Grosham was a shell, although the walls were intact and, riding up to it, one would have no idea that the interior had been destroyed.
We picked our way over the jutting stones—part of an inner wall—past broken columns, over grass which was growing where once there had been a tiled hall.
Dougal's indignation was great, for it was not natural age and decay which had ruined Grosham, but Cromwell's soldiers.
In the shadow of the castle we opened the picnic basket to find legs of roasted chicken with salad and crusty bread with a pot of butter. There was fruit to follow, and a bottle of Mrs. Janson's homemade elderberry wine.
We were hungry and the meal tasted especially delicious.
I did enjoy talking with Dougal and as I had been reading a great deal more since I had known him I was able to talk with confidence.
I had rarely seem him so indignant. "To think that castle might be in perfect condition today but for that ... vandal."
"You are referring to the self-righteous Oliver, of course."
"I hate to see beautiful things spoilt."
"But he thought they were sinful."
"Then he must have been a fool."
"I think he is not generally regarded as such."
"People can be wise in some ways and foolish in others."
"That's true. Cromwell did raise an army and taught peasants how to fight. He did win a war and governed the country for a time."
"He destroyed beautiful things and that is unforgivable."
"He made war and destroyed people, which is worse. But he believed he was right, that he had God on his side. Can people be blamed for doing what they think right?"
"It is arrogant to think one is right when so many people have different views."
"It is difficult to understand whether he was right or not. Some historians agree, others take the completely opposite view. It is not easy to form a judgement on such a man. About people like Nero and Caligula there are no possible doubts. But your opinion on Oliver Cromwell must be your own."
"He destroyed beautiful things," insisted Dougal, "and that is something for which I cannot forgive him. When people kill in the name of God I feel more strongly against them than I would if they were openly cruel. That castle is just one example. When you think of what he did all over the country."
"I know. But the point is that he thought he was right and that he was doing the best for the people."
"I suppose you have a point. I love beauty so passionately. I cannot bear to see it destroyed."
"I believe that beautiful things mean more to you than they do to most people. Cromwell saw them as sinful because people worshipped them more than they did God."
He became animated in discussion. There was a faint colour in his pale, rather aesthetic face. I thought: I believe I could be very fond of him. He is the sort of person who becomes more interesting as one knows him. I could picture myself taking up his interests and making them mine. It would be a rich and rewarding way of living. Already he had opened up new ideas in my mind. He was a man of intellect, a lover of humanity—except those who vandalized beautiful things. I had never seem him show such indignation towards a living person as he did towards Oliver Cromwell.
He seemed to follow my thoughts. He said, "It has been a great pleasure to me to know you and your father."
"It has been a great pleasure to us to know you."
"Miss Delany ... it seems absurd to address you so formally when there is such friendship between us. Perhaps I shall call you Drusilla."
"It seems a good idea," I replied, smiling.
"What an excellent picnic this is."
"I shall tell Mrs. Janson what you say. She will be delighted."
"Drusilla ..."
I never knew what he intended saying, for just at that moment we heard the sound of a horse's hoofs approaching and as Dougal paused in surprise, Fabian rode up.
"Hello," he called. "I knew you were coming here so I thought I'd join the party. Food! What an excellent idea!" He dismounted and tied up his horse with ours. "Are you going to invite me to join you?"
I felt a faint annoyance. I had been serenely contented listening to Dougal and now this man had arrived to put me on the alert, to destroy that serenity.
I could not help saying, "It seems you have invited yourself, Sir Fabian."
"I guessed you wouldn't mind my joining you. Is that chicken?" He stretched out a hand and took a leg. "The bread looks delicious," he added.
"It was made by Mrs. Janson."
"An admirable cook, Mrs. Janson, as I learned when I had the pleasure of dining at the rectory. How good it tastes! I am so glad I came along."
"How did you know where we had gone?" asked Dougal.
"Ha. Devious methods. I shall not tell you. I might want to use the same again. It's a wonderful old ruin, is it not? I am not surprised it aroused your interest. Outside perfect and inside ... not quite what you would expect. It is like some people, who present an innocent face to the world and hide secrets."
He was looking straight at me.
I said, "We were discussing Oliver Cromwell."
"An unpleasant fellow, I always thought."
"There is one who would agree with you, Dougal," I said.
"Drusilla had a good word to say for him."
I read his thoughts. Drusilla? Dougal? He had noticed the use of Christian names and was considering the significance of this. He looked faintly displeased.
"And so ... Drusilla ... admired the man?"
I replied, "He believed he was right in doing what he did and that has to be taken in consideration when assessing people."
"You are very fairminded. I, of course, have to be grateful to him for leaving us Framling intact."
"He was a strongminded man with firm views."
"It is a necessity for a ruler. Is that wine? I wonder if I might partake."
I poured a little into a small tumbler which Mrs. Janson had thoughtfully provided. "I am afraid it is one I have used," I told him. "Mrs. Janson naturally believed there would be only two of us."
"I am delighted to share your glass," he said, smiling at me. He sipped the wine. "Nectar of the gods," he murmured. "Your Mrs. Janson is a most excellent provider."
"I will pass on your compliments. I am sure she will be gratified."
"How delightful this is! We should do more of it. Alfresco picnics! What an excellent idea. Whose was it? Yours, Dougal's or Drusilla's, eh?"
"Mrs. Janson naturally provided some food, since we would not be returning to luncheon."
"A most thoughtful lady! Yes, certainly we should do more of this. You and Drusilla will be able to tell me of the antiquities we should explore. I confess being something of an ignoramus in these matters. But I am always ready for instruction."
Since he had come he dominated the conversation. The pleasant intimacy had gone. When we had packed up the remains of the meal and were exploring the castle it seemed different. He was there, making me uneasy now and then and casting his amused glance on me from time to time. It seemed to be a speculative glance and it both irritated and disturbed me.
The magic had gone out of the afternoon and he had a way of making our comments about the castle sound pretentious.
We curtailed the exploration considerably and thus returned to the Framling stables an hour or so earlier than we had expected to.
Two days later, Dougal came to the rectory. My father expressed his great pleasure and Mrs. Janson brought out wine and her special wine-biscuits into the drawing room, where we were.
She purred rather like a cat to show her pleasure. She liked distinguished visitors to come to the rectory and Dougal was certainly one of those.
As soon as she had gone I poured out the wine.