When she had been on the lookout for such a place and had found one so ideal, she had had the same feeling that she had when Canon Thorby announced that half-term would be at the end of October. For a moment she had felt guided, destined. She had put that thought away; it was a sign of eccentricity to see significance in every tiny thing; it might also seem arrogant. Nevertheless, the feeling had recurred and become more powerful, especially after her visit to Mrs Baines. The kindness of two women had gained her two things she wanted, and the first of these – the assurance that Ethel Rigby was alive – was enough to make certain that when, at the last minute, she was frightened and tempted to turn back, as she knew she would be, a sense of duty would come to her aid.

‘This is Renham,’ she said leaning forward. ‘The house I want is just on the other side, past the public house. It has some tall dark trees in front.’

When they reached the spot, the man said:

‘You’ll get wet. Ain’t there a drive-in where I could set you down by the door?’

‘Only the farm entrance, to the side: It isn’t any nearer, and it’s very muddy. This will do very well, thank you.’

She paid and thanked him and hurried to the gate, which, not having been opened for many months, resisted her pushing and then creaked. But the taxi had already reversed and driven away.

Safe behind the wall, she put her suitcase on the ground and opened it. On top of everything else was one of her new purchases, a torch which worked in two ways: it had a button which, when pressed, produced light and which, when released, quenched the light, and another button which, when pressed, stayed down. The torch itself had a square flat bottom, so that it could stand without support, and the head of it could be swivelled round, like a desk lamp. Next to it lay a mackintosh bag containing something square and heavy – and, from the way in which Miss Mayfield handled it, delicate and precious. The bag had a zip at the top. She unfastened it and put her shabby black handbag in on top of what already lay there, hesitated for a moment, then took a woollen cardigan, pushed that in on top of the handbag and fastened the zipper.