‘I shouldn’t worry about that, if I were you. It’d be a bit odd, wouldn’t it, going back to Walwyk, where everybody knew you and you didn’t even remember their names? And if you go elsewhere you’d need a reference, which would put poor Hal on the spot.’

‘He need only say that he had employed me and found me competent. On the other hand, if he wasn’t averse to my returning to Walwyk, I could face the little embarrassment of having to learn names and so forth again. After all, having an accident, as I did, is nothing to be ashamed of. I think I should get in touch with Canon Thorby at once.’

‘There’s no hurry. I’m not sure that he’s back. And when we had our long talk about you, he said that he would come down and see you as soon as he could. I should wait till then, if I were you.’

‘When he talked to you, Mrs Mott-Tyler, did he say anything that gave any hint of what his attitude towards continuing to employ me might be?’

‘Let’s see. He said you’d had an accident and lost your memory and he was afraid it’d be a long job. He spoke as though he intended you to stay here indefinitely. That’s all. I can’t see what you’re worrying about. You’re happy here, aren’t you? Oh, is it money? How silly of us not to have thought . . . Look I can let you have what you want, within reason. A fiver to go on with.’

‘Oh no. Thank you very much. I don’t want to go getting into any more debt. I can manage quite well.’

It was tact, not a wish to deceive, which made her conceal from Mrs Mott-Tyler the fact that she had written to Canon Thorby. She wished not to appear discontented, over-anxious or unwilling to co-operate. So she wrote thanking him heartily for all his kindness, telling him that her health was restored, her memory of Walwyk still missing and asking him what he wished her to do. She professed her willingness to return if that was his pleasure, and ended, ‘I hope that while I worked for you I gave you satisfaction and that you will be able to recommend me for another post in the event of my having to make a change.’