The adulteress

"Not more than you deserve." Evalina had forced him into his chair and planted a kiss on his forehead.

He looked very happy.

"Now please sit down, Mistress Ransome," said Evalina. "I am longing to hear how you find it at the Court."

"I believe Lord Eversleigh is very ill indeed," said Andrew.

"My mother takes good care of him."

"Excellent care," murmured Dickon. He exchanged a glance with Evalina.

"She always has ... as I do of my own Andrew."

She smiled possessively at her husband, who returned the smile.

I thought: She overacts ... and that makes one begin to feel there is something not quite right. It is the same with her mother.

"I bet you were surprised to find me married."

"I don't know why I should be."

"Well, married so well," she said with a fond look at her husband.

"I am pleased to see you are so happy and it must be pleasant to be so near your mother/' I said.

"Well, there is that," she said. "Would you like some refreshment?"

"No, thank you. I merely called to congratulate you."

"It was kind of you," said Andrew Mather.

He looked to me to be a deeply contented man, and I reminded myself that Uncle Carl had been contented with Jessie. What was it these women had which could make their men contented even though they must be aware that they were paying a price for their comfort? But I was being unfair to Evalina. She seemed as though she really were devoted to her husband. Then I thought of Jessie, so kind and tender to Uncle Carl, so solicitous of his comforts and slipping off to spend the afternoon with Amos Carew.

Perhaps I was prejudiced against Evalina. Perhaps she had changed and was no longer the same girl who had blackmailed me over the key, frolicked with Dickon in the barn and then thrown that remark at me on the very last occasion we had met.

"This is a very pleasant house," I said.

"We like it, do we not, Evalina?" said Andrew. He had turned to Dickon. "You were quite complimentary about it."

"I said what I felt," said Dickon, "and that is that it had great charm. Your lady wife showed me everything. ... It was a fascinating voyage of discovery."

He was looking at her slyly and I saw the glance which passed between them. I believed then that they were continuing with that relationship of which I had had a hint in the barn. I was sure it was a situation which would appeal to Dickon—aging, uxorious husband, wife who was much younger than he was and decidedly loose in her morals .. . and the gay philanderer looking where he could for easy gratification of his ever demanding senses.

"I was telling your cousin ... is he your cousin?"

"The relationships in our family are very complicated to explain," I said. "Dickon's mother is my mother's cousin. I'm not sure what that makes us."

"Cousins is good enough for me, dear Zipporah," Dickon said.

"Well, I was telling your cousin that I want him to take a look at the chest in the second bedroom on the third floor of he west wing. I feel certain it is thirteenth century, very simple, decorated with chip-carved rondels. Really Gothic."

"I'm interested to see that," Dickon confirmed.

"Andrew is very taken with old things," Evalina explained, pouting a little. "I think he would like me better if I were old."

He smiled at her fondly.

Dickon sighed. "Alas, people do not grow more beautiful with age."

"They may grow more interesting," I suggested.

"Oh, Mistress Ransome," cried Evalina, "you are telling me that I am a foolish little thing. I think you are probably right, but that is the way Andrew likes me."

I felt it was all rather nauseating and said quickly: "Is it just antique furniture which interests you, Mr. Mather?"

"Mainly," he replied. "I'm also interested in art generally, pictures, statuary ... objets d'art generally, I suppose."

"I understand you have a very fine collection," said Dickon.

"Well, not as extensive as I should like it to be. You are rather knowledgeable yourself, I see. Do go and have a look at that chest sometime."

Evalina leaped up. "I'll take him now," she said. "Then he can give you his opinion right away. You will excuse us," she went on. "It won't take long, will it?" She looked archly at Dickon.

"We'll be quick," he said.

I was left alone with Andrew Mather. I was picturing those two and wondering what they would be saying as they studied the chest. That Dickon would cynically make some assignation with her, I was sure, and that she would accept seemed equally certain.

"I am surprised," I said, "that Dickon is regarded as an expert on fine furniture. I can't think where he could have acquired his knowledge."

"He has a feeling for it. I sense that by the way he talks. He's very young, of course, and therefore lacking in experience but some people have instinct. I think he might have that and I'd like his opinion on the effect it has on him."

"It is a great interest for you, I'm sure."