We'll meet again

"It was quite implausible and we should never have got away with it if war had not been declared just at that time, and if people had not had other things to think about than the wayward wanton conduct of a frivolous young woman.”

"You are right, dear sister, as always. You see why I can't live without you? Even Tregarland's is tolerable because you will be my neighbor when you marry your Jowan. Your name Jermyn, mine Tregarland.

It worked out quite neatly in the end, didn't it?”

"We can't know that yet.”

"You are determined to be morbid. Surely one of your maxims tells you that is not very helpful.”

"I just want to face facts.”

"I know. But sometimes I feel the past will never go away. It's here in this house. Matilda Lewyth with her madness. She seems to be still here. And there is Gordon. How does he feel? His own mother a murderess... living out her life in an asylum.”

"Gordon is one of the most sensible men I know. He will see everything clearly as it really is. His mother wanted Tregarland's for him and she allowed that desire to become an obsession. Old James Tregarland teased her. He was mischievous. He wanted to see how she would act.

Well, he saw, and he wishes now that it was something he had never seen. He blames himself in a way-and he certainly did play a part in the drama. But it is over. Thank God Matilda was prevented from harming Tristan. Matilda is now in safe care and Tristan has Nanny Crabtree and the whole household to dote on him.

Even old Mr. Tregarland thinks his grandson is the most wonderful child that ever was. Tristan is safe. We have to go on from there.”

"But I can't rid myself of guilt. I should have been there. Dermot should be alive.”

"Dermot was badly injured. He knew he would never recover. So he took his life. It's all in the past.”

"What do people think about me? They must suspect.”

"They don't think much about you. They are concerned with more important matters. What is happening on the Continent, for instance.

Where will Hitler turn next? We are at war. The actions of Mrs. Dermot Tregarland with- French artist are trivial compared. With the affairs of Europe. They are prepared to accept your story of loss of memory, implausible as it is, because they are not really greatly concerned.”

"You are right," she said. "You are always right. And, best of all, you are here. You are going to marry Jowan Jermyn and the star-crossed lover of a hundred years ago can rest in peace. My dear sister Violetta came to Tregarland and set it all right.”

We laughed and sat in silence for a while. I drew comfort from her and I know she did from me. It is wonderful to have another human being who is so close to you as to be almost a part of yourself.

It had been so from the beginning of our lives and would remain so.

She knew what I was thinking, as she often did. There had been few periods in our lives when we had been apart-the longest being when she had eloped with the French artist and had staged an "accident" to cover up the truth.

I was convinced that she would never do anything so foolish again.

I think it had taught her that she should never allow us to be parted again.

"Let's go in to breakfast," she said at length.

Breakfast at Tregarland's extended over two hours so that we could take it according to our plans for the day. James Tregarland rarely appeared for meals nowadays. He had been greatly shaken by the death of his son and what had happened to his mistress-housekeeper.

He was well aware that he shared some blame for that bizarre affair.

It had affected us all, though it appeared to have the least effect on Matilda's son, Gordon. He was practical in the extreme and on him depended the prosperity of the Tregarland estate. He carried on as though little had changed. I had always known he was a remarkable man.

However, we rarely saw him at breakfast, and on that morning Dorabella and I were alone.

The post was brought in by one of the maids. There were letters from my mother-one for each of us. She always wrote to us both, even though the contents were similar.

We opened them and I read:

My dearest Violetta,

Life is uncertain here and I am a little anxious about Gretchen.