Sarah returned to Unsta determined to put Elspeth from her mind. Jealousy was ridiculous. Elspeth was obviously a spoilt, neurotic woman and there was no competition between them. She would not mention her conversation with Elspeth to Jim. If he did not want to discuss his former girlfriend, she would respect his privacy. Elspeth was someone to feel sorry for, and pity made her safe.

In this strong, confident mood she began to make plans for the house. She did not want to bully Jim into building yet—that could wait for the spring—but she could make Unsta more civilized. They would need carpet, new units for the kitchen, fresh paint, curtains. She walked through the house from the kitchen to the bedroom, imagining how it would be, irritated because she could not start at once. She could start in the garden, she thought. It had been cultivated until recently but it was full of weeds. She wanted to dig it over before the frost came. She went to Buness and borrowed a spade and fork. She worked all afternoon, and imagined Jim’s pleasure when he saw how much she had achieved.

At half past three Maggie called over the wall at her.

“I’m going to collect the children from school, then I’m going on to meet the boat. Will you come?”

Sarah went inside to wash her hands and change her shoes. Maggie was still looking over the wall when she returned.

“You’ve cleared a good lot there,” Maggie said grudgingly, and it seemed to Sarah that she was disappointed.

They were a little early at the school and waited at the gate.

“I suppose that Neil will have been messing with paint and glue with Mrs. Drysdale again,” Maggie said. “ It’s not right. She’s not qualified, you see. He should be properly taught. That’s what Drysdale’s been paid for. If they want an infants’ teacher, they should advertise.”

Sarah remembered that Maggie had been a teacher. Perhaps she was hoping for a job in the school.

“She won’t be there today,” Sarah said. “She went on the Ruth Isabella.“

“Did she then? I wonder how long she’ll be away for. They should both leave. For good. Neither of them fits in here.”

It occurred to Sarah then that there was a more personal animosity between Maggie and Sylvia. She remembered suddenly how Alec had waltzed with Sylvia at the party, holding her very close, and realized that she recognized a note of jealousy in Maggie’s voice.

The school bell rang and the children ran out.