‘Don’t you miss her?’

‘I do. But I know she’s in good hands. And it’s quite a relief to be away for a little while. Mother said she hopes to come out in the week before Christmas for the party.’

‘And will you come back then? And bring Harriet perhaps?’

‘I’ll try. It may be difficult getting more time off work.’

‘I thought you could go in when you wanted.’

‘I can, but the office really shouldn’t be running quite this smoothly without me. I’m meant to be the manager. Also, the train’s quite expensive. And as for the sleeping car. What a misnomer. Well, maybe the car does sleep, but not the people in it. I was on the top bunk coming out and there was about a foot between the surface of the bed and the ceiling. I felt like a letter being posted.’

‘I remember an awkward dance with a very proper couple I was sharing with once,’ said Martha. ‘The wife didn’t want her husband to take his trousers off in front of a stranger. I tactfully left for ten minutes, but he was still hopping about when I got back. Then the wife stood in front of his bunk so he couldn’t see my legs when I climbed up.’

They had come to a bench on the slope that overlooked the lake.

‘What did you think of that lawyer?’ said Charlotte, sitting down. ‘Herr Plischke, was it?’

‘He gave us some good advice, I think. About selling some land and leasing it back.’

‘And did you like him?’

‘Personally? He had charm. And energy. Though …’

‘Though what?’

‘I didn’t altogether trust him.’

‘He was always asking me to go for walks with him. After dinner.’

‘And did you?’

‘I did once, yes,’ said Charlotte.

‘Did he try anything?’

‘No. He wanted to talk about God and politics.’

‘How very disappointing,’ said Martha.

‘Did he try anything with you?’

‘No. Not even a walk.’

‘I had the feeling someone was watching us, when we were walking down the cloister,’ said Charlotte. ‘Perhaps he sensed it, too. And that put him off.’

‘You could always have said it was me. In the dark.’

‘No one would believe that. They know you are above suspicion. Whereas I … The scarlet woman.’

‘What would Father say?’ said Martha.

‘“I never thought I’d end up the grandfather of a child born the wrong side of the blanket … and both still unmarried at the age of thirty-six.”’

‘“But life is long, girls. And you must do what seems right to you. Be true to yourselves and be kind to others. The rest is pure chance.”’

‘Do you miss him?’ said Charlotte.

‘Yes. But I hear his voice. In the office. He’s never far away. And you?’

‘When I put Harriet to sleep at night I give her a kiss from him.’

‘Do you ever see Peter?’

‘No, he’s more married than ever. He sends a cheque occasionally.’

‘And are there others?’ said Martha.