Time for Silence

During the weeks that followed, we were all very busy settling into the hospital. My mother was realizing what a tremendous undertaking she had assumed; but she was very appreciative of all those who helped. We were all immersed in the exercise, which was a good thing because it kept our minds off the progress of the war.

Disaster followed disaster. In early May the Lusitania, on its way from New York to Liverpool, had been sunk by a German submarine with the loss of almost twelve hundred people. This shocked the nation, and there was speculation as to whether this would bring the United States of America into the war.

The coalition government which Mr. Asquith had formed, bringing in Conservative leaders like Bonar Law and Austen Chamberlain, was not proving to be entirely successful. The fact that the Dardanelles venture was threatening to be disastrous could not be hidden. Winston Churchill was being criticized because of his whole-hearted support for it. The Prime Minister was being called inept and not the man needed to lead the country to victory.

We were all adjusting ourselves to the new way of life. Miss Carruthers and I were at our desks in the morning. In the afternoon we had two hours during which we often rode out. Miss Carruthers had ridden in her youth and had not been on a horse for some years, but she quickly remembered her old training and proved to be a tolerably good horsewoman. Andrée took lessons and occasionally the three of us rode out together.

Andrée, I discovered, had a great capacity for enjoyment, and it was gratifying that she was so thankful to us for taking her away from a life that would have been distasteful to her. Miss Carruthers felt something similar, but not to the same extent; and in any case she did not show her feelings as readily as Andrée did.

“I love old houses,” Andrée said one day, “particularly those with a history.” She wanted to know all about Marchlands and would study the portraits of past Greenhams and ask questions about them. I knew very little of them.

“You will have to ask my father,” I said.

“He would be too busy just now, with all that is going on, to bother with my curiosity,” replied Andrée. “By the way, what of that house…is it Milton Priory? I heard some of the servants talking about it. I’d love to have a look at it.”

“It’s about two miles from here,” I said. “We could go and take a look at it. It has stood empty for some years. It’s one of those places that get a reputation for being haunted.”

“So some of the servants were saying.”

“Strange noises?” I said. “Weeping and wailing and lights appearing in the windows. That’s the usual thing.”

“Something like that.”

“It’s quite derelict really. I don’t know who owns it. There’s nothing much to see really.”

“Still, I’d like to look at it sometime.”

“Tomorrow then. Let’s ride there. I don’t suppose Miss Carruthers will mind.”

The next day, when we get to the stables, Andrée reminded me of my promise to go to Milton Priory.

“All right,” I said. “But prepare for a disappointment.”

“Is that the old place surrounded by shrubs?” asked Miss Carruthers.

“That sounds like an apt description,” I replied.

I had not seen the place for about two years. I noticed at once that it had changed. The shrubs were as unkempt as ever, but it had lost that unlived-in look. Was it because the windows had been cleaned?

“Fascinating,” said Andrée. “Yes…it does look haunted. Do you know its history?”

“No…nothing at all,” I replied. “Except that it has been empty for a long time and nobody seems to want to buy it. I don’t know whether it’s up for sale or not. I’ve not heard of its being so.”

“Could we go a little nearer?” asked Andrée.

“I can’t imagine anyone would mind if we did,” I said.

We urged our horses closer to the shrubs, and as we did so, a large Alsatian dog came bounding toward us. He looked fierce and forbidding.

“Angus,” said a voice. “What is it, boyo?”

A man was coming toward us. His shabby tweeds and unkempt appearance fitted the house. He was middle-aged, with a tawny beard and he carried a gun.

“Sit, Angus,” he said.

Angus sat but continued to regard us in a glowering and threatening manner.

“What are you doing here?” asked the man. “Do you know you are trespassing?”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “We didn’t think we were. The house is empty, isn’t it? We were just looking.”

“You don’t come any farther until I know your business.”

I was amazed. I said, “I’m from Marchlands.”

“Oh, aye,” he replied.

“We just thought we would look round. We have done so before. Please tell us who you are.”

“I’m the caretaker,” he said.

“Caretaker at Milton Priory!”

“From now on.”

“Is it up for sale?” I asked.

“Reckon.”

“I hadn’t heard.”

He shrugged his shoulders.

“Someone must have bought it,” I said.

“Could be so.”

“I see. I’m sorry. It has been empty so long and no one ever minded before. We just thought we’d explore a little.”