He nodded.

Then he came over to me and kissed me hard on the mouth.

"Oh yes," he whispered, "I like you, little mock Susannah. You're going to come round to my way of thinking. We're going to work our way through this together."

Then he was gone.

I pulled my dressing gown over my shoulders; which were red where he had roughly handled me.

I felt sick and very frightened.

What could I do now?

As I sat there, there was a knock on my door. I sprang up, fearing that he had come back.

"Who's there?" I whispered.

"It's only Janet."

I opened the door.

"My patience me! What's wrong?"

I said: "Nothing ... nothing... . It's all right, Janet."

"Don't nothing me. I know better than that. Garth's been in here. I saw him going out. What's he up to?"

"He knows, Janet."

"I guessed as much. I was afraid when he came. There was something between him and Susannah. There was something between her and a lot of them. She couldn't resist men ... and there's nothing that men like better than that."

"Oh, Janet," I cried wearily, "what am I going to do? I should never have done this."

"Well, you did, and what's done is done. It's brought you back to the castle and that's where you belong by rights. You should have come back and said who you were. I doubt you would have been turned away."

"Janet ... Garth ... who is he?"

"Elizabeth Larkham's boy. He used to be here a lot when he was young. Used to come here because his mother was here."

"Yes, I know that. But who was his father?"

"David of course. Elizabeth was supposed to be a widow, but, well, she'd been David's mistress before she came here ... and Garth was the result. She called herself a widow and came to be under the same roof as her lover. They're like that, these Mate-lands. Always have been through the ages, I reckon. Leopards can't change spots and Matelands can't change their ways either."

I was thinking: Mateland blood! Garth of course. Not Malcolm. I was deeply relieved because Malcolm was completely exonerated.

I found myself telling Janet all that had happened. It was a relief to pour it out. At least I knew that she was a friend. I told her everything about David's encounter with me on my way home from school and how Anabel had come to collect me and we had gone off together.

She listened attentively. She wanted to know how Anabel had lived on the island, about her happiness there.

"And did she ever mention me?" she asked.

"She did," I told her, "and always with affection."

"She should have taken me with her," said Janet. "But then I'd have been blown up and not able to look after you."

"What shall I do, Janet?" I asked. "I must tell them, of course. I'll tell Malcolm tomorrow."

"Yes," answered Janet, "but let's think about it first."

She sat with me until late and then I went to bed. I was so exhausted that, to my surprise, I slept through until morning.

The next day when I arose I learned that Malcolm had gone out and that he would be away all day.

That gave me a day's respite, for I had come to the conclusion that it should be to Malcolm that I made my confession.

I went down to breakfast. I was glad no one was there, for I could only manage a cup of coffee. While I was drinking it, Chaston appeared. Jack Chivers had come to see me again.

I took him into the small room off the main hall where I had seen him before.

"It's Leah again," he told me.

"The baby ... ?"

"No, it's her father. She says to come to her as soon as you can."

I went upstairs, changed into my riding kit and rode over to the cottage.

Leah was waiting, her big eyes showing great concern.

"It's my father again. He's left this for you. He said I was to give it into your own hands."

I took the envelope she gave me, slit it, took out a sheet of paper and read what it contained.

I've got something to say to you, Miss Susannah, and I want to say it quick. You tried to murder Mr. Esmond and my brother was a help to you. He was a good man but you are a witch and there's not many can hold out against witches. Now you've got to pay for it. I want a lease to give me the farm for the rest of my days and then to be renewed for Amos and Reuben. I want new equipment and everything that can make the farm flourish again. You may say this is blackmail. Maybe it is. But you can't betray me without betraying yourself. Come to the barn ... the one where poor Saul hanged himself. Come at nine tonight and have a paper with you promising me what I ask for, and I'll give you my word that I'll keep quiet about what I know. Fail me and the next day everyone will know what you got from Saul and the real reason why he killed himself.

I stared at the paper. Leah continued to watch me, her eyes full of anxiety.

