Chapter 6 Chapter Six

Mitch Hardcastle came down the stairs about eleven o'clock on Saturday morning.She had already had breakfast in bed.Read a book and dozed off for a while, then got up. This kind of lazy life is really enjoyable.Just in time for her vacation!There is no doubt that Mrs. Alfredge has been disturbing. She walked out the front door into the delightful autumn sunshine.Sir Henry Angkatell was reading The Times on a country stool.He looked up and smiled.He likes Mickey very much. "Hello dear." "Am I late?" "You didn't miss your lunch," said Sir Henry, smiling.

Mitch sat beside him, and with an exclamation, said: "It's great to be here." "You look rather haggard." "Oh, I'm fine. It's nice to be in a place where there aren't fat women trying to fit in clothes that are too small for them!" "That must be terrible!" Sir Henry paused, then glanced down at his watch, and said, "Edward will arrive at a quarter past twelve." "Really?" Mitch paused, and then said, "I haven't seen Edward for a long time." "And he, too," said Sir Henry, "almost never leaves Answick to come here."

"Ainswick," thought Mitch. "Answick!" Her heart seemed to be hit hard.Those happy days at Answick.Those visits that were longed for months ago! "I'm going to Answick." How many sleepless nights, thinking about the trip to Answick in advance.Finally - that day!Little country station where the train - the gigantic London Express - will have to stop, if you alert the conductor!The Daimler was waiting outside the station.That walk--take the last turn inside the gate, and then through the woods until you come into the open, where the house stands--huge, white, welcoming you with open arms.Old Uncle Jeffrey in his patched clay coat.

"Now, young man—have a good time." They did have a good time.Henrietta is from Ireland.Edward, home in Eaton.Herself, from a cold manufacturing town in the north, it was like paradise. But everything always revolves around Edward.Edward, tall, gentle, lacking self-confidence, always so kind.But never paid much attention to her because Henrietta was there. Edward, always so lonely and silent, a pure visitor.So she was shocked one day when Tremlett, the head gardener, said to her: "This place will be Mister Edward's some day." "Why, Tremlett? He's not Uncle Geoffrey's son."

"But he's the heir, Miss Mitch. Heir apparent, that's what they call it. Miss Lucy, Mr. Geoffrey's only daughter, but she can't inherit because she's a woman. And Mr. Henry, the man she married , just a distant relative, not as close as Mr. Edward." Edward now lives in Answick.I live there alone and rarely come out.Mitch suspects, and sometimes, Lucy minds too.Lucy never seemed to mind anything. But Ainswick had been her home, and Edward was only a close relative who had emigrated, and was, besides, more than twenty years younger than she.Her father, Geoffrey Angkatell Sr., had been a great man in the county.He also had a considerable fortune, most of which went to Lucy, so that Edward was a poor man by comparison, having enough to keep the place going, but not much else.

Edward had no expensive hobbies.He worked for a while at the Foreign Office, but resigned after he inherited Answick, living off his fortune.He was a natural reader, and collected many first editions, and occasionally wrote rather vague satires for obscure review journals.He proposed three times to his distant relative, Henrietta Savnak. Mitch sat in the autumn sun and thought about these things.She wondered if she was happy to see Edward.It doesn't look like she's in what people call a "recovery" phase.No one can completely forget anyone like Edward.Edward in Ainswick was as real to her as Edward rising from a table in a London restaurant to greet her.She's been in love with Edward for as long as she can remember...

Sir Henry's voice brought her back to reality. "What do you think Lucy looks like?" "Very good, she's as good as ever." Mitch smiled slightly, "even better." "Yes—yes." Sir Henry lit his pipe.Somewhat surprisingly he said: "Sometimes, you know, Mitch, I worry about Lucy." "Worried?" Mickey looked at him in surprise, "Why?" Sir Henry shook his head. "Lucy," he said, "she doesn't realize that there are things she can't do." Mitch watched him.He continued: "She avoids blame and gets things done. She always does." He smiled. "She flouted the traditions of the Governor's Mansion—she took the lead in gleefully teasing others at the banquet (Mitch, and that was a great sin!). She made the table one by one her sworn enemy, and without restraint Talking about race sensibly! Plus, she caused a big row, made everyone discord, and disgraced British rule - if she didn't, I'm not human! Her tricks - smiling at people, It doesn't look like she can do anything about it! The same with the servants—she gives them a lot of trouble, and they all look up to her."

