Lately he had found himself increasingly drawn to the idea of an unexpected candidate, unexpected because he was not a god-son, was younger than would have been ideal and not at first sight that solid predictable English character he had supposed himself to be seeking. It was perhaps this last which in fact attracted Sir Reuben, the boy’s nervousness, imagination and dark intensity of looks being after all more appealing than the typical English qualities of Marcus, the elder brother.

Apropos of nothing, and apparently interrupting Bob Lilburn’s conversation with Minnie, Sir Reuben said suddenly, ‘Where is Osbert today?’

‘Osbert?’ Minnie was surprised by the question since the children were seldom anyway seen by the guests until after tea. ‘I expect by now he will be looking for his duck again unless the silly creature has turned up. It was lost this morning.’

‘If it should fail to appear I should feel honoured to take on the responsibility of providing a successor.’

Minnie rested her plump white hand on his arm.

‘You’re the kindest person in the world. But let’s hope it won’t come to that.’

Looking over the heads of Aline Hartlip and Tibor Rakassyi at the blue china on the dark shelves and the flickering sunlight on the beech leaves beyond the latticed windows, Olivia said ‘Wouldn’t it be lovely to live here always?’

‘You mean in this little house?’ said Lionel.

‘Yes. Don’t you think so?’

‘I should like it well enough if I could have my books with me. And if I were in love with my companion. And if we could keep it warm.’

‘It would have to be an idyll then, for you. I don’t know that I would ask so much. I think I could be happy here alone.’

‘That would be a waste.’

‘A waste of what?’

‘Of you.’

‘I might be becoming wise. Then it wouldn’t be a waste.’

‘We are meant to share our lives not develop in isolation. Besides I think you are wise already.’

‘You can’t know me very well if you think that.’

‘Perhaps I don’t. But then why do I feel as if I do?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘You know me too. You know everything about me.’

‘But that’s impossible.’

‘Yes, it is impossible. But it’s true. We know each other because our souls knew each other before.’

‘Did they? Where?’

‘Oh, in Heaven or somewhere, I don’t know.’

‘You seem very sure of it.’

‘Yes, I am sure. Quite, quite sure.’

‘I think it’s more as if…’

But she had begun hesitantly and at the pushing back of chairs which followed from Minnie’s catching Aline’s eye and rising to her feet, she stopped.

As they stood up he said, ‘But you will walk with me?’