At first I decided that I would discuss the matter of the costumes with Hagar and then I hesitated, because if I did so, Simon would hear of it; and I was not sure that I wanted Simon to know that I had discovered so much.
It seemed ridiculous to suspect Simon, for how could he possibly have been in the house at the time? And yet I had to remind myself that he was next in succession to Luke.
It was alarming to feel that I could trust no one, but that was exactly how I did feel.
So when I called to see Hagar the next day I said nothing of the cloak incident, although I longed to discuss it with someone. Instead I tried to keep the conversation on everyday matters and I asked Hagar if there was any Christmas shopping I could do for her. I told her that I hoped to go into one of the towns with Ruth and perhaps Luke, and if I did so I would be happy to execute any of her commissions.
She pondered this and eventually made a list of things which she would like me to get for her; and while we were discussing this, Simon came in.
” If you’d like to go to Knaresborough,” he said, ” I can take you. I have to drive in on business.”
I hesitated. I did not really believe he would have tried to frighten me, and yet I reminded myself he had not liked me in the beginning; it was only because of my friendship with his grandmother that we were brought together. I was unaccountably depressed because I felt it was only reasonable not to place him outside suspicion. If he could really be trying to harm someone in my position he must be the exact opposite of the man I had been sure he was. Still, I was determined not to trust him.
My hesitation amused him. It had not occurred to him that I suspected him of villainy, only that I feared to offend the proprieties.
He said with a grin: ” Ruth or Luke might like to come with us. If they’ll come, perhaps you would deign to.”
“That would be very pleasant,” I replied.
And it was eventually arranged that when Simon went to Knaresborough he should take Luke, Damans and myself with him.
The day was warm for early December. We left soon after
SO nine in the morning and planned to be back by dark, which was of course soon after four.
As we sat together in the carriage, Luke and Simon appeared to be in high spirits; and I found myself catching them; Damans was quiet, as usual.
It occurred to me that whenever I was away from the house I recaptured my old common sense. I ceased to believe that there was anything for me to fear. At least, I could assure myself, there was nothing with which I could not cope. I could believe, as I listened to Luke’s bright conversation, that he had played these tricks on me to tease me.
As for the first, he now probably realised he had gone too far, and that was why he was amusing himself with things like warming-pans.
He always regarded me in a slightly sardonic way. How foolish I had been to be afraid. I had merely been the victim of youthful high spirits.
That was my mood as we drove into Knaresborough.
I knew the town slightly from the past and it had always delighted me.
I thought it was one of the most interesting and charming old towns in the West Riding.
We drove to an inn where we had some light refreshment, and afterwards separated, Simon to do the business which had brought him here, Luke, Damaris and I to shop, having arranged to meet in two hours’ time at the inn.
Very soon I had lost Luke and Damaris, who, I presumed, had wandered off while I was in a shop because they wanted to be alone together.
I made the purchases Hagar had commissioned and a few for myself, and then, as I had almost an hour to spare, I decided that I would explore the town, something I had never before had an opportunity to do.
It was very pleasant to be there on that bright December afternoon.
There were few people about and as I looked at the gleaming river Nidd and those steep streets of houses with their red roofs, at the ruined castle with its fine old keep, I felt invigorated, and I wondered how I could such a short time ago have been so frightened.
As I made my way to the river I heard a voice behind me calling, ” Mrs.
Catherine,” and, turning, I saw Simon coming towards me.
” Hallo, have you finished your shopping?”
” Yes.”
He took his watch from his pocket. ” Almost an hour before our rendezvous. What do you propose to do?” 160 ” I was going to wander along the river bank.”
” Let’s do it together.”
As he took my parcels and walked beside me, two things struck me one was the strength which radiated from him, the other was the loneliness of the river bank.
” I know what you want to do.” he said. ” You want to try your luck at the well.”
“What well?”
“Haven’t you heard of the famous well? Haven’t you ever visited Knaresborough before?”
” Once or twice with my father. We did not visit the well.”
He clicked his tongue mockingly. ” Mrs. Catherine, your education has ‘been neglected.”
” Tell me about the well.”
” Let’s find it, shall we? If you hold your hand in the water, then wish and leave it to dry you will get your wish.”
” I am sure you do not believe such legends.”
” There’s a great deal you don’t know about me, Mrs. Catherine; although of course that’s something else you haven’t realised. “
” I am sure you are the most practical person and never wish for that which can’t reasonably be yours.”
” You once told me that I was an arrogant man. There for you, doubtless think I regard myself as omnipotent. In that case I might wish for anything and believe I have a. chance of getting it.”
” Even so you would realise that you had to work for what you wanted.”
” That might be so.”
” Then why bother to wish, when work would suffice?”
” Mrs. Catherine, you are in the wrong mood for the Dripping Well. Let us for once cast out common sense. Let us be gullible for once.”
” I should like to see the well.”
” And wish?”
” Yes. I should like to wish.”
” And will you tell me if it comes true?”
” Yes.”
” But don’t tell me what you have wished, until it comes true. That is one of those conditions. It has to be a secret between you and the powers of darkness … or light. I’m not sure which it is in this case. There’s the well, and there 161 f is Mother Shipton’s Cave. Did your father tell you the story of Old Mother Shipton?”
” He never told me stories. He talked to me very little.”