I put the letter in its envelope and thrust them into my pocket.

"Oh, Miss Susannah," said Leah, "I hope it's not too bad."

I looked at her sadly. I thought: I shall never see the baby when it comes. I shall be far away. Where? I wondered. I should never see the castle again. I should never see Malcolm.

I don't know how I got through that day.

Janet came into my room during the morning. On impulse I showed her Jacob Cringle's letter.

"Looks like a bit of blackmail to me," she said.

"He hates Susannah," I replied. "I understand it. He thinks she was responsible for Saul's death."

"You mustn't go there tonight."

"I'm going to tell Malcolm when I see him."

"Yes," said Janet. "Make a clean breast of it. I don't think he'll be too hard. I think he's a bit soft on you. You were such a change ... after Susannah. He couldn't abide her."

"I'll have to go away, Janet. I'll have to leave everything... ."

"You'll be back. I just feel it in my bones. But wait and tell Malcolm. That's your best plan."

"So I thought."

I went out so that I did not need to come back for luncheon. I had another day here, for Malcolm could not be back until late. I would not speak to him today. It would be tomorrow.

I came back and went to my room. It was the middle of the afternoon. I took out Jacob Cringle's letter and read it again.

The strange thing was that I had been turning over in my mind the possibility of giving new equipment to the Cringles' farm, to give Jacob an incentive to work harder, for I knew he was a good farmer. I should in time have given him all he was demanding. But he hated me ... because he thought I was Susannah. I wanted to tell him that I understood, he wanted vengeance. But how could I?

As I sat there, the letter in my hand, the door opened and to my horror I saw that it was Garth.

"Ah, the little impostor," he said. "Are you glad to see me?"

"No," I answered.

"And what have you got there?"

He snatched the letter from me and when he read it his expression changed.

"Silly man!" he said. "He knows too much."

"I am not going to see him," I replied.

"But you must."

"I am going to tell Malcolm as soon as I get the chance. There will be no need for me to see Jacob Cringle."

He was thoughtful, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

"If you don't see him he will come to the castle. He will shout the truth for all to hear. You should see him and explain who you are. Tell him that, and he'll have no case. Susannah is dead. That's the end of it. It's the only way."

"I think I should tell Malcolm first."

"Malcolm will not be back until late tonight. You have to see Jacob first."

I was thoughtful.

"I'll come with you. I'll protect you," he said. "I don't need you with me."

"Very well. But it won't do for him to go about shouting all this." He tapped the letter. "I'll see him tonight. I'll explain." He nodded. To my surprise he did not pester me further.

I had made up my mind. I was going to see Jacob Cringle. I was going to tell him that I was not Susannah, that I had never known his brother Saul and that Susannah was dead. Perhaps that would satisfy him and ease his craving for revenge.

Then I was coming back and I was going to tell Malcolm the truth.

I felt a sense of relief. My mad masquerade was coming to an end. Whatever the price asked, I must pay it and bear whatever was coming to me, for I deserved it.

The day seemed as though it would never end. I was glad when it was time for dinner, though I could not eat. Garth, Emerald and I kept up some sort of conversation. I can't remember what I said but, whatever it was, it was very vague, I am sure. I was thinking all the time of what I was going to say to Jacob Cringle and most of all how I would tell Malcolm afterwards.

I dreaded the evening and yet I could not wait for it to come.

When the meal was over I hurried to my room and changed into my riding habit. It was half past eight and my rendezvous with Jacob Cringle was for nine o'clock. It would take me ten minutes to ride to the barn.

Janet came in. She was very distressed.

"You ought not to go," she said. "I don't like it."

"I must go, Janet," I told her. "I have to talk to Jacob Cringle. He must have an explanation. His brother died and he blames Susannah. I took her place ... and I feel I owe him an explanation."

"To write a letter like that... it's nothing short of blackmail and blackmailers are bad people."

"I don't think it is quite as simple as that. I think there is a difference in this case. Anyway, I've made up my mind."