The soft southwest wind was blowing, and everything one touched seemed damp.

The following day the rain was less constant, though the louring sky promised more to come. The sea was muddy brown about the shore, and farther out it was a dull greyish-green.

Roc was going off to the farm, and as I had decided that I would go along to Polhorgan to complete that unfinished game of chess, he drove me there on his way.

Lord Polhorgan was delighted to see me; we had tea as usual and played our game of chess, which he won.

He liked to have an inquest after it was over, and point out where I had given him the game. It put him in a good humour and I enjoyed it, because, after all, the purpose of my visits was to give him pleasure.

As I was leaving. Dr. Clement called. He was getting out of his car as I came out by the unicorns, and looked disappointed. ” Just leaving? ” he said.

” Yes, I’ve stayed rather longer than I meant to.”

” Mabell is very much looking forward to meeting you.”

” Tell her I’m also looking forward to it.”

” I’ll get her to telephone you.”

” Please do. How ill is Lord Polhorgan?”

Dr. Clement looked serious. ” One can never be sure with a patient in his condition. He can become seriously ill very quickly.”

” I’m glad Nurse Grey is always at hand.”

“It’s rather essential that he should have someone in attendance. Mind you …”

He did not continue, and I guessed he was about to offer a criticism of Althea Grey and changed his mind.

I smiled. ” Well, I’ll have to hurry. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

He went into the house and I made my way towards the coast road. Then I changed my mind and decided to use the short put. I had not gone far when I realised I’d been rather foolish to come, for the path was a mass of reddish-brown mud and I guessed Smugglers’ Lane would be even worse. I stood still wondering whether to turn back, but as I should have to plough through mud to do so I decided it couldn’t be much worse if I went on. My shoes were filthy by now in any case.

I had not quite reached the narrow ledge when I heard Roc’s voice. ” Favel! Stop where you are. Don’t move till I get to you

I turned sharply and saw him coming towards me.

“What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer, but coming close he put out an arm and held me tightly against him for some seconds. Then he said: ” This path is dangerous after a heavy rain. Look! Can you see the cracks in the ‘ground? Part of the cliff has collapsed. It’s unsafe even here.”

He took my arm and drew me back: the way I had come, carefully picking his steps.

When we reached the beginning of the cliff path he stopped and sighed deeply. ” I was thoroughly scared,” he said. ” It suddenly occurred to me. I came hurrying over to Polhorgan and they told me you’d just left. Look back. Can you see where the cliff-side has crumbled? Look at that heap of shale and uprooted bracken half-way down the slope.”

I saw it and shuddered.

” The narrow part is absolutely unsafe,” went on Roc. ” I’m surprised you didn’t see the notice. Come to think of it I didn’t see it myself.”

” It always says This path used at own risk.” But I thought that was for visitors who aren’t used to the cliffs. “

” After heavy rain they take that away and put up another notice: Path unsafe.” Can’t understand why it wasn’t done. ” He was frowning, and then he gave a sudden cry. ” Good lord,” he said, ” I wonder who did this? ” He stooped and picked up a board which was lying face down.

There were two muddy prongs attached to it which clearly had recently been embedded in the ground. ” I don’t see how it could have fallen.

Thank heaven I came. “

” I was going very carefully.”

” You might have managed, but … oh, my God … the risk.” He held me close to him and I was deeply touched because I knew he was anxious that I should not see how frightened he was. He stuck the notice-board into the ground and said gruffly:

” The car’s not far off. Come on! Let’s get home.”

When we drove up to the portico Morwenna was busy forking plantains from the stretch of lawn. Roc slammed the car door and shouted:

“Someone must have uprooted the danger board on the cliff path. I just stopped Favel going along it in time.”

Morwenna stood up looking startled. ” Who on earth …?” she began. ” Some kids, I expect. It ought to be reported. It suddenly occurred to me that she might go that way—and she did.”

” I’ve often been over it when the danger board’s been up.”

” There was a bad landslide,” Roc said shortly. He turned to me.

“The path shouldn’t be used until they’ve done something about it. I’m going to speak to Admiral Weston-the chairman of the local council.” Charles had come round by the side of the house; I noticed that his boots were muddy.

“Anything wrong?”

Roc repeated the story of what he seemed to regard as my narrow escape.

” Visitors,” grumbled Charles. ” I bet it’s visitors.”

” All’s well that ends well,” said Morwenna, drawing off her gardening gloves. ” I’ve had enough for to-day. I could do with a drink. What about you, Favel? I expect Roc could do with one, and Charles never says no.”

We went into the house to a little parlour leading off the hall.

Morwenna took drinks from a cabinet and while she was serving them Rachel Bective came in with Hyson. They were wearing slippers, and Morwenna’s look of approval called my attention to them. I guessed they had changed at the side door where the gum-boots and house shoes were kept ready for occasions like this.

The subject of the notice-board was brought up again, and Rachel Bective did not look at me as she said: ” That could have been dangerous. It was a good thing you remembered, Roc.” Hyson was staring at her slippers, and I fancied I saw a slight smile curve her lips. ” Where’s Lowella?” asked Morwenna.

Neither Rachel nor Hyson had any idea.

