The adulteress

"Because I appeared, you mean. He didn't even look at me. He couldn't have seen me with that nightcap right down over his eyes."

"I don't think he was actually aware of you exactly," said the doctor, "but he might know something unusual was going on and be vaguely uneasy. Believe me his condition is so precarious that I can't have that. I want him kept quiet, and I do think it is best that I supervise the visits."

"Not too many visitors at one time, eh?"

"I think that is understandable."

"It's very understandable," said Dickon flashing his smile on them. He changed the subject abruptly. "There was an old chest I was rather interested in. Not a very good one ... but the brass fittings were fine. The wood was a bit rotten in places, though. The worm had got in. I noticed it. It was Tudor, I think. I was always interested in furniture, wasn't I, Zipporah ... ? The trouble with me is that I'm interested in the wrong things. Never mind. I'm only a boy, as the family are fond of saying."

"What about this chest?" I asked.

"Oh, I just looked for it, that's all. I thought it was in that winter parlor ... but I must have been mistaken because you've got that one of a much later period there now. Perhaps it was somewhere else I saw it. What do you propose to do this afternoon, Zipporah? I suppose you are not going to see Uncle Carl."

We were both looking at Dr. Cabel. "Unthinkable," he said. "I am not sure that you will be able to see him today at all. He's not had one of his good days."

"Too many strangers in the house," said Dickon.

"How would he know that?" I asked.

"You never know," said Dickon showing all his teeth. His eyes glittered so strangely that it could hardly be said that he was smiling.

I was glad when I could leave the table. I wanted to get away from the house, away from Dickon. My dream had disturbed me more than I would care to admit. I went for a long ride, not to the sea this time, and it was past four when I decided I should return. I came back by way of Grasslands—a very pleasant house this, about the same size and type as Enderby but very different, surrounded by grassy lawns from which I suppose it derived its name.

A horse was tethered near the mounting block. I recognized it as Dickon's.

He has lost no time, I thought. I hesitated. My impulse was to ride away as quickly as I could. I did not want to see Evalina and be reminded of the last time I had seen her and the words she had directed at me. Then I wondered whether I should speak to Dickon. After all he was of the family; he had come down here on my account; he was not really much more than a boy. It was very different frolicking with an unmarried girl but if that girl had a husband he might land into serious trouble.

Perhaps, I thought, turning my horse away, it is just a friendly call and I am misjudging him. Misjudge Dickon! It was hardly likely.

But no. I would call. I tied up my horse and walked boldly to the front door and pulled the bell rope.

It was opened by a maid who looked questioningly at me.

I said: "Is Mistress Mather at home?"

"Yes, mistress."

"Will you tell her Mistress Ransome has called."

"Please to come in," said the maid and I was taken into a hall slightly smaller than that at Enderby and lacking the minstrels' gallery which was such a feature of that place.

"Mistress has a guest now," said the maid, "but I'll tell her."

A short while after she came back. "Please to step this way, mistress."

I followed her up the wide staircase to the landing. The maid opened the door and I walked in.

Evalina came toward me, her hands outstretched. She was somewhat elaborately dressed in a rose-colored gown, her face delicately painted and her hair elegantly arranged. She was beaming with satisfaction. She certainly enjoyed playing the lady of the house. Seated in a chair was a man whom I guessed to be Andrew Mather, and in another, his well-shaped legs encased in finest hose spread out before him, was Dickon.

"What a pleasure," she said in a lightly affected voice. "Do come in and meet my husband. I have told Andrew quite a lot about you."

I thought I detected an undercurrent of meaning in her words but pretended I did not. Andrew Mather had risen. He walked toward me with the aid of a stick.

"I am so pleased to make your acquaintance," he said.

I was looking into a pair of mild blue eyes. His smile was pleasant and really welcoming.

"My other guest, you know," went on Evalina.

Dickon stood up and gave me a mocking bow.

"Yes," I said, "I saw your horse."

"Such detection," murmured Dickon, raising his eyes to the ceiling. "Do you know they sent me here to keep an eye on her, but I fancy she is keeping an eye on me."

"It would be quite impossible to follow all your activities," I said.

Evalina gave a little giggle. "Sit down, dear Andrew love," she said. "You know how tiring you find it standing." She took his arm and led him tenderly back to his chair.

"She fusses over me far too much," he said to me.