It was a Sunday afternoon in spring, and the air in the park was fresh and clean, almost like country air. Peter drew in great gulps of it, cleansing himself of the atmosphere of that drawing room. He wished Lisa would unwind, be less nervous and strung-up. The hand he wasn’t holding kept going up to the charm she wore on a chain round her neck or straying out to knock on wood as they passed a fence.

Suddenly she said, ‘What did that woman mean about the park’s reputation?’

‘Some occult rubbish. How should I know? I hate that sort of thing.’

‘So do I,’ she said, ‘but I’m afraid of it.’

‘When we’re married you’ll never have to have any more to do with it. I’ll see to that. God, I wish we could get married now or you’d come and live with me till we can.’

‘I can’t marry you till I’m eighteen without Mummy’s permission, and if I go and live with you they’ll make me a ward of court.’

‘Surely not, Lisa.’

‘Anyway, there’s only six months to wait. It’s hard for me too. Don’t you think I’d rather live with you than with Mummy?’

The childish rejoinder made him smile. ‘Come on, try and look a bit more cheerful. I want to take your photograph. If I can’t have you, I’ll have your picture.’ They had reached a sunny open space where he sat her on a log and told her to smile. He got the camera out of its case. ‘Don’t look at those people, darling. Look at me.’

It was a pity the man and the girl had chosen that moment to sit down on the wooden seat.

‘Lisa!’ he said sharply, and then he wished he hadn’t, for her face crumpled with distress. He went up to her. ‘What’s the matter now, Lisa?’

‘Look at that girl,’ she said.

‘All right. What about her?’

‘She’s exactly like me. She’s my double.’

‘Nonsense. What makes you say that? Her hair’s the same colour and you’re about the same build, but apart from that, there’s no resemblance. She’s years older than you and she’s . . .’

‘Peter, you must see it! She might be my twin. Look, the man with her has noticed. He looked at me and said something to her and then they both looked.’

He couldn’t see more than a superficial similarity. ‘Well, supposing she were your double, which I don’t for a moment admit, so what? Why get in such a state about it?’

‘Don’t you know about doubles? Don’t you know that if you see your double, you’re seeing your own death, you die within the year?’

‘Oh, Lisa, come on. I never heard anything so stupid. This is more rubbish you’ve picked up from those crazy old witches. It’s just sick superstition.’ But nothing he could say calmed her. Her face had grown white and her eyes troubled. Worried for her rather than angry, he put out his hand and helped her to her feet. She leant against him, trembling, and he saw she was clutching her amulet. ‘Let’s go,’ he said. ‘We’ll find another place to take your picture. Don’t look at her if it upsets you. Forget her.’