The pool of St Branok

I had to conquer a smoldering resentment because he really did take more notice of Grace than of me; and not so long ago we had been such friends. He had once implied that he was a little piqued because I seemed to transfer my affection from him to Benedict Lansdon. He had spoken jestingly, of course, but I wondered if he had meant it ... just a little. Now I felt the same about him and Grace. Of course she was older than I ... older than us both ... and she had read so much of archaeology since she had known Jonnie that she could talk to him almost as a fellow student would have done.

I did not see Jonnie all the next day and on the following one he told us what had been on his mind.

He made the announcement just before we went in to dinner. Helena looked very solemn and so did Matthew.

"I have joined the army," said Jonnie. "We don't have to do much training. There isn't time. I expect I shall be leaving soon for the Crimea."

Jonnie's action aroused a great storm in the family. Helena was very worried and tried to persuade him to change his mind; Geoffrey was resentful because he was not old enough to do the same. I think his father, in his heart, agreed with Helena, but Uncle Peter saw how the situation could be turned to advantage. There had been hints, in pacific circles, that those who were eagerly clamoring for war were not those who would have to go and fight it. But here was a prominent politician whose son had volunteered. He was a student studying archaeology but as soon as he understood his country's need he had rallied to the flag.

"This will do infinite good," said Uncle Peter soothingly. "The war will soon be over. Perhaps before Jonnie gets out there."

Even so the Russell reports did not echo that view. There was an outcry in Parliament and throughout the country. Something would have to be done.

Then we began to hear a great deal about a lady called Florence Nightingale. Uncle Peter and Aunt Amaryllis knew her family fairly well. They had always thought that Florence was a difficult girl who had caused her parents some concern because she would not do what every girl was expected to do—make a good marriage and settle cozily into society. Florence had all the necessary accomplishments; she was handsome and intelligent, charming and attractive to the opposite sex. But she had a passion for nursing. How ridiculous! they said. Nursing was not for ladies. It was the sort of work people did when they could find no other employment. It was rather like the drifters and ne'er-do-wells who went into the army. Only this comparison was not stressed now for the drifters and ne'er-do-wells had been miraculously turned into heroes.

But now those who had ignored Miss Nightingale began to notice her.

"I heard," said Uncle Peter, "that Miss Nightingale is being taken very seriously at last. Sydney Herbert is most impressed. They realize the need for good nurses out there. She is suggesting taking a group of women out there ... women whom she will train. It is an important step forward."

Jonnie looked splendid in uniform. We were all very proud of him, but, of course, with each passing day, his departure grew nearer.

Then a strange thing happened.

Lord John Milward, of whom I had never heard before, died. There was a column in the paper about him. He had suffered an attack of the dreaded typhoid fever which had in a very short time proved fatal.

I had not thought that this could affect us at all. That was because at that time I was ignorant of the family history. Lord John Milward had left quite a large sum of money to Jonnie.

Jonnie was astonished and then suddenly he seemed to accept it.

It was some time later when I learned the truth.

Lord John Milward was, in fact, Jonnie's father and not Matthew Hume, as I had always been led to suppose—and so had Jonnie himself.

Apparently when she was very young, Helena had been engaged to John Milward; there had been a scandal involving Uncle Peter and his nightclubs and the Milward family had insisted that the engagement be broken off.

My grandmother and grandfather Jake Cadorson, who had been visiting Australia to look after some property which Jake had acquired after his sentence had expired, took Helena with them. My mother was there too. Helena was at this time pregnant and my grandparents helped her over a difficult time. Jonnie was born in Australia. Matthew Hume had been on the ship taking them out; he was going to get material for his book on prisons—transportation being an important part of it—and there he met Helena and married her; and Jonnie had always thought that he was Matthew's son.

John Milward however did not forget his son and thus it was that Jonnie was on the point of becoming a rich man.