"I see what you mean," Mitch said thoughtfully. "Things that you can't stand in other people, if Lucy does it, you will feel normal. I guess, what is that? Magic? Magnetism?" Sir Henry shrugged. "She's been like that since she was a girl—only sometimes I can feel she's growing up. I mean she doesn't realize there's a limit to things. Ah, I really think so, Mitch. ’ he said cheerfully, ‘Lucy’s going to feel like she’s got a good handle on the murder case!’ Henrietta pulled the Dalych out of the garage and, after a thoroughly technical conversation with her friend Albert, who was in charge of Dalyche, she started it.

"Have a nice trip, miss," said Albert. Henrietta smiled.She rushed out of the garage, savoring the consistent pleasure she always felt every time she set out on a solo drive.In that way, she was able to fully appreciate the secret, personal pleasure that driving brought her. She admires her driving skills, she appreciates that she can sniff out new shortcuts to get out of London.She had her own route, and when driving in London she knew the streets as well as any taxi driver. She now chose her own newfound path, heading southwest, turning and circling through the complex labyrinth of suburban streets.

It was half past twelve when she finally reached the long ridge of Shaffer Heights.Henrietta always loved the view from that special spot.She was now parked on the section of the road where the road began to ascend.There are trees all around and below.The leaves of those trees were turning from gold to brown.It was an impossibly golden, brilliant world under the strong autumn sun. Henrietta thought, "I love autumn. It's so richer than spring." Suddenly a great sense of happiness came over her--a sense of love for the world--her own strong love for the world. She thought, "I'll never be as happy as I am now—never."