” Then it looks as though I must explain. Old Mother Shipton was a witch and she lived here … oh, about four hundred years ago. She was a love child, the result of union between a village girl and a stranger who persuaded her that he was a spirit possessed of supernatural powers. Before the child was born he deserted her, and little Ursula grew up to be a wise woman. She married a man named Shipton and so became Old Mother Shipton.”
” ” What an interesting story. I’ve often wondered who Old Mother Shipton was. “
” Some of her prophecies came true. It is said that she foretold the fall of Wolsey, the defeat of the Armada and the effect the Civil War would have on the West Riding. I used to remember some of her prophecies; there’s a rhyme about them.
Around the -world thoughts shall fly In the twinkling of an eye . I used to know the whole thing and chant it to my grandmother’s cook until she chased me out of the kitchen. I made it sound like an evil prophecy intended for her alone. I remember:
Under water men shall walk Shall ride shall sleep shall talk. In the air men shall be seen . and it ends:
The world then to an end shall come In Nineteen hundred and Ninety-one.
” We have some years left to us then?” I said, and we were laughing together.
Now we had reached the Dripping WelL ” It’s a magic well,” he said. “
It’s known also as the Petrifying Well. Anything which is dropped in this well will eventually become petrified.”
” But why?”
“It has nothing to do with Mother Shipton, although I don’t doubt some people would like to say it has. There’s magnesian limestone in the water. It’s actually in the soil and gets into the water which drips through and down into the well. You must let the water drip on to your hands and wish Will you go first or shall I?”
“You first.”
He leaned over the well and 1 watched the water, which was seeping through the sides of the well, drip on to his hands.
He turned to me holding out a wet hand.
” I am wishing,” he said. ” If I leave this water to dry I cannot fail to get my wish. Now it’s your turn.”
He was standing close to me as I took off my glove and leaned over the well.
I was conscious of the silence all about us. I was alone in this spot and only Simon Redvers knew I was here. I leaned forward and the cold water I was sure it was the coldest water I had ever known dripped on to my hand.
He was immediately behind me and there came to me then a moment of panic. In my mind’s eye I saw him not as he had been a few seconds before, but wrapped in a monk’s robe.
Not Simon, I was saying to myself. It must not be Simon. And so vehement was my thought that I forgot any other wish than that.
I could feel the warmth of his body, so close was he, and I held my breath. I was certain then that something was about to happen to me.
Then I swung round. He stepped back a pace. He had been standing very near me. Why? I asked myself.
” Don’t forget,” he said. ” It’s got to dry. I can guess what you wished.”
” Can you?”
” Not a difficult task. You whispered to yourself: I wish for a boy.”
” ” It has turned cold. “
“That was the water. It is exceptionally cold. That has something to do with the lime, I think.”
He was staring beyond me and I was conscious of a certain excitement in him. At that moment a man appeared close by, I had not noticed his approach, but perhaps Simon had.
” Ah, trying t’well,” said the man pleasantly.
” Who could pass by without doing so?” answered Simon.
” Folks come from far and wide to test t’well, and to see Mother Shipton’s Cave.”
” It’s very interesting,” I said.
” Oh, aye. Happen so.”
Simon was gathering up my parcels. ” You must make sure the water has dried on your hand,” he told me; and I held it out before me as we walked along. 163 He took my arm in a possessive manner and drew me away from the well into those steep streets which led to the castle.
Luke and Damaris were waiting for us at the inn and we had a quick cup of tea and then drove home.
It was dusk when we reached Kirkland Moorside. Simon dropped Damaris at the doctor’s house and then drove Luke ^ and myself on to the Revels, j I felt dejected when I entered my room. It was because | of these new suspicions which had come to me. I was fighting them, but they would not be dismissed. Why had I felt frightened at the side of the well?
What had Simon been thinking as he stood beside me? Had he been planning some thing which the casual arrival of a stranger had prevented his carrying out?
I really was astonished at myself. I might pretend to scorn the powers of the Dripping Well, but I had made my wish involuntarily and I fervently hoped it would come true.
Please let it not be Simon.
Why should I care whether it was Luke or Simon?
But I did care. It was then that I began to suspect the nature of my feelings for this man. I had no tenderness for him, but I found that I felt more alive in his company than I did in that of any other person.
I might be angry with him I so often was but being angry with him was more exciting than being pleasant with anyone else. I cherished his opinion of my good sense and I was happy because he admired good sense more than any other quality.
Each time I saw him my feelings towards him underwent a change, and I understood now that I was more and more under the spell of his personality.
It was since he had loomed so large in my life that I had begun to understand what my feelings for Gabriel had been. I knew mat I had loved Gabriel without being in love with him. I had married Gabriel because I had sensed a need in him for protection, and I had wanted to give it; it had seemed so reasonable to marry him when I could give him comfort and he could provide me with an escape from a home which was beginning to affect me more than ever with its melancholy. That was why I had found it difficult to remember exactly what he looked like; that was why, although I had lost him, I could still look forward to the future with hopeful expectation. Simon and the child had helped to do that for me.
It had been a cry from the heart when I had wished at the well:
Please, not Simon.
I had now become aware of a change in the behaviour of everyone towards me. I intercepted exchanged glances; even Sir Matthew seemed what I can only call watchful.