"You overwhelm us," I told him.

"I'm so honoured to have you visit my island."

The day was drawing to an end for the sun set at half past seven. It was like that all the year, I gathered. There were not the seasons which we had at home. No winter; no summer; just the dry and the rainy season; I was glad we were not yet into the latter.

We came to some iron gates which were wide open and then we were in an avenue with high stalks of cane on either side. This was the plantation. I saw the house then. It was large, white and impressive and the scene was touched by the red glow of the setting sun. Everywhere I looked I could see sugar cane.

1 caught my breath in wonder.

"You like it' 7 " he asked.

"It's quite ... splendid.'"

"What were you expecting?"

"Something grand ... but not like this. I've never seen anything like it before."

"You've never been on a sugar plantation. I am glad the mill and the boiler houses are out of sight. They are slightly less beautiful."

We had come to a halt on a gravei path.

"Here we are." He leaped out of the vehicle and as if by magic a man appeared to take charge of the horses: and putting an arm through mine and one through Felicity's, he led us into the house.

We stood in a lofty hall built in the style of an English manor house. It reminded me a little of our own. There were light silk curtains at the windows: heavy velvet would have been out of place in such a climate. There was a long table with elegant chairs round it. It looked eighteenth-century.

**I hope you like my house." he said. "Shall we sit here and have a cooling drink before we go in to dinner?"

"It's just like being at home." said Felicity.

He smiled, well pleased.

Chinks were brought by a silent-footed girl in a long loose-fitting cotton gown with red and white roses patterned on a blue background: about her neck and arms were red beads, "It's a cooling native drink." Milton explained. "Not intoxicating, or not very. It's designed for a hot climate. It tasted delicious.

He asked about the journey and he told us that he had now heard of the tragedy for the news had been brought in by way of the ship.

"The coming of the ship means news from the outside world and there are always plenty to bring it. and here there are those to make sure it is well circulated. It must have been a terrible shock. The bushranger TU ff UM^ is growing. I belie j need have no fears here. We are a law-abiding island. The penalties for misdeeds are so great that no one is going to risk incurring them."

"It would be easier to catch criminals here than it would in Australia." I commented.

"It's true. So you can put your fears at rest."

He told us a great deal about the island and how the sugar was grown and marketed.

He took us to a very pleasant dining room, very much like ours at home. He even had a large tapestry on one of the walls. There were french windows which opened onto a courtyard. He said: "After we have eaten we can sit out there. It is rather pleasant after sundown. I'll give you a fan so that you can ward off the insects. You'U need one in the heat of the day."

The food was unusual. There was a great deal of fish such as I had never tasted before. I had my first introduction to baked breadfruit.

"It's an acquired taste," he said. "You'll find it palatable and get to like it very much in time." There were all sorts of fruit and the special drink of the island.

It was certainly the best meal I had had since leaving home.

After we had finished eating we went into the courtyard where our fans were brought to us. They were beautiful, made of ivory and painted in rich colours. Mine was blue and green—Felicity's red and white.

We exclaimed with pleasure when we saw them.

"Something to remember me by when you find the heat unbearable," he said.

So we sat out there in the scented evening. There were flowers in abundance in the courtyard; red hibiscus, pink jasmine and gladioli.

Sitting there I felt intoxicated with the perfume and the drink which I felt was more potent than he had admitted.

But perhaps I felt this dreamy contentment because I had escaped from the nightmare of William Granville's house, because I was starting on my quest, because it was all so strange and beautiful and because I did enjoy the company of this man.

That night I lay in bed drowsily going over the events of the evening. I could still smell the heavy scent of frangipani, hear the sudden whirring of an insect as it fell against one of the lamps.

"The flying beetle," he had said. "Nothing to worry about. They come in often. They're quite harmless and you get used to them. There are lots of strange things you get to know out here."

And we had sat on in that scented velvety night and I could savour nothing but a deep contentment.

He had brought us back to the hotel at ten o'clock. He said we needed a good night's sleep.

I told him we had slept most of the afternoon.

"A good night's sleep is what you want," he said firmly. So he took us home, along the drive with the cane on either side, down to the harbour. I could hear the clop clop of the horses' hoofs as we came down the slight incline; and I could see the little boats rocking on the water, and the ship, which would sail tomorrow, was still lying there in the bay.

And when I went to bed I tried to ward off sleep because I wanted to go on remembering.

I awoke feeling greatly refreshed. I threw aside my mosquito net, jumped out of bed and drew up the blind. I stepped out onto the balcony. Below me the harbour was already stirring to life. Carts drawn by bullocks were coming in—I presumed from the hills beyond. People with produce to sell were arranging their stalls.

There were several boats on the water—fishing I guessed.

Water was brought to my room and I washed and dressed. Then I knocked on Felicity's door. There was no answer so I went in.

She was lying on her back staring at the ceiling. As I came close I saw the tears on her cheeks.

"Felicity!" I cried in alarm. "What's wrong?"

She said: "He came ... he came in the night ... He came back ... He was here ... just as in that dreadful room."

