Saraband for Two Sisters

Strawberry John had leaped on the creature. He had thrown his arms about him and was holding him firmly.

“It’s all right, boy,” he said in a strangely gentle voice. “We’re all right. It’s nothing, boy, nothing at all.”

The creature was smiling at Strawberry John, who had taken one of its hands. It no longer looked menacing.

Strawberry John waved his arms at me, implying I was to disappear the way I had come, and I stumbled back into the corridor.

With fumbling fingers I drew the bolt. I had dropped my candle in the courtyard and was now in darkness, but I knew where I must go, so I felt my way along those stone walls until I stumbled into the cupboard.

When I came out the first person I saw was Mrs. Cherry. She was standing there, her face ashen.

“You’ve been in the tunnel! You’ve been to the castle!” she cried.

“Yes,” I said. “I’ve seen who is there and I want to know what it means.»

“It’s for the General to tell you,” she said, and she sat down at the table and put her head in her hands. She remained thus for a few seconds and then she stood up and came to me.

“In your condition,” she said, “this could have caused harm.”

I said, “Who is that in there? Who is that... boy ... man ... ? Who is he?”

“It’s not for me to say,” she stammered.

“But you know, Mrs. Cherry.”

“Oh, my lady. It’s our secret-it’s what we have to keep.” Her eyes lit up suddenly as she said, “I can’t keep it no longer. How can I when you’ve seen? We’ve looked after him all these years-all of us here and especially Cherry and me and Strawberry John. It’s his son, my lady the General’s son.”

“No!” I cried. “Magdalen ... bore that!”

“There,” said Mrs. Cherry. “I’ve told. No one can blame me. I could do no other ... not after you’d seen. Here, you’re all shook up. Let me get you to your room. I’ll call your sister.”

Yes, I must talk to Bersaba. I had to share this terrible secret with someone. I would never forget the sight of that vapid face.

She led me to my room. “You mustn’t be frightened, my lady,” she said. “It would be bad for the child. He’s quiet most of the time. Just has violent fits now and then. He’s not a bad boy. Plays some games. Strawberry John’s good with him. He loves him, Strawberry John does. He thinks he’ll make something of him one day.»

“Bring my sister to me,” I said.

And she went away.

Half an hour passed and Bersaba did not come. Then there was a knock on my door.

It was Mrs. Cherry again. She had a goblet in her hand.

“I’m so worried about you, my lady. You shouldn’t have gone there. I’ve brought you this. It’ll soothe you. A little vervain because you trembled so ... and pimpernel to cheer you and my dear herb-twopence, which is good for everything. Drink it up.»

“I couldn’t drink anything, Mrs. Cherry. Leave it there.”

She set it down and said, “I couldn’t find Mistress Longridge. She’s out in the gardens with the children. She had said something about gathering holly and ivy for Christmas. Oh, my lady, ‘tis terrible to see you so put out.”

“And Strawberry John has always looked after that... child?»

“He’s a strange man. Some say he’s a bit short and some say he has too much. He has a way with animals and the sick. He’s always looked after the boy and good to him he’s been. The boy would die for him and he for the boy. Tas been a great sadness for the General. We knew soon after he was born. And then the castle seemed the place and he was put there for the General couldn’t bear to look at him. He’d wanted a child-what man doesn’t?-and it was only natural that he should get to wondering what was wrong with him that he should have such as that.”

“So he shut him away and wouldn’t see him.»

“He knew he were safe with Strawberry John.»

“And that night when the noise in the kitchen awakened us?” ‘That was the boy. The door had been left open and he got through. He was only playful like. He was throwing the pots and pans about. It was like a game to him. He’s gentle most times, Strawberry John says. Strawberry John tells me that one day he could be better. He’s getting better ... he doesn’t have the violent turns like he did. He’ll always be different from others ... but one day he might be able to live in a nice house like the son of a gentleman.” She paused and then her brow wrinkled. “Didn’t he tell you?” she said. “There was that night when he broke in. ... Didn’t he tell you then?”

“He’s never told me that he had a son living.”

“The General took it bad. We reckoned that he wouldn’t marry again because he was afraid of himself ... afraid there might be some taint in him like. He used to shut himself in the library and go through all that had happened to his family. We all knew because Jesson saw the papers when he put them away. Then he brought you here ... and it seemed as if he might have another son. But when you had that miscarriage-“ She stopped.

“That was because I had a fright in the Castle Room. You all said it was a nightmare.

Of course I did really see the lights and the face.”