She stayed there for a while, looking around at that golden world, as if swimming and melting in it.And this golden world seems to be misty and blurred because of its own beauty. Then she descended the hill, through the woods, and continued on the long and steep road that led to the fantasy manor. Mitch was standing on the parapet of the terrace waving excitedly to Henrietta when she drove into the manor.Henrietta is happy to meet her favorite Mickey. Mrs Angkatell came out of the house and said: "Oh, here you come, Henrietta. When you've got the cart in the stable and given it a meal of bran, lunch will be ready." “What a shrewd Lucy comment,” Henrietta said as she drove around the house as Mitch greeted her on the steps. "You know, I've always prided myself on being completely out of the way of the Irish that loves horses. When you grow up with people who don't talk about anything but horses, you develop a A sense of superiority. Now Lucy is showing me that I treat my car exactly like a horse. It’s very real, and I do.” "I get it," Mitch said. "Lucy is very destructive. She told me this morning that I'm going to be as straight as I've ever been here." After thinking about it for a while, Henrietta nodded. "Of course," she said. "shop!" "Yes. When a man has to go about her daily life in a loathsome pavilion, be polite to rude women, call them 'ma'am, pull dresses over their heads, and smile And swallow their goddamn foul language regardless of what they want to say to you - oh, you want to curse! You know, Henrietta, I always wonder why people think it's such a disgrace to be in the service industry , and the truth is that working in a shop is a very noble and self-reliant thing. One can endure far more insolence in a shop than Gjain or Simmons, or any servant of a decent family." "That must be disgusting, my dear. I wish you were not so lofty, proud, and insisting on self-reliance." "No matter what, Lucy is an angel. I will be proud to be straight with everyone this weekend." "Who's here?" Henrietta asked as she got out of the car. "The Crystals are coming." Mitch paused and continued, "Edward just arrived." "Edward? Great. I haven't seen Edward in a long time. Anyone else?" "David Angkatell. According to Lucy, this is your chance to make a big difference. You'll keep him from biting his nails." "That doesn't sound like me," Henrietta said. "I hate meddling, and I don't dream of interfering with other people's personal habits. What the hell did Lucy say?" "That's all! He's got a throat too." "I don't want to do any of that, do I?" Henrietta warned her. "You have to treat Gerda kindly." "If I were Gerda, how I would hate Lucy!" "And the man who handles the crime is coming to lunch tomorrow." "We're going to play a murder game, aren't we?" "I don't think so. I think it's just a courtesy exchange between neighbors." Mickey's voice changes slightly. "Edward is coming out to meet us." "Dear Edward," thought Henrietta, with a sudden rush of tender love. Edward Angkatell was tall and thin.Now he had a smile on his face as he walked up to the two young women. "Hello, Henrietta, I haven't seen you in over a year." "Hello, Edward." How lovely Edward is!His gentle smile, the small wrinkles around his eyes.And all his beautiful gnarled bones. "I believe his skeleton is one I like very much," thought Henrietta.She was struck by the warmth of her love for Edward.She had forgotten how much she liked Edward. "Go for a walk, Henrietta," said Edward after lunch. It's an Edwardian walk - wandering around. They went to the back of the house and set foot on a path that wound through the woods.Like the woods at Ainswick, thought Henrietta.How pleasant they were there, dear Ainswick!She began to talk to Edward about Ainswick.Their old memories came alive again. "Do you remember our squirrel? The one with the broken paw. We put him in a cage, is he okay?" "Of course. It has a ridiculous name—what's it?" "Weird!" "it is this." They laughed out loud together. "And old Mrs. Bundy, the housekeeper—she always says it's going to go up the chimney someday." "We were so outraged." "But it did later on." "She did it," said Henrietta flatly. "She put the idea into the squirrel's head." She continued: "Is it all the same, Edward? Or is it different? I always imagine everything is the same." "Why don't you come and see, Henrietta? It's been a long, long time since you were last there." "I know." Why, she thought, had she let such a long time pass?A person busy - concerned - entangled with people... "You know you're welcome there anytime." "You are very charming, Edward!" My dear Edward, she thought, he has fine bones. He immediately said: "I'm glad you like Ainswick, Henrietta." "Ainswick is the loveliest place in the world," she said dreamily. A long-legged girl with a thick mop of brown hair...a happy girl who hadn't thought a bit of what life was going to do to her...a girl who loved trees... Was so happy, but didn't realize it! "If only I could go back," she thought. She said suddenly, "Is Yggdrasil still there?" "It was struck by lightning." "Oh no, not Yggdrasil!" She was very depressed.Yggdrasil—her own name for the old oak tree.If the gods can bring down Yggdrasil, then nothing is safe!It's better not to go back to the old days. "Do you remember your special mark, the one made with Yggdrasil?" "Is that ridiculous tree I used to draw on lots of paper? It's not like any tree the world has ever had. I still draw it, Edward! In blotters, in telephone books, and bridge cards." On the scorecard. I'll scribble on it anytime. Give me a pencil." He handed her a pencil and a notepad.He laughed when she drew that ridiculous tree. "Yes," he said, "this is Yggdrasil." They had almost reached the end of the path.Henrietta is sitting on a fallen tree trunk.Edward sat next to her. She looked across the woods. "It's kind of like an Ainswick here—a sort of pocket Ainswick. I guess sometimes—Edward, do you think that's why Lucy and Henry are here?" "possible." Henrietta said slowly, "No one can know what's going on in Lucy's head." Then she asked: "What have you been doing yourself, Edward, since the last time I saw you? " "Nothing, Henrietta." "Sounds peaceful." "I've never been good at—doing anything." She glanced at him quickly.There was something in his tone.But he was smiling calmly at her. Once again, she felt that deep flow of love. "Perhaps," she said, "you are wise." "wise?" "Do nothing." Edward said slowly, "It's strange for you to say that, Henrietta. You, you are so successful." "You think I'm successful too? How ridiculous." "But you're successful, honey. You're an artist. You must be proud of yourself, you can't help being proud." "I know," Henrietta said, "a lot of people say that about me. They don't understand—they don't understand the first thing that's based on it. Neither do you, Edward. Sculpture isn't something you do and then The thing that works. It's the way it approaches you, picks you up — and stalks you — so you have to, sooner or later, come to terms with it. Then you get some peace — until the whole thing starts all over again.” "Do you want to live in peace, Henrietta?" "Sometimes I think I want to be more serene than anything in the world, Edward!" "You can be at peace at Answick. I think you'll be very happy there. Even—even if you have to put up with me. How, Henrietta? Why don't you come to Answick and make it Make it your home? You know, it's been waiting for you." Henrietta turned her head slowly.In a low voice, she said, "I wish I didn't like you so strongly, Edward. It makes it harder to say 'no.'" "Then it's 'no'!" "Sorry." "You've said 'no' before—but this time—well, I think you'll change your mind. You had a good time this afternoon, Henrietta. You couldn't refuse me." "I am very happy." "Your face is even—younger than it was this morning." "I know." "We were happy together, talking and thinking about Ainswick. Don't you see what that means, Henrietta?" "It's you who don't see what that means, Edward! We've always been like this afternoon." "The past, sometimes a good hiding place." "One can't go back in time. That's one thing people can't do—go back in time." He was silent for a minute or two.Then in a calm, cheerful, very cool tone: "Did you really not marry me because of John Crystal?" Henrietta did not answer.Edward went on to say: "It's like this, isn't it? If there is no John Crystal in this world, you will marry me." Henrietta said hoarsely, "I can't imagine a world without John Crystal! You have to understand this." "If that's the case, why on earth did that man refuse to divorce his wife and you marry him?" "John doesn't want to divorce his wife. And I don't know if I'd want to marry him if he did. It's not—at least not in the way you think it is." Edward said in a thoughtful, considered way: "John Crystal, there are too many John Crystals in this world." "You're wrong," said Henrietta. "There's hardly anybody like John." "If so - that's a good thing! At least, I think so!" He stood up. "We'd better go back."