“I don’t think,” Edmund said. “I know. Because once when no one else was in the living room, I stole up to mother, pretending to act in jest as she was reposing on the divan, and ripped the necklet from her—it had come loose and started to slip around her collar—and in that moment, a stifling hot dark wind tore through the room when all the windows were shut and it was a cool day. And my mother turned to me, and her eyes had grown dark without pupils and red as coals in the center, and her dear, normally smiling mouth parted, and there were long feline teeth! I felt a presence gather in the room, a swirling maelstrom and the sting of sand, and I could not help but cry out. As the worst of cowards I dropped the necklet, and it landed in her lap. Upon which, immediately, the room became light again, the presence of the burning dark receded, and my mother’s face became normal as though nothing had happened. While my lips still moved in prayer, mother took the necklet and calmly tied it around her neck once more. And she said to me, ‘Whatever is the matter, dear boy? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost!’ In that moment I realized she honestly did not recall the strange several moments of hell that had just come to pass between us.”

“What—what was that necklet, then?” Fanny said, faintly. “Was it the Curse, or a thing that contained it?”

“Edmund looked at her with an expression that spoke many things. “How remarkably wise you are, little cousin! how insightful! Your question is brilliant—for to this day I do not know for certain if that necklet, infernal as it might be, is my mother’s bane or salvation. In truth, I—do not dare find out.”

After walking some time in silence, they returned inside.

“There’s more to this story,” whispered Edmund, “But I leave it for another day. I’ve frightened you enough—for which I am truly sorry, but it had to be said—and now it is time to think of happier things: your sweet sisters, dear brothers!”

Fanny was more than glad to change the subject. Not only had she been terrified out of her gloom by Edmund, but he now brought her to the most joyful topic possible, thereby succeeding in a perfect engagement of mental faculties that took her mind off any inner personal sorrow.