It was five or ten minutes later when Lowella joined us, and she was immediately followed by Deborah. Lowella told us that she had been swimming; and Deborah had obviously just got up from her usual afternoon nap, she still looked sleepy; and no one mentioned the notice-board incident after that, but I could sec that several of them hadn’t forgotten it. Roc still looked worried; Rachel Bective almost rueful; and Hyson secretive, as though she knew something which she was determined not to tell. I half wondered whether Hyson had removed the board. She knew where I had gone and that I’d probably come home by the short cut. She might even have watched me. But what reason could she possibly have for doing it? There might be more than a streak of mischief in her nature. But, I decided. Roc had made a great deal out of something not very important, simply because of his love for me.

I felt rather cosily content, until the following day, when the doubts began.

The weather had completely changed by next morning. The sky was a guileless blue, and the sea sparkled so brilliantly that it was almost too dazzling to contemplate. It was like a sheet of silk with scarcely a ripple in it. Roc took me with him to the forge, where one of his horses was being shod that morning. I was offered another glass of cider from the barrel in the corner; and while young Jim shod the horse, Dinah came into the forge to give me the benefit of her bold lustrous stare; I guessed that she was wondering about my relationship with Roc, and that made me suspect that he and she had been on intimate terms at some time and that she was trying to convey this to me.

” Maybe,” she said, ” I’ll tell Mrs. Pendorric’s fortune one day.”

Old Jim murmured that he doubted whether Mrs. Pendorric would be interested in such nonsense.

She ignored him. ” I’m good with the cards but it’s your own hand and me crystal that’s best. I could tell you a fine fortune, Mrs.

She smiled, throwing back her dark head so that the gold-coloured rings in her ears danced.

” One day perhaps …” I murmured.

” Don’t make it too long. Delay’s dangerous.”

When we left the forge and passed the row of cottages I saw an old man sitting at the door of one of them.

“Morning, Jesse,” called Roc.

” Morning sir.”

” We must speak to Jesse Pleydell,” Roc whispered.

The gnarled hands were grasping the bony knees and they were trembling. I wondered why; then I saw how very old he was and thought this was the reason.

” Be that your lady as is with you, sir?” he asked gently. ” It is, Jesse; she’s come to make your acquaintance.”

” How do you do,” I said. ” Your daughter was talking to me about you.”

” She be a good girl, my Bessie … and Maria, she be good too. Don’t know what I’d do without ‘em … now I be so old and infirm like. Tis a pleasure to think of her … up at the House.”

” We wish that you could be there too, Jesse,” said Roc, and the gentleness of his voice delighted me and made me feel as happy as I had before Dinah Bond had put misgivings into my mind. ” Ay, sir, that’s where my place be. But since my eyes was took from me, it’s little use I be to God or man.”

” Nonsense, we’re all proud of you, Jesse. You’ve only got to live another twenty years and you’ll make Pendorric famous.”

” Always one for a joke. Master Roc … like his father. Now he were one for a joke till …” His hands began to plucfc at the cloth of his trousers nervously.

“Like father, like son,” said Roc.

“Well, we must be moving on.” On impulse I stepped closer to the old man and laid a hand on his shoulder. He was very still, and a smile touched his lips. ” I’ll come and see you again,” I said.

He nodded, and his hands began to tremble again as they sought his bony knee-caps and rested there.

” Tis like old times….” he murmured. ” Like old times, with a new bride up to Pendorric. I wish you all the best of luck, m’dear.” When we were out of earshot I said: ” Mrs. Penhalligan told me he was in the hall at the time of your mother’s accident.”

“She told you that, did she?” He was frowning.

“How they do go on about things that are past and over.” He glanced at me, and, perhaps because I looked surprised at his mild annoyance, he went on; “I suppose so little happens in their lives that they remember every little thing that’s out of the ordinary routine.”

” I should certainly hope someone’s untimely death would be very much out of routine.”

He laughed and put his arm through mine.

“Remember that, when you feel tempted to go scrambling over dangerous paths,” he said. Then we came to the Darks’ house and the Reverend Peter invited us in; he was so eager to show us pictures he had taken of the Helston Furry Dancers the preceding May.

That afternoon I went to the quadrangle—not to sit, for, in spite of the warm sun of the morning, the seats had not yet dried out after the rain. Hyson followed me there and gravely walked round at my side. The hydrangeas looked fresher than ever and their colours more brilliant.

Hyson said suddenly: ” Did you feel frightened when Uncle Roc rescued you on the cliff path?”

” No. It didn’t occur to me that there was any danger until he pointed it out,” ” You probably would have got through all right. It was just that there might have been an accident.”

” It was a good thing I was stopped from going on, then, wasn’t it?”

Hyson nodded. ” It was meant,” she said, in a small hollow voice. I looked at her sharply.

” Perhaps,” she went on, ” it was just a warning. Perhaps …” She was staring at one of the windows on the east side as she had before.

I looked up; there was no one there. She saw my glance and smiled faintly.

“Goodbye,” she said, and went into the house through the north door.

I felt irritated. What was the child trying to imply? I had an idea that she wanted to make an impression on me. What was she suggesting?

That certain matters which were obscure to ordinary people were revealed to her? Really it was rather silly of her. But she was only a child. I must remember that; and it was rather sad if she were jealous of her sister. Then quite suddenly I heard the voice, and for a moment I had no idea from where it was coming. It floated down to me, a strange voice singing slightly out of tune. I heard the words distinctly.

” He is dead and gone, lady,

He is dead and gone;

At his head a grass-green turf,

At his feet a stone. ”