i 69ef9ff463a71164 by Unknown Read Free Book Online

the fells. He does the odd jobs, part time, mostly at nights and week-ends. He's a farmworker really."
    "Really ... I Well, how strange."
    "Why, is he a friend of yours?" Gerald's eyes narrowed.
    "No, no, I wouldn't say that. We've only met twice and then just for a few minutes each time. But he's the kind of man whom you couldn't forget in a hurry ... he's got a white tuft of hair here, hasn't he?"
    He pointed high up on his temple.
    "Yes ... yes, he has."
    "That's him."
    They both watched Andrew follow the path that led towards the side of the house and the front door.
    "Where'd you meet him ... he hardly ever leaves these parts, except occasionally to visit an aunt in Devon."
    "It was there we met ... Devon."
    "This last week?"
    "No, some months ago around Easter, to be correct. That was the second time. The first time was about two years ago. I lost my way when I was on a walking tour and came across him. I was making for Buckfast Abbey and got lost in a wood. You can, you know," he smiled.
    "I was thinking I was there for ever when I came on a clearing and a cottage. There was a field beyond. It was in the field I first saw him It was most arresting, he was coming down the slope with his wife.
    It was rather a steep gradient and I think she must have slipped, for he pulled her up into his arms and swung round and ran with her down the remainder of the hill to the gate. I remember envying him his colossal strength . it was rather a beautiful sight, if you know what I mean, a man running down a hill with a woman in his arms. You don't often come across it in real life, you've got to go to the films to see anything like that these days, and then it's usually done by a stand-in Hercules. "
    "He was with his wife?" Gerald's voice was low and his eyes were wide and he nodded his head slowly as he spoke.
    "Yes. I didn't make my presence known for a moment or so, I didn't want to break in on the scene and ... well ... embarrass them, but even when I did show myself, and with quite a bit of preliminary noise, I remember I nearly scared the wits out of them, at least her, for she dashed into the house. It left me a bit mystified until he explained.
    She had seemingly been very ill and was still convalescent, and as they rarely saw anyone in that isolated part my presence had evidently startled her."
    "Yes ... yes, it would, I can see that." Gerald was still nodding his head. Well, could you beat it? Maclntyre with a wife a woman would be more correct, and tucked away in a nice secluded sppt right in the heart of a wood. Well again, what d'you know? His mother-in-law's family retainer, who would be lonely on Christmas Day so must join the family circle, and while he was eating his Christmas pudding no doubt his mind would be in the woods . with the little woman. There was a loud snigger inside him. He couldn't wait to see Andrew's face when he was confronted with this fellow. It was a small world, wasn't it?
    Coincidences were funny things, upsetting things. He was going to enjoy himself today, mainly, he realised, not because Andrew's face was going to be red, but because of the disillusionment that was awaiting his mother-in-law when she learnt of the double life of her perfect odd-job man.
    "I found him a most interesting man. He had a wide knowledge of trees.
    He walked with me and put me on the road to the Abbey. I remember wishing it had been longer. Then this Easter I went that way again and there they were as before. She's very shy, isn't she? Has she quite recovered? "
    Gerald was saved from making a reply to this question by the sound of laughing voices entering the hall. The churchgoers were back and Andrew would come in with them oh he couldn't wait for this so for answer he said, "Here they come, come on and show yourself." He put his arm round the other man's shoulders and pressed him forward, and so it was almost side by side they entered the hall.
    There before them was gathered the family. Beatrice was in the act of