” Well, it won’t be before it’s needed, I can tell you. I’ve had some anxious moments wondering what the outcome could possibly be. Of course we’re taking things rather for granted.”

” Not a bit of it. That type never leave much outside the family.

After all, she’s his granddaughter and he can’t last much longer. “

I got up and walked across to the south door, my cheeks flaming. As I entered the house my eyes went at once to the picture of Barbarina. I stood looking up at it. I could almost fancy the expression had changed; that a pitying look was in those blue eyes, that she was saying to me: “I understand. Who could understand better than one to whom it has all happened before?”

My grandfather wanted the whole neighbourhood to know how delighted he was to welcome his granddaughter home.

He told me that it was years since there had been any entertaining at Polhorgan and he proposed to give a ball to which he would invite all the local gentry.

” You are not nearly well enough,” I told him; but he assured me that he would come to no harm. He put his hand over mine. ” Don’t try to dissuade me. It’ll give me the greatest pleasure. The ball will be for you and your husband. I want you to arrange it all; I want it to be a setting for you, my dear. Please say you will.”

He looked so pleased at the prospect that I could only agree, and when I told Roc and Morwenna about it they were amused and, I could see, delighted. I had ceased to be angry with Morwenna and Charles, telling myself that loving this old house as they obviously did, it was only natural that they should be pleased because a member of the family might very possibly come into a great deal of money.

“Just fancy,” said Morwenna, “Polhorgan is going to throw off its dustsheets.”

The twins were delighted, and when Lowella was told that balls were not for twelve-year-olds, she boldy called on my grandfather and asked for an invitation for herself and her sister. Such conduct, which he called initiative, delighted him, and he immediately wrote to Morwenna asking her to allow the twins to attend.

Lowella was wild with excitement when she heard this; Hyson’s eyes gleamed with secret pleasure. Lowella went about the house quoting in an ominous voice:

“’ There was a sound of revelry by night Morwenna helped arrange the list of invitations, for, as a Pendorric, she knew everyone in (he neighbourhood.

“They will all want to come and see Lord Polhorgan’s granddaughter,” she told me. Roc, who was present, put in:

” Nonsense. It’s Mrs. Pendorric they want to see, for she’s a far more important person than his lordships’ grand daughter.”

” They must think it all very extraordinary,” I suggested. ” Nine days’ wonder, darling,” Roc assured me. ” You know there are a lot of skeletons locked away in cupboards in these parts.”

” It’s true enough,” Morwenna assured me.

Deborah was as excited as the twins at the prospect of the ball, and invited me to her room to see some material which Carrie was going to make up for her. There was a choice of two colours and she wanted me to help her decide.

Laid out’ on a table were two rolls of crepe de Chine—one delicate mauve, the other pale pink.

I was fingering the stuff. ” One hardly ever sees it now,” I commented.

“We’ve had it a few years, haven’t we, Carrie,” said Deborah. I had not noticed Carrie come silently into the room; she carried a tape-measure about her neck, and a pair of scissors and a pincushion were attached to her belt.

” I found it in Plymouth,” she said. ” I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough for the two of you.”

Deborah looked at me, smiling gently; then she laid her hand on Carrie’s shoulder. ” Carrie’s a wonder with her needle. I’m sure she’ll make me something worthy of the ball.”

” You remember the dresses I made for the engagement party?” whispered Carrie, her eyes ecstatic. ” Empire style. You had the pink then; she had the mauve.”

” Yes, we decided we had to be different then.”

” Before that it was always the same. What one had the other had.”

” I’ve brought Mrs. Pendorric up to help me decide which colour,” said Deborah.

” Mauve was her colour. She wore it a lot … after …”

” Perhaps I’d better decide on the pink,” murmured Deborah. She took me into her sitting-room, and as we sat together looking over the sea she said: ” I rather dread Carrie’s making new things for me. It always brings it home to her. You see, in Devon she used to make everything in twos. She can’t forget.”

When I left Deborah I ran into Rachel Bective. She gave me a grudging smile and looked almost wistful.

“Everyone’s talking about the ball your grandfather’s giving,” she said. ” I feel like Cinderella. Still, I suppose the governess can’t expect to be invited.”

