Филиппа Карр - Midsummer's Eve

'Yes, that's so," added my father. "I stopped it after someone nearly got burned to death.”

It makes gruesome reading-what went on in the past," said Rolf.

He's been interested in these old customs for a long time," his told us. "But I think more so since last year. Tell them about year, Rolf?”

"I was at Stonehenge," Rolf explained. "A fellow from my college lives nearby. I went with him. There was quite a ceremony. It was impressive and really eerie. I learned quite a lot about what they surmised was the secret of the stones. But of course it is all wrapped up in mystery. That is what makes it all the more fascinating.”

"He even had some sort of robe to wear," said his father.

"Yes," agreed Rolf. "A long greyish habit. I look a little like one of the Inquisitors in it. It is rather like a monk's robe but the hood almost completely hides the face.”

I was listening enraptured as I always did to Rolf.

"I should love to see it," I said.

"Well, come over tomorrow.”

"What about you, Jacco?" asked my mother. "You'll want to see it too.”

Jacco said yes he would but he was going out with John Gort tomorrow. They were going for pilchards. John Gort said there was a glut and they'd fill the nets in a few hours.

"Well some other time for you, Jacco," said Rolf.

"But I'll come tomorrow," I cried. "I can't wait to see it.”

"I'll look for you in the afternoon," Rolf told me.

"You ought to come over, Sir Jake," said Mr. Hanson. "I want you to see the new copse we're planting.”

"So you are acquiring more and more land," said my father. "I can see you will soon be rivalling Cador.”

"We have a long way to go before we do that," said Rolf regretfully. "In any case we could never rival Cador. Cador is unique. Ours is just an Elizabethan Manor House.”

"It's delightful," my mother assured him. "It's cosier than Cador.”

"They are not to be compared," said Rolf with a smile. "Still we are very satisfied with our little place.”

"Oh it's not so little," said his father.

"How are you getting on with your pheasants?" asked mine.

"Very well. Luke Tregern is proving a good man.”

"You're lucky to have found him.”

"Yes," agreed the lawyer. "That was a stroke of luck. He has come from the Lizard way ... looking for work. Rolf's got an eye for people and he felt he was the right sort. Good-looking, well-spoken , above all keen to make good. He comes up with ideas for the nd You must remember, Sir Jake, we are novices at the game." "You're doing very well all the same," said my father. Rolf was smiling at me. "Tomorrow then?" he said.

The Hansons' place was called Dorey Manor and was on the edge of the wood which bordered the river. They had bought it some ten years before when it had been in a state of dilapidation. The lawyer and his wife-Mrs. Hanson had been alive then-had set about restoring it in a leisurely way; it was when Rolf began to take an interest that developments proceeded at a rapid pace. Now they were constantly acquiring more land.

My father used to say jokingly: "Rolf Hanson wants to outdo Cador. He's an ambitious young man and he's attempting the impossible.”

"He is making the Manor and its lands into a sizable property," added my mother.

There was not doubt that Rolf was proud of Dorey Manor. He was so interested in everything, and being with him made one interested too. I always felt more alive with Rolf than with anyone else.

He was waiting for me in the stables. He lifted me down from my horse, holding me for a few moments and looking up at me, smiling.

"You're growing," he said. "Every time I see you you are bigger than you were last time.”

"Do you think I am going to be a giantess?”

"Just a fine upstanding girl. Come on. I'm going to show you the copse first.”

"I long to see the robe.”

"I know. But waiting will make it more interesting. So ... the copse first.”

Luke Tregern was working there.

'This is Luke Tregern," Rolf said to me. "Luke, this is our neighbour, Miss Annora Cadorson.”

Luke Tregern bowed his head in greeting. He was tall, olives-wined, dark-haired and handsome.

“Good day, Miss Cadorson," he said.

“Good day," I replied.

His dark eyes were fixed intently on me.

"There's a healthy look about these trees, sir," he said. "They're taking well.”

"So I thought," replied Rolf. "We're just going to wander round and take a look.”

Rolf seemed to know a great deal about trees as he did about everything else.

He said: "I'm teasing you with all this talk of trees. You are longing to see the robe. What a patient girl you are.”

"No I'm not. I just like to be here with you. I really am enjoying the copse.”

He took my arm and we went towards the house. "I'll tell you something," he said.

"You are the nicest little girl I ever knew.”

I was in a daze of happiness.

The house was small compared with Cador. It was built in the Tudor style-black-beamed with white plaster panels in between and each storey projecting beyond the one below.

It was picturesque and charming with an old-fashioned garden where honeysuckle decorated the arches and the display of Tudor roses was magnificent especially when they were all in bloom, which they were almost till December.

"Come on in," said Rolf.

We went into his library-a long room with linen-fold panelling and a moulded ceiling.

The room was lined with books. I glanced at the subjects: law, archaeology; ancient religions, customs, witchcraft.

"Oh Rolf," I cried, "how clever you are!”

He laughed and suddenly took my chin in his hands and looked into my face.

"Don't have too high an opinion of me, Annora," he said. "That could be very unwise.”

"Why should it be?”

"I might not be able to live up to it.”

"But of course you would," I declared vehemently. "Tell me about that strange ceremony.”

"I've only just skimmed the surface of all these mysteries. I'm just interested in a dilettante way.”

I refused to believe he did not know a great deal. "Do let me see the robe," I cried.

"Here it is. ?'Put it on,' ' He opened a drawer and took it out. I commanded.

He did. A shiver ran through me as he stood there. I could only cribe his appearance as sinister. It was like a monk's robevish white. The hood was big. It came right over his head and he ered out through the narrow opening in the front. It was only when the hood fell back that his face could be seen. "There is something frightening about it," I said. He pulled back the hood so that it fell right back, and I laughed with relief.

"That's better. You look like yourself now. In that ... with your face hidden you are like a different person.”

"Imagine the effect with several of us dressed like this. Midnight and those historic stones all around us. Then you get the real atmosphere.”

I said: "It reminds me of the Inquisitors who tortured those they called heretics.

Miss Caster and I have been 'doing' the Spanish Inquisition. It's really frightening.”

"I think that is the object. These are not quite so bad as those with pointed tops with slits for eyes. They are really quite spine-chilling. I shall show you some pictures of them.”

"May I try it on?”

"It's far too big for you. It is made for a tall man.”

"Nevertheless I want to.”

I put it on. It trailed to the floor. Rolf laughed at me.

"Do you know what you've done?" he said. "You've robbed it of its sinister quality.

Annora, you'll have to grow up." He looked at me with a tender exasperation. "You're taking such a long time to do it.”

I'm taking just the same time as everyone else." He put his hands on my shoulders.

"It seems a long time," he said.