That afternoon I rode over to see Christobel.
She greeted me with delight. She had changed since her marriage. Her face had softened considerably and she was obviously pleased with life.
"Now tell me,'' she said, when we were settled in the charming room overlooking the garden, which she herself was tending with care. "How do you like living at the grand ancestral home?"
"I am not sure yet. I have really had so little experience of it."
"So it has not overwhelmed you yet?"
"No."
"You sound a little regretful."
"I was very happy at the Dower House, and of course also at Maggie's."
"And not at Rosslyn Manor?"
"It is early yet. Christobel, there is a rather eerie atmosphere about the place."
"It is always so, with old houses. So much has happened there, and the past clings and will not be dismissed. There will certainly have been tragedies over the years, and such things are remembered more than the happy times, I'll warrant. But you are happy ... to be there, under your father's roof?"
"He is not like an ordinary father. All those years, I did not know him."
"I always thought you had a respect for him. And one good thing he did. He brought us together. I like him for that."
"Oh, so do I, Christobel. We shall be friends forever."
"If it is in my power, so be it. Has it occurred to you that he might have plans for you?"
"What plans?"
"Well, you are almost a young lady now. A few more months and you will be standing on the threshold of adventure."
"You mean ... my father will find a husband for me? Christobel, I would rather find my own."
"Oh, but you are the daughter of Lord Rosslyn, and even if you did not become so by the most conventional of methods, you are still his daughter."
"Perhaps he will think of his own marriage. That was arranged for him, and it was not the most satisfactory of marriages."
"People always believe that the way they arrange things will be perfect."
"I shall be firm and strong. I shall be as you are, Christobel. After all, you more or less brought me up, did you not? I am a little like you, you know."
"But I was only the daughter of an impoverished gentleman."
"And I am only the natural daughter of Lord Rosslyn. No, I shall choose for myself."
"You speak with such conviction that I ask myself if you have already chosen?"
"Matrimony is not uppermost in my mind, and what I wanted to tell you about was a strange thing that happened during the night."
"Last night? Your first at Rosslyn Manor?"
"Yes. I couldn't sleep."
"Natural enough. Your first night in the grand old mansion. Creaking boards ... dark alcoves ... just the sort of house where ghosts would lurk. Was there not someone who threw herself from one of the towers, and wasn't there that unfortunate girl who was built into the walls?"
"That was in the Devil's Tower."
"Of course. Where Kirk hid when that obnoxious Oates man was prowling around. That was an alarming time, was it not? Well, ghosts have their uses when a place like the Devil's Tower can be used. But what about this nightly adventure?"
"As you've guessed, I could not sleep ... but I dozed after a hile, and then I was awake. Something had startled me. Christobel, someone had come into my room."
"You must have dreamed it."
"No. The door was open. I think someone was there, looking at me. I awoke and whoever it was slipped out by the door and did not close it. I thought I heard a step in the corridor, but when I looked out there was no one there."
"You must have forgotten to close the door completely. It moved and awakened you, and because you were a little overexcited to find yourself in such grand, antique surroundings, you thought someone was there."
"I do not believe that."
"But who would want to inspect you by night, when they would have a good chance of doing so by daylight?"
"I do not know. That is why it was rather mysterious ... a little unsettling."
"Well, whoever it was scuttled off when there was a chance of being discovered. The easiest explanation is that the door was not closed properly. Many things in those old houses are a little faulty. Have they not been in place for many years? Forget it. Go to bed tonight and get some untroubled sleep. Life has become exciting for you. You are acknowledged. Maggie will be delighted, I am sure. You will often have exciting times, I'll swear, because your father will not want to keep you in the country. He will take you to London. I'll swear you will be presented to the King. My dear, dear Kate. You have become very grand. Soon you will not deign to visit my lord's estate manager's wife."
"That will never be so," I said indignantly. "It will always be one of my greatest pleasures."
"Bless you," said Christobel happily. "I know it will."
After I had left Christobel I rode over to Featherston Manor. I was told that Kirk well was working in his office, so I went there. I said: "Kirk, you are busy. It is a difficult time."
"Never too busy to see you, Kate," he said. "Come in and tell me all about it."
"You mean first impressions and so on. Well, it is rather an awe-inspiring place."
"And you are regretting leaving the Dower House?"
"It wouldn't have been the same without Christobel. I have just left her."
"She is very happy," he said. "James is a fine fellow."
"It was wonderful that they met. I saw it coming for some time. Did you?"
"Oh yes, it was obvious. I am so glad." He looked at me a little wistfully. "But of course it has brought about this change for you, though I dare say you would have gone up to Rosslyn Manor at some time ... even if not just yet."
"Yes, it was bound to mean change."
"Oh, Kate, I wish you were not there. It is going to change everything. If your father has plans for you ... I mean, if he is going to take you into grand society ... you will not see very much of your old friends."
"Of course I shall. You, Christobel and James ... you will always be my best friends."
He looked a little sad.
"Don't forget us, will you, Kate?"
"What nonsense! As if I would!" I paused and, because I felt emotional, I went on quickly, "How is everything going here?"
"Do you know, I am beginning to feel gratified. My work has not been in vain. We are becoming ... well, scarcely prosperous, but shall I say, showing signs of improvement."
"That's wonderful. You've worked so hard."
"It is very gratifying. It seems that everything is working according to plan. Then this happens, and you go to Rosslyn Manor, and I'm a little anxious about that."
I laid my hand on his arm, and he took it and kept it firmly in his.
"Don't be," I said. "What are you worried about?"
"That you will change. That you won't be our Kate any more, you'll be a grand lady. Your father will have plans for you."
I laughed.
"Nonsense," I said. "Whatever happens, I shall always be your Kate."
Amy and I were becoming good friends. She confessed to me that she had never been in such a grand place before, and she couldn't believe her ears when she was told she was going to be my maid.
"And when I saw you were only a girl ... beg pardon, Mistress Kate, but you are young."
I laughed. "You thought you were going to have some haughty lady, and found it was someone of your own age who was as new to the house as you were. I had been living at the Dower House for a long time."
"Yes, I know that now. Miss. I did not know it when I was told. Mistress Clancy, the housekeeper, only told me I was to look after his lordship's daughter, and that sounded very grand."
"Well, now you see that there is nothing to be afraid of."
She had in a few days become my friend. She was determined to look after me in every possible way, and I was glad of her.