Читаем Midsummer's Eve полностью

"A man in my father's position will always have enemies. If one of them feels strongly and has the means ...”

Peterkin said: "Yes, yes," in a soothing sort of way, and I could see that he thought he was talking wildly-as I did. Poor Joe! Both Peterkin and I had the utmost sympathy for him.

"You see, it was simply not possible for my father to have gone there for any other reason than to help that girl he believed his carriage had knocked down.”

"It wasn't your own coachman who did it?”

"No. It would never have happened if he had been driving. It was a hired vehicle.

It wasn't always convenient to take the carriage. That's what makes me think. I reckon it was done on purpose to trap him, and he just walked into it.”

It seemed a little far-fetched. The driver would have had to be in the conspiracy as well as the girl and the man who had made the brawl and those who sent for the police. No. I believed that Mr. Cresswell had gone into the girl's apartment because he felt responsible, as the vehicle in which he was riding had knocked her down.

What had happened was a run of bad luck.

But both Peterkin and I listened sympathetically. We knew how badly Joe must be feeling-so we let him run on.

After a while Joe said he must go. He was grateful for our sympathy, he told us, and it had done him a lot of good to talk to us.

He took my hand as we were parting, and Peterkin, perhaps feeling that there was a special understanding between us, walked on and left us together for a few seconds.

Joe said: "Annora, I want to see you alone.”

"Yes?”

"Can I come to the house? Is there a time when you would be alone there?”

I thought rapidly.

"On Wednesday," I said. "Helena and her mother are going to the dressmaker's. They'll be away all the morning. I think Peterkin is going to see Frances.

And Uncle Peter is never there. Come on Wednesday at ten o'clock.”

"I don't want to see anyone else. Not the servants ... no one. You understand?

"They're usually in the kitchen at that time. If you come at ten I'll watch for you and let you in. No one need know. Or would you rather I met you somewhere?”

"No. I'd rather it was in the house ... if we can be quite alone.”

"Wednesday then," I said. "I'll look out for you at ten o'clock.”

I was disturbed. I kept asking myself why Joe should want to see me alone, and the idea occurred to me that he might be going to ask me to marry him.

We had seen a great deal of each other and there had undoubtedly been a rather special rapport between us. At a time of acute distress, he might well turn to me for comfort.

And there was Rolf. I could not stop myself thinking of him. I had tried to dismiss him from my thoughts because before that memorable night I had been convinced that one day I would marry Rolf. It was a childish fantasy, of course. Hadn't I once thought of marrying my father? But Rolf had been so much a part of my innocent childhood-though I had ceased to be innocent after that fearful night. I must stop thinking of Rolf for I could never be completely happy thinking of him because from that night had sprung all my fears and doubts. It was not only that I was disillusioned with Rolf-but with life.

I wanted to escape from those memories. It might well be that the best way to do so would be through marriage with someone else.

I had to give this serious contemplation. If Joe were to ask me and I said No, that would make him more unhappy than he already was. It seemed to my inexperienced and romantic mind that if he asked me I must therefore say Yes. I could not bear to cause him further pain; and if I became engaged to him I should be able to comfort him.

It would be a way of saying, I believe in your father. I want him for my father-in-law.

I was sure that it would comfort the entire family. But I wished I could stop thinking of Rolf.

I was very uneasy on that Wednesday morning. I was afraid that at the last minute Aunt Amaryllis and Helena would cancel their visit to the dressmaker's. It was hardly likely that Uncle Peter would be in. If Peterkin decided not to go out, that would not be too bad. I could explain to him more easily.

But all went according to plan.

At ten o'clock I was at the window which looked out on to the street. Joe was waiting.

I listened. The house was quiet. The servants were all in the kitchen having the snack which they had about this time. I hurried down to the door and let Joe in.

I took him to a small room which was rarely used. He looked very distraught and was pale, I noticed. He took my hand and pressed it warmly.

I said: "We are free from interruptions here. The servants won't emerge from the kitchen for half an hour at least, and everyone else is out.”

"Thank you. Oh, thank you." He looked around the room. "Oh, Annora. I could do with a drink.”

"Oh, yes. I'll go and get something. It isn't kept in this room. I won't be long.

You'll be all right here. No one will come.”

He nodded.

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