‘Queer,’ said Jonathan. ‘Birds just come to that bloke. His name’s Ed Brown. He carts for Daventry. The old women in the village swear he’s a changeling, and, by the look of him, he could be, couldn’t he? He reminds me of a satyr, or perhaps Puck, except that he behaves himself. There’s only one person he doesn’t take to, if rumour can be believed – and as it’s pub rumour it probably can! – and that’s our agent, Tiny Fullalove. It seems that Ed met Tiny out in India during the war and didn’t like his ways with Army mules.’

‘Odd that they should have met in India if, as I suppose, Ed Brown merely went there during the war,’ Mrs Bradley remarked, ‘especially if Mr Fullalove was in the police, and Brown a soldier.’

‘Quite right; it was a bit of a coincidence. Their meeting must have been just one of those things. The Fullaloves aren’t local people. It’s a Yorkshire name, I believe. Tiny knew the former owner of this place and when he heard there was a job going here he asked to have it. He got it, packed up India (where, presumably, he knew there was no future for him) and came along. He had only been agent here for a couple of years when the place was sold. Fellow’s gone to live in the South of France or somewhere. Made it a condition of sale that the College and I kept Tiny on. Fair enough. He’s pretty good at his job. Miss Hughes, the College principal, doesn’t like him, though. Moreover, she ain’t tactful like Ed. She says it loud and clear, with Celtic oaths. Welsh as Llanfihangel. I love her.’

‘Oh, it’s a women’s college, is it? I hadn’t gathered that.’

‘Yes. You must get Miss Hughes to tell you about it. She’s coming over to Christmas dinner. Bit of a nuisance the Fullaloves have to come, too, but it can’t be helped. One has to be matey in the country, and the College holiday only lasts a week, so Miss Hughes doesn’t go down at all; just stays up getting ready for next term. It’s one of these Emergency places, you know. They reckon to train their people in thirteen months. It must be the hell of a life for the Staff, I should think. Let’s push in here and collect the pup for Deb.’