Saraband for Two Sisters

She came first with the brick, which was a comfort. Wrapped in red flannel, it gave out a gentle warmth and the shivering was soon giving way to a cozy comfort. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she said, and she was as good as her word. She had a small pewter goblet and in it some concoction which she said was sweet to the taste and soothing to the body.

She handed it to me and said, “Sip it, my lady. That’s the way it does most good. I don’t reckon there’s many as knows more of the secret of herbs and things that grow in the ground than I do and if there are I’d like to meet them, for it’s always a good thing to improve your knowledge. Some of the General’s important guests-great soldiers like himself-have talked of the flavor of my stews, and all it was a touch of burdock, lady smock, or old man’s pepper. You can do a lot with them. There they are, all in the ground, given us by the good God and all we have to do is make use of them. Now, in this posset, I’ve got a sprinkling of thyme. That gives pleasant dreams, so my grandmother found out, and she passed it on through the family like, and there’s just a spot of poppy to make your sleep easy. Is it pleasant, my lady?»

“Yes, it’s sweet ... but not too sweet and it does have a pleasant tang.”

“I knew you’d like it. You’ll be asleep in no time.”

“But I am sure I saw the light and the face. I won’t have it that it was fancy. As for a nightmare, I was fully awake.”

She was thoughtful for a moment. Then she said, “Strawberry John, you say. This face-it had a look of him?”

“I can’t be sure. There was only the moonlight and his face was against even that.

It was therefore in shadow. The shape of his head reminded me.»

“I’m just wondering if that crazy Strawberry John got into the castle somehow. That just could be.”

“How could he?”

“If he got over the wall.”

“Could he climb it? And there are glass flints at the top.”

“You know that then, my lady.”

“Yes, I noticed them when the sun was shining the other day. The little bits of glass were glistening.”

“The General is so determined that everyone should stay out. But there is Strawberry John. He’s not quite right in the head, that’s why we don’t take much notice of him.»

“He’s a poacher, you say?”

“Yes, he does a bit of poaching. People round about are generous to him. They’re sorry for him. He being what you might call two happorth short. Now, since you’re so sure you saw the light and the face I just wonder whether he got in somehow? I’ll speak to Cherry and Mr. Jesson. I’ll get them to run him to earth one day and question him. The General would want to know if it’s possible for anyone to get in there ... and you can be sure he’ll put a stop to it if he knows what’s going on.”

I felt soothed by the thought that Strawberry John might have got into the castle. I would not allow Mrs. Cherry to convince me that I was a stupid hysterical creature who had imagined the whole thing.

I was beginning to grow sleepy. The warmth of the bed and soothing posset were working.

“Thank you, Mrs. Cherry,” I said. “It was good of you to look after me.»

“Oh, I’m only doing what the General would wish, my lady. We’ve got to take special care of you ... now.”

She tiptoed out and I was soon asleep and did not wake until the sun was streaming into the bedchamber.

The next day I thought I would like to talk with someone about what had happened, and I immediately thought of Ella Longridge. There was something about the farmhouse kitchen that was in direct contrast to the castle. Everything there was so simple; I imagined there was nothing in that big and homey room that was not of practical use. There was something direct about both the Longridges-matter-of-fact, down-to-earth, honest good people.

Of course Richard did not agree with their views, which I knew were against the King in some way. For Richard, as a soldier, would be intensely loyal. It occurred to me that he would support the King even if he disagreed with his policies. Richard was a man who would have a certain standard of behavior and never diverge from it. Luke Longridge was different. I wondered what he wrote in those articles which his sister had mentioned.