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“
    Was? ” I asked.
    “She ran away and left him. People said they weren’t surprised.”
    “So he still has a wife?”
    “No. She went to London and soon after there was an accident on the railway. She was killed.”
    “How dreadful!”
    “Some said it was just retribution for her sins. Pious old Josiah Dorian at the Bell House was sure of this. The more charitable said they could understand the poor girl wanted to get away from her husband.”
    “It sounds very dramatic.”
    “Well, dear, that depends on the way you look at it. We’ve got a mixed brew here, but you get that in any village. It all looks so peaceful and calm, but probe below the surface and you’re bound to find something you didn’t expect. It’s like turning over a stone to see what’s beneath. Ever done that? Try it one day and you’ll see what 1 mean.”
    “So this Crispin, he’s married … and yet not.”
    “It’s called being a widower. He’s rather young for that, but I suppose the poor girl couldn’t stand living with him. Perhaps it will warn others not to attempt it. Although, I must say that, with a grand place like St. Aubyn’s and he being master of it, it might be a temptation to some.”
    “Tell me about Tamarisk.”
    “That was what I was coming to. She must be a month or so older than you … or perhaps younger. I’m not sure. She was what they call an afterthought. I don’t think for a moment that merry couple wanted another child. Think of the jolly life Madam would have to give up for a few months. Well, Tamarisk arrived. It must have been at least ten years after the birth of Crispin.”
    “They must have been very annoyed with her for being born.”
     
    “Oh, it was all right once she was born. Then she was handed over to nurses. She wouldn’t be allowed to intrude. No wonder she’s said to be wilful and wayward. Like her brother. 1 expect the nurses gave in to them. It would be a nice easy job without interference from above. They wouldn’t want to upset that. Poor little things. Their parents must have been almost strangers to them. But perhaps I should say poor Mrs. St. Aubyn. Her life had been with her husband and she lost him. Maud Hetherington and I take it in turns to visit her. She doesn’t want to see us and I am sure we don’t want to see her. But Maud says it must be done, and there is no gainsaying Maud.”
    “Shall I know them?”
    “That’s what I’m coming to. But first the Dorians at the Bell House.
    Nice place. Stands back from the road. Red brick. Mullioned windows.
    Pity. “
    “Why a pity?”
    “Pity the Dorians are there. That could be a happy house. I’d like to live there. Rather large for me, I suppose, but we could use it. I think old Josiah Dorian can’t forget it was once a meeting house.
    Quakers, most likely. It’s not exactly a church, but as near as makes no difference. A meeting place for people . the sort, I imagine, who think to laugh means a ticket to hell. It’s in that house still.
    Hangs on, I suppose, and Josiah Dorian is not the man to change it.
    ”
     
    “There’s a girl there, isn’t there? You said a girl of about my age .. like Tamarisk St. Aubyn.”
    “Yes, you’d be much of a much ness Poor girl! Lost her parents some time ago. Pity for her she came to her uncle and aunt.”
    7 came to my aunt. “
    She laughed.
    “Well, dear, I’m no Josiah Dorian.”
    “I think 1 was very lucky.”
    “Bless you, child. We both were. We’ll bring luck to each other. I’m sorry for poor Rachel in a place like that. It’s all very Sunday-go-to-meeting, if you know what 1 mean.
     
    They can’t get servants to stay long. Mary Dorian weighs out the sugar and locks up the tea . at her husband’s command, they say. Josiah Dorian is a mean man. Rachel’s mother was Mary Dorian’s sister. Well, what I’m getting at is this. I’ve taken my time getting round to it because I wanted you to know the people you’d be with. That’s if 1 can fix it. It’s