"You've been dreaming," I told her. "It was nothing but a dream. You're here in Cariba. You loved it yesterday. The harbour is just down there. It looks so exciting."

She began to shiver. "I shall never get away from him," she murmured.

"Listen, Felicity, he's dead. He can't touch you now. That's all over. We're starting again."

She shook her head; her teeth began to chatter and there was a blankness in her eyes. I realized she was not listening to me.

I was horrified and bewildered and uncertain what to do.

My first thoughts had been that she had had a nightmare which, although it left unpleasant effects, could be dispersed with the coming of daylight. It was more than that. She just lay there inert and when I spoke to her she did not seem to hear.

I grew more and more worried. I was realizing that I had been simplifying matters when I thought I could just take her away from the scene of horror and she would forget. She had gone through several ordeals, culminating in the violent death of her husband. I could not expect her to recover from that merely by removing her from the place where she had endured her misery.

I immediately thought of Milton. I needed help and he was the one to give it.

I went downstairs and spoke to the quadroon at the desk.

I said: "My friend is ill. I am very anxious about her. Could a message be sent to Mr. Harrington?"

"But certainly. I will send someone immediately."

"Thank you very much."

She summoned one of the men and he set off without delay.

"The poor lady is sick," said the quadroon. "She seems not very strong."

"Yes," I agreed. "She has had rather a bad time."

"The doctor will soon make her well."

The dark eyes surveyed me with some curiosity. I supposed it was partly Milton Harrington's interest which made us special objects of curiosity. Moreover if they knew of William Granville's sudden death they would know that Felicity was his widow. They would not, therefore, be very surprised to find that her health had suffered.

I went back to Felicity. She was still lying there staring into nothing.

I sat down by her bed and took her hand. I said: "It's all right, Felicity. I'm here to take care of you."

She did not speak but the pressure of her fingers told me that she was reassured.

It was not long before Milton arrived.

He came straight up to my room. I heard his approach and went out to meet him.

"It's Felicity," I said. "She's acting rather strangely. She doesn't seem to be aware—She had a bad night... dreams... nightmares... But it is more than that."

"Shall I see her?" he asked.

She looked up fearfully when he came in.

I said: "It's all right. It's Mr. Harrington. He's come to help."

She clenched her teeth together: "He didn't die ..." she whispered. "He's here..."

I looked at Milton.

"I'll send for Dr. Norton," he said. "I know him well. I'll explain."

"Oh, thank you."

He went out of the room. Felicity just lay there as though unaware of anything that was going on.

I heard him coming back and I went out into the corridor to meet him.

"She's suffering from delayed shock," he said. "It was a terrible ordeal she went through. It's beginning to show now what an effect it has had on her."

"I thought she was getting on so well."

"She left Australia, she came here ... the effort all that entailed could have sustained her. Now that she has arrived it's quiet and the accumulated effect of all that tension begins to show. I daresay all she needs is rest and careful treatment. Norton is a good fellow. He's been out here some years. He came out for a bit of experience five years ago ... and stayed. Hell do the best possible for her."

"I'm very worried about her."

He put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm here. You know you can trust me to look after you .,. both."

I turned away. I felt too moved to speak. I was desperately worried about Felicity.

The doctor arrived and examined her. He gave her something to make her sleep. Milton and I. with the doctor, went downstairs and sat at one of the tables outside the hotel to talk.

Dr. Norton said: "She's in a highly nervous state. We'll have to be careful. She has had some terrible experience."

"Yes." I said. "Her husband died violently and she was with him when it happened."

"The Granville case." explained Milton.

"Oh. I see. That explains a great deal. Poor lady, she seems to be of a rather nervous disposition. It must have been a great grief as well as a shock."

"It was not a happy marriage." I said. "Mrs. Granville could not fit into the life to which she had gone. She had lived quietly in England and had no idea to what she was going."

"I see. We will restore her to health but it may take time. I shall keep her sedated for a few days. After that we will see that she does not have too much excitement. Your room is next to hers. Good. I think she is going to rely on you a great deal."

"I shall be there when she wants me."

"Quiet and rest... and then she should be all right."

"Thank you." I said.

"I've given her something to quieten her. It will make her sleep. I'll send some pills to the hotel at once, and I'll look in tomorrow to see how she is. I think you will find rest is what she needs more than anything. That will restore her peace of mind. You should take charge of the pills I shall send. One each night before retiring. Two might be injurious—more than that fatal. So you should take care of them. Make sure that she cannot get at them. She appears to have a lack of interest in anything at the moment. Give her one pill tonight and that should ensure a good night's rest."

When the doctor left I went in to Felicity. She was lying still, her eyes closed, so I left her and went downstairs. Milton was still there.

"Well?" he asked.

"She's quiet. But I'm terribly worried about her. She looked so wild."

"She looked to me as though she could break down completely. But don't worry. Norton knows what he is about. We re lucky to have him on the island. He keeps talking about going home and we keep persuading him to stay. He's doing an excellent job here. Even the natives regard him as a very special witch doctor with extraordinary powers."