"I thought it came at quarter past." " They said it was quarter past." " They were wrong." " Are you Mr Boggis?" " Yes, and you're master Tolly." " l remember you were smaller." " l was smaller." " l have grown." " Yes, I suppose you would have." "Mrs. Oldknow would've met you, but the RAF is on the move out." "They told us this morning." " Your grandmother long forward to seeing you." " Is she?" "Aren't you wearing a coat?" "All right." " We have heard about Mr. David." " He is not dead, nobody says he's dead." "Not even the telegram." "He is just missing in action." "Missing, that's it." " How's your mother?" " All right, but busy." "She tries to find out where he is." "She went to London." "Yeah, I expect she has." "I expect we'Il have some news any day now." "I mean, when you take the prison, somebody's got to know something." " Hello, Tolly." " Hello." " Do I still call you granny?" " What else did you have in mind?" "I don't know." "Mrs Oldknow?" "No, I think we'd better stick with Granny." "Sorry, I couldn't meet you, I just didn't dare leave them to it." "Are you sad they're going?" "No, we Oldknows like to be left to our own devices." "I think, that's just about it." "I told them to put everything back in under dustsheets so I expect to wrong." " Well, so..." " l hope we haven't been too often." "You haven't pulled the place down." "So you did better than some." "Well, I'm not sure the house would have let us." "Goodbye." "Does that mean all the soldiers will be home soon?" "Well, there's no front cleaning up to, but most of them should be here before two months." "Have them ready to go, sir." "Well done, thank you." "Goodbye again." " Do you remember Mrs. Tweedie?" " How do you do." "Of course, he don't, why should he?" "He was much less grown when he was last here." " This is Bismarck." " He remembers you." " You come along with me, we get you settled in." " Here we are." " How long have you worked here?" " Too many years to think about." "Do you like it?" "Yes, I do." "Though it's a funny old house." "No doubt about that." "But it is our funny old house." "That's what my dad used to say." "Used to talk about this place all the time." "You come down when you're ready." "You don't have to worry, I know he's alive." "I think I'm still worried a bit." "If it's all right with you." "Won't you sit down?" " Who were all these people?" " They're your family." "But they are dead, aren't they?" "That's all family men, people who are living." "If the distinction is more important in Manchester, then further south." "Have you ever been to Manchester?" " Not that I recall." "So how do you know somewhat about so?" "Is your mother well?" "She found a place in London to stay?" "I know you don't like her, you don't have to pretend." "I didn't think I was pretending." "Here we are." "There is bread for toast." "Those two forks there." " Shout if you need anything else.." " Thank you, Mrs. Tweedie." "It's not true, I don't like her." "I don't know her." " You didn't want him to marry her." " No." " Why was that?" "Is it because she's common?" " Certainly not." "You wrote that she was common." "They're not fit to sweep the leaves upon the drive." "I saw the letter." "Sometimes when you're angry, you can evarstate the case." " He shouldn't have shown that to you." " He did not, I have found it." " And he shouldn't have kept it." " He's kept all your letters." "I was very chewed and understand Green Knowe." "She's come from something very different." " Anyway it's no material now." " Why?" " l don't think I should be here much longer." " Why?" "What's happened?" "Nothing, but the world is changing, that's all." " l don't think I have enough money to stay." " You can't sell it." " l may have to." " But it's never been sold." "It's never been sold to now." "It's come close a few times." "She brought us right to the brink." "Mrs. Thomas Oldknow?" "Why you?" "Hardly." "It's Maria van Raymer." "She's Dutch, grew up in India." "She married Captain Oldknow in Calcutta then he brought her home." "Green Knowe was must have seen very dull after such exotic beginnings." "Would you do your own in sugar?" " What's this bit?" "It looks different." " This was Maria's new wing." "Was built so she could entertain." "Is it because dad's missing, why you're going to leave?" "No, it isn't, you mustn't think that." "If it was any way I could avoid it, I promise you I would." "He always said this house was a prt of you." "It is a part of all of us:" "It's part of your father and part of you, too." "You don't know the place yet, and you know me." "I suppose it's hard for you to understand." "If you think not, you don't know me either." "You're burning your toast." "Hello?" " They look like jewel boxes." " So they were." "So they were Mariah Oldknow's jewels." "They must have been put up there before the fire." " What fire?" " When the new wing burnt