” What nonsense,” I retorted. ” Of course you’re invited.” The smile which lighted her face made her almost pretty. ” Oh,” she muttered in an embarrassed way, ” thank you. I … I’m honoured.”

As she turned and left me I thought: Her trouble is this p complex about being employed here. If only she could forget that, she’d be so much happier and I should like her so much better.

During me next few days I spent a great deal of time at Polhorgan. My grandfather was anxious that I should make a thorough tour of the house, and this I did in the company of Dawson and his wife, who were very respectful to me now that they knew I was their master’s granddaughter.

Polhorgan was not built in the same mould as Pendorric. This was one large house whereas ours at Pendorric was like four smaller ones. At Polhorgan there was an immense hall which was to serve as the ballroom, and Dawson and his wife had uncovered the furniture so that I could see it in all its glory.

It was a magnificently-proportioned room, with its high vaulted ceiling and panelled walls; and there was a dais at one end which would be ideal for our orchestra. Dawson suggested that some of the exotic plants should be brought in from the greenhouses and that I might like to talk to Trehay, the head gardener, about what I should like.

Leading from mis hall were several rooms which would serve as supper rooms. I could see that Mrs. Dawson was a most efficient woman and delighted at the prospect of being able to show what a skilful housekeeper she was.

She showed me the kitchens, which were models of modernity. ” All this, madam,” sighed Mrs. Dawson, ” and no one to use it for! I could have cooked for his lordship with one little stove, for all he eats.

Although the nurse wants a bit of waiting on, I do assure you! ” Mrs. Dawson’s lips tightened at the mention of Nurse Grey, and I began to wonder whether the nurse was generally unpopular in the household.

It was while she was showing me round mat Althea Grey herself appeared. She was looking as attractive as ever in her uniform, and she gave me a pleasant smile. I was struck afresh by the perfection of her features, and I remembered uneasily the occasion when I had found her on the beach with Roc.

” So you’re showing Mrs. Pendorric the house,” she said.

” Well, it looks like it, Nurse.” Mrs. Dawson’s voice was tart. ” If you like I’ll take over. I expect you have work to do.”

” As housekeeper I reckon it to be my duty to show Mrs. Pendorric the house, Nurse.”

Nurse Grey smiled at me and shrugged her shoulders; but as though defying Mrs. Dawson to challenge her right to be there, she remained with us.

Mrs. Dawson was put out, and behaved as though she were unaware of the nurse’s presence. I wondered what Althea Grey had done to make herself so disliked.

We walked up a beautiful staircase and inspected the rooms on the first floor of the mansion with their enormous windows and those superb views to which I had become accustomed at Pendorric. Mrs. Dawson uncovered some of the furniture and showed me beautiful pieces, mostly antique, which I guessed must be worth a great deal.

“Jewelled in every hole,” murmured Althea Grey, her lovely blue eyes mischievous.

The obvious hostility between them made me a little uncomfortable. ” I hear we’re to have about sixty guests, Mrs. Pendorric,” said Althea Grey. ” It’s a good thing we have a sizeable ballroom, otherwise we should be treading on each other’s toes.”

“Well, Nurse,” put in Mrs. Dawson with a twitch of her nose, ” that shouldn’t worry you, should it?”

” Oh but it will, I hate having my toes trodden on.” She laughed. ” Oh, you’re thinking that as I’m merely Lord Polhorgan’s nurse I shan’t be there. But you’re wrong, Mrs. Dawson. Of course I shall be there. I couldn’t let him go without me in attendance, could I?” She was smiling at me as though inviting me to join in her victory over Mrs. Dawson, who looked extremely put out; and I supposed this was the usual tug-of-war between two servants each of whom thought herself in a higher position than me other. That must be the reason for the animosity.

” Of course not,” I said hastily; and Mrs. Dawson’s face was grim. ” I reckon, madam,” she said, ” that Nurse Grey could show you the upper rooms.”

I thanked her and assured her that I should be pleased if she stayed with us, but she muttered something about having things to see to, and left us.

Althea Grey grinned when we were alone. ” She’d make life a trial if I’d let her. Jealous old witch.”

” You think she’s jealous of you?”

“They always are, you know. I’ve come up against this sort of thing before, nursing in private houses. They don’t like it because they have to wait for us. They’re anxious all the time to tell us that they’re as good as we are.”