” We ought to find out,” I said sharply.
“I asked the servants. They quite clearly knew nothing about it.”
” Someone must have put it there.” I heard my voice rise unnaturally high.
Ruth shrugged her shoulders.
” But we must find out,” I insisted.
“It’s someone playing these tricks. Don’t you see … it’s the same sort of thing as the curtains being drawn.”
” Curtains?”
I was annoyed with myself because the drawing of the bed curtains had been a matter known only to the one who had done it, and Mary-Jane and myself. Now I should have to explain. I did so briefly.
” Who drew the curtains?” screeched Sarah. ” Who put the warming-pan in Gabriel’s bed? And it was your bed, too, wasn’t it, Catherine.
Yours and Gabriel’s. “
” I wish I knew!” I cried vehemently.
“Someone must have been rather absent-minded,” said Luke lightly.
“I don’t think it was absent-mindedness,” I retorted.
“But, Catherine,” put in Ruth patiently, “why should anyone want to pull your bed curtains about your bed or remove the warming-pan?”
” That’s what / should like to know.”
“Let’s forget all about it.” said Matthew.
“That which was lost is found.”
” But why … why …?” I insisted.
” You are getting excited, my dear,” whispered Ruth.
“I want to know the explanation of these strange things which are happening in my room.”
“The duckling is getting cold,” said Sir Matthew. He came to me and slipped his arm through mine. ” Never mind about the warming-pan, my dear. We shall know why it was moved … all in good time.”
” Yes,” said Luke, ” all in good time.” And he kept his eyes on my face as he spoke, and I could see the speculation there.
“We’d better start,” said Ruth, and as they sat down at the table I had no alternative but to do the same; but my appetite had deserted me. I kept asking myself what the purpose was behind these strange happenings which seemed in some way to be directed towards me.
I was going to find out. I must find out.
Before the month was out we were invited to the vicarage to discuss the last-minute plans for the imminent ” Bring and Buy Sale.”
” Mrs. Cartwright always gets the wind in her tail at such times,” said Luke. ” This is nothing to the June garden fete or her hideous pa gents
” Mrs. Cartwright is an energetic lady,” said Ruth, ” possessing all the qualities to make her an excellent wife for the vicar.”
” Does she expect me to go?” I asked.
” Of course she does. She’d be hurt if you didn’t. You will come?
It’s only a short walk, but if you like we can drive there.”
” I feel perfectly fit to walk,” I said quickly.
“Then we’ll go along. It’s an excellent opportunity for you to meet some of our neighbours. Now that we’re in mourning, the vicarage rather than the Revels has become the centre of our village. In the past, meetings were held here.”
We set out about ten-thirty, and in a quarter of an hour had arrived at the vicarage, a pleasant grey stone house close to the church. We joined one or two people going in the same direction and Ruth introduced me. I was studied with a certain amount of curiosity because they all knew that I was the wife whom Gabriel had married somewhat hastily and whom he had left pregnant after two weeks of marriage.
They were summing me up, which I accepted as normal in the circumstances. I expected there were some of them who believed that shortcomings in myself may have been the reason for Gabriel’s death.
Mrs. Cartwright, whom I had of course already met, was a large, somewhat florid woman with a powerful personality. She assembled us all in her drawing-room, which seemed small but only because I was accustomed to the rooms at the Revels, and here morning coffee with biscuits was being served by a maid.
I was conducted to the window from which I could see the churchyard. I could just make out the Rockwell vault with the wrought-iron work above it. and my thoughts immediately went to Gabriel.
When all the guests were present Mrs. Cartwright addressed us in her booming voice and told us of the need for speed. The sale must be in time to give people opportunities of buying their Christmas presents at it. ” So please ransack your attics, and any little objet of art will be appreciated. Perhaps it is something which you no longer value.
That does not mean that no one else will. Please try to bring in your offerings before the day. It does give us time to decide how to price them. And on the day … do come and buy. Remember it is for the good of the church and the roof does need attention. As you all know, there’s death watch beetle up there in the rafters. I know you will help. But the need is immediate, ladies. Has anyone any suggestions?”
There were some, and Mrs. Cartwright considered them and asked for counter opinions. It was all very businesslike and I admired our vicar’s wife for her energy.
When the business of the meeting had been settled she came and sat in the window with me and told me how glad she was to see me there.
” It is wonderful to see you looking so well and to know that there is to be an addition to the family. I know that Sir Matthew is delighted absolutely delighted. It is a comfort to him in the circumstances….”
She was one of those women who carry the whole of a conversation for the sheer joy of talking, and a better talker than a listener, I discovered. ” Such a great deal of work to be done. The people here are so good … so helpful … but between ourselves they are rather slow in taking action … if you know what I mean. One has to prod … prod … to get anything done. This sale of work will not produce half the profit unless it takes place well before Christmas. I do hope you will be able to bring us a little something . and you will come and buy, won’t you? Some little thing … just anything…. More than one, of course, if you have it. Anything … but the more valuable the better. Forgive me for begging so persistently.”
I said it was in a good cause and I would see what I could find. ” I have a brooch of turquoises and pearls … very small.”
” Ideal! How generous of you. And to-morrow … could we have it then? I’ll send someone for it.”
” It’s a little old-fashioned.”
” No matter. It will be wonderful. I am so pleased that you have come.
You are going to be such a help to us . particularly when . well, at the moment of course you are feeling less energetic than you will later. I can talk of these matters with feeling. I have six of my own. Ah yes, it is hard to believe, is it not? And the youngest is nineteen. He’s going into the Church. I’m glad one of them is. I was beginning to be afraid. As I was saying, you’ll be so helpful later, I know . with the pageant. I do want a pageant in the ruins this summer. “
” Have you had one before?”
” Five years ago was the last. Of course the weather was tragic.
Rain, rain, rain. That was July. I think we might choose June this year. July is a wet month really.”
” What sort of pageant was it?”
” Historical. It must be historical … with such a setting. The costumes were excellent.”
” We were lent some from the Revels and we made others. We were helped considerably from the Revels with the Cavaliers, but we made our own Roundheads. They were easy to do.”
” Yes, I suppose they would be. So you started with the Civil War, did you?”
” Good heavens, no ! We went back to before the Dis solution. It was the only thing to do with that wonderful setting all ready for our use.
It was most effective. People said that on that day it was as though the Abbey was no longer a ruin.”