Midsummer's Eve

"The day after tomorrow. I've arranged for a man to bring a (buggy. We shall travel in that.”

"The best way really. Mind you it takes longer. Who's your Irnan?”

"A fellow called Jack Tomlin.”

"Know him well. He's one of the best. He'll take care of everything.”

"I can see I made a good choice.”

II wondered what Gregory was feeling. He knew that I was definitely going now and that his grandiose schemes for marrying the little woman and acquiring her fortune were foundering. "There will be a good deal to do," I said to Helena.

She agreed.

The evening passed. We sat for a long time over the table, talking. Rolf and Gregory had one passion in common: land. Gregory was greatly interested to hear that Rolf owned a large estate in Cornwall. They talked at great length about the differences in the land here and in England. I could see they were both very curious about each other-possibly regarding their relationships with me-but they talked amicably until it grew dark and Maud brought in the oil lamps. When I retired I felt a lightness of spirit. I felt better than I had since the tragedy.

The tension had lifted, the eerie feeling had disappeared; I was being gently lifted out of a situation which had begun to alarm me. There was nothing to be afraid of now.

But that night I dreamed of Midsummer's Eve. Then we were back in Australia and Rolf had just arrived. He was wearing a grey robe. They were cooking out of doors as they sometimes did and he leaped high over the fire and disappeared.

A strange dream. During the last weeks I had forgotten all about that Midsummer's Eve.

I was up early in the morning. Before me lay the task of going through their clothes ... something I had shunned until now. But it had to be done. I had to sort out the little jewellery my mother had brought with her and her clothes. I would give the latter away. Many of the people on the property might be glad of them. And the same went for my father's and Jacco's.

I knew it was going to be harrowing and the sooner I did it the better.

Maud offered to help me. So did Helena; but I declined their assistance and set about the task on my own.

It was even worse than I imagined. I did Jacco's first. I tried not to let my emotions get the better of me, but each garment seemed to have some special significance.

At one moment I just sat on the floor and gave way to my weeping.

It was no use. It had to be done. The clothes at least would give pleasure to some of the young men on the property. Or would they? Some of them might well despise the elegant cut and the good material. But what did that matter? They were only clothes.

I went to my parents' room and worked steadily.

In the pocket of one of my father's coats I found a little notebook. I remembered that I had given it to him. I sat down on the bed and looked at it. It was in red leather with his initials on it in gilt lettering. I thought about the Christmas Day two years ago. My gift to him ...

I opened it. He had used it for addresses. There were several in London ... often people I knew. And recently he had written in some in Australia. They were not in alphabetical order. In fact there was no index in the book; it was just a plain notebook with a little gold pencil fixed at the side.

I turned it over idly and came to the last address he had written.

"Stillman's Creek on the borders of Queensland and New South Wales? Some eighty miles from Brisbane.”

That had been written in rather hastily and my mind went back to scrap of conversation I had heard between my father and Gregory vhen my father had asked in what direction Stillman's Creek lay.

I wondered why he had been interested in that place.

I shut the book and put it into that pile which contained my nother's jewellery and those things I wanted to keep.

With an intense relief, I shut the door of that room and went out.

The heartrending task had been completed.

The buggy was at the door. The baggage had been put into it. It only remained for us to say goodbye and we would be off.

They had assembled to see us go. Most of the people who worked on the property had come out. Standing a little apart from them was Gregory. Maud and Rosa were beside him.

I put my arms round Maud and kissed her.

I sensed her mingling emotions; sadness at parting and relief that I was going. She had believed until the last that Gregory would find |some way of forcing me to marry him. Now the field was free for I Rosa. I conveyed to her somehow that I understood.

"Good luck, Maud," I whispered. "I hope all goes well for you (and Rosa.”

Gregory was holding my hands and looking into my eyes with that I familiar quizzical look. It was over. I had escaped him. He knew this I and he accepted it as he accepted life generally, nonchalantly. He had I what he had been waiting for so long ...

the property. He had lost the greater prize but he would take the cash in hand and waive the | rest. That was his nature.

I could not help admiring him.