be our guardian whenever he could; and the fact that he accompanied us rather than Reuben usually put Lavinia in a good mood.

She was very wayward that afternoon. She was both haughty and familiar with Jos; he said little and just smirked at her.

We came to a field across which we always galloped, and it was a competition between Lavinia and me to see who reached the other side first.

I set off and was well ahead. When I came to the edge of the field I pulled up and looked round. I was alone.

Amazed, I called out, "Lavinia, where are you?"

There was no answer. I cantered back to the other side of the field. When I had started off on my gallop they could not have accompanied me.

I rode around looking for them, but after half an hour I went back to the stables. There was no sign of them. I did not want to go back to the House alone, for there might be a fuss. We were not supposed to ride without a groom. It was at least half an hour before they returned.

Lavinia looked flushed and excited. She assumed an annoyed expression.

"Wherever did you get to?" she demanded. "We've been looking for you everywhere."

"I thought you were galloping across the field after me."

"What field?"

"You know, where we always gallop."

"I can't think what happened," said Lavinia. She smirked and I was quick enough to see the exchanged glances between her and Jos.

I suppose, had I been wiser and more experienced in the ways of the world, I should have guessed what was going on. It would have been obvious to an older person. But I really believed there had been a misunderstanding and that they had not realized I had broken into a gallop.

Polly was in close conversation with Mrs. Janson and Mrs. Janson was saying, "I've warned her time and time again. But does she take any notice? That Holly was always a flighty piece ... and now I believe she's taken leave of her senses."

"You know what girls are," soothed Polly.

"Well, that girl's courting trouble, that's what. And a nice thing that'll be."

When I was alone with Polly I said, "What's Holly doing?"

"Oh ... just being silly."

"It sounded as if it was rather dangerous."

"Oh, it's dangerous all right ... with one like that."

"Who ... like Holly?"

"No ... him."

"Tell me about it."

"You've been listening again. Little pitchers have long ears."

"Polly. I'm quite a sizeable pitcher and my ears are normal size, but they work as well as anyone else's. Stop treating me like a child."

Polly folded her arms and looked at me intently.

"Growing up fast," she said, with a hint of sadness.

"I'm not going to be a child forever, Polly. It's time I learned something about the world."

She regarded me shrewdly. "There might be some truth in that," she said. "Young girls have to watch out. Not that I'm worried about you. You're sensible. Been brought up right, you have. I've seen to that. It's that Jos ... He's one of that kind ..."

"What kind?"

"He's got a way with him. He'll always have girls after him, and it seems to me that's about all he thinks of. Perhaps that's why he gets what he wants."

I was thinking of the way he looked at Lavinia and how she accepted familiarities from him which, I am sure, as Lady Harriet's daughter, she should not have done.

"And Holly?" I asked.

"She's being silly over him."

"Do you mean he's courting Holly?"

"Courting her! Courting her for one thing ... and that won't involve a wedding ring. I reckon the silly girl has given what he's after already ... and that's no clever thing for any girl to do, I can tell you."

"What are you going to do about it?"

Polly shrugged her shoulders. "Me! What can I do? I could speak to the rector. Might just as well speak to a brick wall as speak to him. Mrs. Janson's done her best. Well, we shall see. Perhaps she'll find him out before it's too late."

Ignorant as I was, I did not realize the implications of the situation. Holly might dally with Jos as Jos's mother had with the gypsy and there could be a similar result.

But Jos was not a wandering gypsy; he could hardly wander off and shirk his responsibilities.

I wished I had not been the one to find them.

The grounds surrounding the House were large and in some places wild and uncultivated. Beyond the shrubbery was a part that was somewhat isolated. There was an old summer house there, which I had discovered by accident. When I asked Lavinia about it she had said, "Nobody goes there nowadays. It's locked. There's a key somewhere. One day I'll find it." But that was a long time ago and she had never done anything about it.

On this particular day I went over to join Lavinia. It was early afternoon—a rest period for Miss York—and I knew that Mrs. Janson "put her feet up for an hour" at that time; I suspect Mrs. Bright of the House did the same.

A somnolent atmosphere hung over the house. It was very quiet. Lavinia was nowhere about. She should have met me at the stables, but she was not there. Her horse was, so I knew she had not gone without me.

I thought she must be somewhere in the gardens, so I decided to look round before going into the House.

I could not find her and my steps eventually led me to the shrubbery. Thus it was that I came on the old summer house. The place had always attracted me in a morbid way. I believe it was said to be haunted and that was why people did not go there often.

I paused at the door and thought I heard a sound within. It was a long, low chuckle which made me shiver. It sounded ghostly. I turned the handle of the door and to my surprise it opened. Then I saw who was there. It was no ghost. It was Jos and Lavinia. They were laying on the floor together.

I did not want to notice details. I felt myself get very hot. I shut the door and ran and did not stop running until I reached the rectory. I felt sick. I glanced at my face in a mirror. It was scarlet.

I could not believe what I had seen. Lavinia ... proud, haughty Lavinia ... doing that with a servant!

I sat down on my bed. What should I do? Lavinia may have seen me. She would have heard the door open. What ought I to do? How could I tell anyone—and yet how could I not?

The door opened and Polly came in.

"Heard you running up ..." She stopped and stared at me. "Why, what is it? What's the matter?"

She came and sat on the bed beside me and put an arm round me.

"You're upset," she said. "You'd better tell old Polly about it."

"I don't know, Polly. I can't believe it. I don't know whether she saw me or not. It was awful."

"Come on. Tell me."

"I think I ought not to tell anyone ... ever."

"You can tell me, as it's as good as if you'd kept it to yourself ... only better because I know what's best to do. Don't I always?"

"Yes, you do. Only swear you won't do anything ... without telling me."

"Cross my heart."

"Swear it, Polly."

"Here." She licked her finger and rubbed it dry. "See me finger's wet, see me finger's dry, Cross my heart and never tell a lie," she finished with a dramatic gesture.

I had heard Polly swear that before and I knew she would keep her word.

"I couldn't find Lavinia," I said. "I went to look for her. You know that old summer house ... the haunted one ... someone killed herself in it years ago ..."