The changeling

“Well, isn’t that water, and what’s above it? The statue, I mean?”

Her eyes widened with joy.

“Well, you know where to find it. So ... go and get it.”

When she had gone I said: “That’s cheating. You practically told her.”

“I know.”

“But it isn’t fair to the others.”

“They won’t know.”

“But ... Mr. Gerson ...”

“Do you think you could call me Oliver? It’s quite a distinguished name really. Oliver Goldsmith, Oliver Cromwell ... Oliver Gerson.”

“You’re straying from the point. You cheated.”

“I had to.”

Belinda came rushing into the summerhouse, proudly waving the six clues. “I’ve found them. I’ve found them. I’ve won the treasure.”

He took the pieces of paper from her hand.

“All present and correct,” he said. “You are the first. You have won the treasure.

Now we must call in the others and they must witness the presentation.”

We came out of the summerhouse. I was still shaken by what he had done. He called: “Children of the Treasure Hunt, the treasure has been found. All assemble at the summerhouse.”

Belinda was jumping up and down with glee. Lucie was already running up.

“I nearly had it,” she told me. “I was on the last one.”

The others arrived.

Oliver Gerson lifted the beribboned parcel aloft and cried: “The hunt is over. Belinda is the triumphant one. Miss Belinda Lansdon, the treasure is yours.” He put the parcel into her hands. Her face expressed her delight- She put the parcel into Lucie’s hands and for a moment I thought she was giving it over to her. But all she wanted to do was put her arms round Oliver and hug him; she kissed him heartily when he stooped to her.

Then she took the parcel from Lucie and held it tightly in her arms. Never had I seen such joy on her face before. Oliver Gerson had given Belinda the happiest Christmas she had ever known.

For some time Belinda was in a state of bliss. Long after the chocolates were eaten the box, complete with red ribbons, was given a place of honor in the nursery and I often saw Belinda’s eyes rest on it, alight with loving memory. Oliver Gerson was her hero. It did not seem to occur to her that the method by which she had won the trophy was not strictly honorable. She had won it and that was all that mattered. She may have been helped to it by Oliver Gerson but that only endeared him to her the more. He was, to her, the perfect knight.

I talked to him about the treasure hunt the very next day. I was in the garden when he joined me.

He said: “You are looking at me a little reproachfully. Are you still thinking of the treasure hunt?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

“Come and sit awhile in the summerhouse. I want to talk and we shan’t be interrupted there.”

As we sat down he said: “Yes, it was not strictly fair, was it? It wasn’t according to ethics. But I am sorry for the child. She interests me. I think she has suffered considerably.”

“All she wants is a normal happy life ... with parents who love her.”

“She has lost her mother at birth and her father cannot forgive her for coming into the world at the cost of his wife’s life. It is not the first time such a situation has arisen.”

“It is so unfair to the child. Sometimes I hate him for what he has done to Belinda.”

“He doesn’t mean any harm. He just wants to forget... and she doesn’t help him.”

“But it is years since it happened.”

“I know. There’s nothing we can do about him ... but we can help the child, and that is what I am trying to do.”

“You are succeeding. You have made her very happy, but she should not be led to believe that she can get what she wants by cheating.”

“It is often the case in real life.”

“That may be and it has to be deplored. At least it is not the way a child should be taught. It is really telling her that this is the way to succeed.”

“You are a lady of great virtue, I see.”

“That’s not the point. We are dealing with a child’s impressionable mind. She thinks you are wonderful and what you do will seem to her right. I just feel that-small matter as it may seem to you-it was the wrong way to deal with it.”

“Then I offer my humble apologies to you but I think there are times when the rules can be stretched for the sake of a child’s happiness.”

“Happiness? Every one of those children would have been happy to win. It was a game ... a test ... a competition ... and one of them was helped to the winning post.”

“I give you my word that I will not repeat my folly, and if I had known how you would feel, I should never have done it in the first place. But she so desperately wanted to win ... and, poor child, she has her troubles and I just thought I would let her have this small triumph.”

“You are very kind and I expect I am making a fuss about something which is not of great importance.”

“I know how you feel and you are right, of course, and I am wrong ... but I was overcome by my feelings for the child.”

“You have done a great deal to help her. I thank you for that. It has given her the happiest Christmas she has ever known. So let us say no more. I expect I am carping a bit.”