The adulteress

"What a pleasant surprise! Come in. I am sure you are thirsty."

"Not in the least," I said.

"Oh, you must give Isabel a chance to try her elderberry wine on you," said Derek. "She'll be heartbroken if you don't."

"Will you try it?" she asked. She had such a pleasant, kindly face that I warmed to her immediately, and I remembered how much I had liked her previously when I had called with Sabrina.

"It would be lovely," I said.

"Shall I tell them to bring it?" asked Dr. Forster.

"My dear Charles," cried Derek, "there's no need. It's the order of the day. Visitors are here: Bring out the elderberry. Mind you, it does change sometimes. The brew of the season might be dandelion or even sloe gin."

"He's exaggerating," said Isabel. "What do you think of the house, Mistress Ransome? Do you see any changes?"

"It's lighter ... it's ... happier."

She gave me a warm smile. "I know exactly what you mean."

Soon we were sitting in the little room I remembered well, sipping the wine and nibbling the wine cakes which were, I gathered, part of the ritual.

"And how are things at the Court?" asked Derek.

"I only arrived yesterday."

"We are flattered that you called so soon," said Isabel.

"I remembered how welcoming you were last time."

"We like to have visitors. It's not exactly a social neighborhood now, is it, Derek?"

"I agree with that," he said. "It would be so different if there were large families in the three houses ... Eversleigh, Enderby and Grasslands. ... I suppose there were at one time. Not any more, though. How is Lord Eversleigh?"

"I have seen him only briefly. Apparently he had a seizure."

Dr. Forster nodded. "He has a doctor in residence, I hear."

"Yes, Dr. Cabel. He was an old friend. My uncle must have felt ill because he asked him to come and almost immediately afterwards he had this seizure."

"I suppose he is fairly old," said Derek.

"Yes ... he's old. He was confined to his room when I came some years ago. It's wonderful that he has gone on so long."

"We do occasionally see the housekeeper and I believe they have a very good man managing the estate."

"Yes," I said.

"It must be a comfort to know that he is well looked after." Isabel went on: "The housekeeper's daughter went to Grasslands and married Andrew Mather."

"They're quite a clever family," said Derek.

"Now, Derek," said Isabel.

"Well, they say that the housekeeper at the Court is mistress of the house, maitresse-en-titre as it were, whereas her daughter is mistress de facto."

"Derek!" Isabel was shocked that he should be so frank in my presence. She turned to me: "You must forgive Derek. He just speaks without thinking."

"I understand," I said. "Uncle Carl was very fond of Jessie Stirling and she looks after him. He showed his gratitude. And I expect Evalina did the same for her master."

"He must be all of seventy," said Derek. "What is she? Sweet sixteen?"

"A little more, I imagine. I met her when I was here before."

"Andrew Mather is in good health and spirits," said Dr. Forster. "I can vouch for that."

"Then what are we tittle-tattling about?" demanded Isabel. "Let's talk of pleasant things. Isn't it nice that the king and queen have a son. I think it is so right that the first born of a monarch should be a son. They say the little Prince of Wales is strong and healthy and the apple of his mother's eye."

"Well," said Dr. Forster, "talking of pleasant things, we have our young king and queen, our little Prince of Wales and last November the Peace of Fontainebleau. We have come rather well out of the affair, I should say."

"Indeed," agreed Derek. "Canada from the French and Florida from Spain."

"Yes, but we have given up our gains in the East Indies."

"But we have kept Senegal and some of the West Indian islands."

"I'm sorry the people don't care so much for Mr. Pitt nowadays," said Isabel. "He used to be so loved. People relied on him, and just because he has accepted a pension ... Poor man, he has to live. Why shouldn't he have a pension?"

They talked very knowledgeably about what was going on in the world. I gathered they all went to London from time to time, and I felt I had shut myself away too much in the country. I seemed to learn so much just by listening to them—even frivolous items like the cost of the king's coach, which was seven thousand five hundred and sixty-two pounds, four shillings and three pence. Isabel was aghast at the cost and thought the money might have been better spent. I learned that there had been riots at Drury Lane Theatre and Covent Garden because the manager refused to admit people at half price at the end of the third act; and that Lord Bute had resigned and Mr. Fox had become Lord Holland, and that John Wilkes had been committed to the Tower.

I liked the Forsters very much and perhaps what I particularly enjoyed so much was the normal lighthearted company.

"You must come to see us again," said Isabel when I rose to go.

I said nothing would please me better.

"Are you going too, Charles? I thought you would stay to supper."