down." "Granny said she almost lost Green Knowe." " But why if she was so rich?" " She didn't have money." "Her father was a diamond merchant, her fortune was all in precious stones." " She could have sold them." " She could have." "But by the time she needed to, they've been stolen." "Do you think she cried when she lost the jewels?" "Why?" " Dear you?" "I 'm sure she didn't..." "She took it out on the captain for quite a while afterwards." " Did they have children?" " They did." "They had a son, called Sefton  And a daughter, called Susan." "And you descend from Sefton." "What a funny name." "I don't think someone called Toseland is in much of position to talk." " Was Sefton nice?" " No, he was selfish and spoiled." "The door in the dining room, with the brick wall behind it" " Was it out the way to Mariah's wing?" " It was." "You might like this." "It was your father's." "I made the pyjamas when David had whooping-cough." "So they could both have whooping-cough together." " l am so old for that really." " Yes, I know." "I thought ot might interest you to know it was his." " Was Susan spoiled and selfish like her brother?" " No, not at all." " Would be hard to spoil her." " Why?" "Enough." "Good night." " Is he a real Manchester lad?" " l offered to send him to a proper school." "I was happy to pay his whole education but of course she wouldn't hear of it." " Why not?" " She did not want him talk to look down on her." "So selfish." "You think she'd put in first?" " As we see his father agreed with her." " Only because he was hypnotized." "I don't think this did too many harm." "He seems as bright as a button to me." "She's a controller that's all." "I'm not attacking her, just stating a fact." "That's why she's kept him away." "He is here now because she couldn't think how else to manage things." "But it's exactly the same with David right from the start, she could never share." "Could you?" " Sefton, is that you?" " What were you thinking of wandering off like that?" "... causing you to falling down the stairs and broken your neck." "What would you say then?" " Very little, I should think." " Never mind, you chick." " Come back to your own room now." " But Perkins, I was oly talking to..." " Is it Sefton?" " There is nobody here, Miss Susan." "What are you doing downstairs?" "Well, I hope it's something serious." "Are you ill?" " No." " Then what is it?" " Do you believe in..." " In what?" "In ghosts." "Do you believe in ghosts?" "Certainly I do." "Don't you?" " l do now." " Oh, I see." "Which was it?" "Susan." "I thought it would be after all those questions." "You better go to bed, you get cold." "Do you want some hot milk?" "Mr. Boggis." "Mrs. Tweedie told me about the fire." "How far did the missing wing stretch?" "Beyond the cedar tree there." "I planted that when... were down.?" "One big room with dining, drawing room,?" "bedrooms above." "Well, it seems big enough for he says." " l think I'Il find the oak tree." " Don't do yourself a mischief." "Susan?" "Susan, is that you?" "It's Sefton's spur." "We'Il clean it up and put it with its pair." " Is there a picture of Sefton?" " That is there." "Boggis has brought the tree into the music room." "There's still a mess in there, I'm afraid." "Thought we could tidy it up later and we could decorate the tree." " You don't have to." " It's all right, I'Il do it." "Why would Sefton hide his own spur?" "He didn't, he wasn't..." "The J was for someone who changed Susan's life." "Unfortunately not everyone was pleased to see him at Green Knowe." "There was a butler here then called John Caxton." "He might have been kinder." " Welcome home, Captain." " Thank you, Caxton, thank you one and all." " Father." " My darling." " What is this?" " She was running all over the house." " She would've done herself an injury." " So she was tethered like a dog?" " You did know that?" " What else were we to do?" "Would you rather she fell down the stairs?" "She is blind, Thomas." " She simply must be used to it." " But I am used to it, papa." "I'm so very-very used to it." " How are you, Maria?" " How should I be?" "After seven months in prison and no-one but a blind girl for company." " You've not been ill, I hope?" " No." "Since we don't call fatigue and melancholy an illness." " Where is Sefton?" " Hello, father." "Were you not here to keep your mother and sister company?" " Some of the time." " Don't fuss the boy, now let's go in!" "Are you not curious to see what I've brought?" "My dear." " Spurs." " l thought you wanted some." "They're too late." "Lord Farrar gave him a pair last month." " Finer than these, I'm afraid." " Were they indeed finer then these?" "Well, he is the boy's godfather, I suppose he can give him a present." "I suppose he can." "Why was Farrar here?" "He was staying nearby and looked in with some friends for an evening." " Did you play?" " l could hardly refuse in my own house." " It would have looked extraordinary." " How did you lose, Maria?" " A little." " A little?" "A little or a lot." "What difference does it make?" "You'Il be angry either way." "What about me, father?" "Is there nothing for me?" "Well, one wold have thought." "Let me see..." "No, there seems to be nothing here." "Unless..." "Tell me, please." "Help me." "Mother, do say!" " It's me." " This is Jacob." "He will be your special helper." "Now take him around the ground and show him his new home." "But first..." "Burn it." " Captain, is that wise?" "Come, Jacob, walk with me." "And you can describe what you see." " This is a vast place." " Is it?" "My daddy used to talk about the crease in the tree there." "Look." "This is his favourite." "You hang it to remember him by." "I don't need to remember him." "Yes, your father loved this one when he was a boy." " You could give parties in a room either." " This is one built for." "Then have one when he gets back." "We did wonderful dances when I was a girl." "Oh, Darn." "What the hell is this?" "It's a Bible." "It's the captain's Bible." "How odd. I wondered where is it got, I haven't seen it for years." " He's made as if Jacob was his son." " So he has." "I like this." " Aren't you coming in?" " Of course." "Where did you find him?" "Well, I suppose, he did it." "He was hidden on board, he's a runaway." "A runaway." "A runaway what?" "What d'you think, a runaway slave, of course." "He was going to be sold on the market in Charleston, but somehow he escaped." "Made for the harbour." "And sneaked on to your ship." "He heard we were bound for England so he swam out that night and climbed on board." "I hid it in a barrel for the harbor master's inspection." "And here he is." "Doesn't that mean that he is someone's property?" "I pretend I did not hear that." "Isn't it forbidden to keep a stowaway aboard?" "And if it is, to help Jacob or any slave to freedom, I break every rule in the book." "He's as bright as a button, Maria, I never knew a boy so quick." "Don't let Sefton hear you." "What will you do with him now?" "As I said:" "He'Il be a friend for Susan." " l thought you were joking." " He'Il change her life I promise you." "He can read to her, he can learn with her." "He'Il be her eyes." "That's his maybe." " Go on." " Well  Apart from anything else, he is..." " Not English." " Do you think such distinctions mean anything to her?" "Come my darling, you know better than anyone what it is like to be a stranger in a foreign land." " Be kind to him." " But he is a boy." " l had noticed." " And what happens to Perkins?" "Dismiss her." "Susan is too old to have a nurse anyway." "Bu a boy can't wait on a girl." "What's to bathe her and dress her?" "And where will he live?" "Find him a room in the stables and hire a maid if you must." "From now on Jacob is Susan's companion." "You talk as if your former slave is to be a servant." " What will people say?" " Nothing that will interest me." "We will be a laughing stock." "I don't expect to a stay long, Mr. Sefton, I don't really." "I don't think, he will find he fits in." " But he fit in." " Of course, Susan was blind." " l should have realized." " What do you mean?" "How did Jacob cope with Susan's blindness?" "He wouldn't have thought about it." "The point is, he set her free." "He gave her wings." "It's much too big for just us." "But we don't care, do we?" "We do not." " Who is he?" " Saint Christopher, of course." " Why is he here?" " Nobody knows." "He's always stood here." " Did the old pal burn?" " A bit, not too much." "Why not?" "Because Fred Boggis got bucket line going." "There was a Boggis here then?" "There's always been a Boggis in Green Knowe." "After the fire captain built a big music room." "Seems she never care for it." "I don't think the marriage was all that easy." "Few of them are, Master Tolly." " Not too many." " Are you married, Mr Boggis?" "I am." "Things are really quite peaceful at the moment but it happens." "Very quiet and peaceful.." "Just made a cup of coffee for your grandmother." "Would you like one?" " Mrs. Tweedie, have you ever seen any of them?" " Anyone?" "Any of the people who lived here before." " The Oldknows." " Mrs. Oldknow lives here now, don't she?" "Or am I hat wrong?" "I mean, Susan, for instance or Caxton." "Do not get in with that superstitious nonsense." "Let the dead bury the dead." "That's what the Bible says." "I've never understood that." "How can the dead bury the dead?" "I don't know." "But I do know if I don't get a move on, this coffee's gonna be cold." "Door please!" " Who is it?" "Who's there?" " What are you talking about?" " It's me, Tolly." " You came before, didn't you?" " What's going on?" "Who are you speaking to?" " Last year." "In the nursery when Perkins came and took me away." "Last year?" "Two nights ago you mean." " Quickly, where can we hide?" " Bring him out here." " