Midsummer's Eve

He looked at me through narrowed eyes. "The mistake was to have it tried down in Cornwall. It should have been in London with the very best people working for you.

There was a great property at stake.”

"Uncle Peter, I want to forget it.”

"All right. Now what are you going to do? You're not without means. The family is comfortably off. You have some money from your mother. She can't touch that. It's Cador and your father's property that she is claiming; but I should have thought that a sophisticated lawyer would have brought forward more the fact that you had lived there all your life as his daughter with expectations. You should have been entitled to something. The whole thing was too blithely handed over to her ...

lock, stock and barrel.”

"I have selected my very own possessions ... a few pieces of furniture, ornaments, that sort of thing. Mr. Tamblin is arranging for them to be stored. Then there is Croft Cottage. That belonged to my mother. I suppose that will remain mine." "A little property then.”

"Yes, in need of repair.”

"You should get Tamblin to arrange to have it put in order.”

"I don't want to think ...”

"I'll think for you. It may be small but it's a property. You might want to use it, or it could be let.”

"You are so practical, Uncle Peter.”

"It pays to be. I think you ought to do something, Annora. Have some purpose in life.

You've seen the change in Helena.”

"Yes. It's miraculous.”

"And you know what you've got to do. You've got to pick yourself up. You've got to start all over again. Dear child, you have had a very bad time ... blow after blow ...”

"One leading to the other, of course.”

"That is how life works. It's a pity you didn't marry that young man.”

I was silent.

"If you had," he went on, "it would have cushioned the blow. I gather his Manor estate is growing and prospering. I remember your father's saying some time ago that it would rival Cador in a few years' time.”

"You always think of the material side of everything, Uncle Peter." "My dear, it is always a side to consider. All your creature comforts depend on it, and they are not called comforts for nothing. They soften the impact of the slings and arrows. If you had married him you would have a home." His eyes gleamed. "You could have found a soothing balm in rivalling your neighbour. What does this woman know about great estates?”

"She'll have Bob Carter to look after it for her.”

"A lot depends on the one at the top. It would have been just what you need. It would have added a zest to life. Zest. That's what you want, Annora.”

I said: "You would have enjoyed it. I know you would have found leans of getting the better of her.”

"And, you are thinking, in a none too scrupulous way.”

"Perhaps.”

"You don't trust me, do you? You have a long memory. You are thinking of what I did to Joseph Cresswell. It was fair enough to my mind. He wouldn't have been any good in that post. What did he know about the vice of underground London? I do know of it. I thought I was right in what I was doing. Oh, you are not going to agree with me, of course. It is amazing, Annora, how you have become involved in my affairs.

Look at the good I am doing now. They are working wonders at the Mission-all due to my support. That can't be bad, can it? Does it matter how the money is come by if it does good in the end?”

"That is a question which has often been discussed.”

"And have you found a satisfactory answer?”

I shook my head. "You have been good to me, Uncle Peter," I said.

"I've told you I always had a soft spot for your mother ... and now for you. Listen to me. What you will do now is go with Helena and Matthew down to Mo bury. There is a lot to do. We must get him in, you understand. You'll work for him. It's hard work. You'll persuade people why they've got to vote for Matthew Hume ... the reformer.

Read his book. It's illuminating. He's done a good job. He somehow gets right into the minds of those convicts and some of the stories are pretty grim. It'll carry you along for a while. Stop your brooding. I've told you before that you have to pick yourself up when life knocks you down. You've got to think about those poor devils who have been sent into bondage for some petty crime or perhaps for some political attitude. Then you'll realize how much you have to be thankful for.”

"I'm thankful for you, Uncle Peter. You do me so much good. Talking to you, listening to you, has always helped me.”

"Odd, isn't it, an old villain like myself?”

I said: "You are a very lovable villain and you almost make me feel your villainies are virtues.”

"That, my dear Annora, is the very essence of villainy.”

I supposed I felt happier in London than I could anywhere else. It was an interesting suggestion that I should travel down to Mobury with Helena and Matthew. My reunion with Jonnie had been raprous. It first he had not known me but after a while he seemed to, and it soothed me considerably to play with him.

A great deal had been happening in the world. The Queen had married most happily.