“You have a lovely view here,” I said.

“I know. At least I can get a glimpse of what is going on. I just saw Uncle Cedric and his funny young men going down past the cascades. I expect they are going down to the village.”

“The village?”

“My brother says there’s a footpath on the other side of the glen. It’s a shortcut to the village and a perfect way to sneak off unobserved. But do come and sit down.”

I pulled up a chair from the writing desk and sat in the window, facing her.

“So do tell me—what are you doing here?” she asked.

“Everyone seems surprised that there is a guest in the house,” I said. “Do you not get many visitors?”

She shook her head. “I’m told that in the old days, my grandparents used to entertain very grandly all the time, but then my grandfather became ill and died. And now the house belongs to Uncle Cedric, and he only invites his type of people. I think they look quite fun, but I’m never allowed to meet them.”

“Why not?”

She made a face. “Not suitable, that’s what Mummy says. Too common, for one thing, and of a different moral standard from us. I’m not quite sure what she means or how she knows about their moral standards.”

I thought I should probably not elucidate.

“Your grandmother invited me,” I said. “And anyway, you are to have another young person in the house from Saturday onward. Your cousin is arriving from Australia.”

“The heir? He’s actually coming?”

“He is.”

“I wonder what he’ll be like.” Her face was hopeful but guarded. “They say he’s young.”

“He’s twenty, so one gathers.”

“I wonder if he’s good-looking. Uncle Johnnie was very good-looking, from his photographs.”

“So what do you do all day?” I asked.

“When I’m not having lessons, I read a lot.” She held up the book on her lap. “Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Carter lent it to me. It’s very good. Mr. Carter is very kind, and he’s a really good tutor too. He’s awfully brainy, you know. He’s a scientist really; an Oxford man. He was planning to be a professor. But he was badly shell-shocked in the war and he can’t take any kind of noise or upset, so he’s had to settle for teaching boring old us. Nick and Kat are awful to him, and it’s impossible to learn with them around. Nick thinks if he’s bad enough, he’ll be shipped off to school, but Uncle Cedric doesn’t want to pay for him, and we have no money.” She looked up at me. “You’ve heard about our tragic circumstances, of course?”

I nodded.

“It’s terrible for Mummy, because she was brought up to be so proud and she’s so embarrassed that Daddy bolted and left her penniless. She hates being dependent on Uncle Cedric but what choice does she have?”

“I’m also penniless, so I know how she must feel,” I said.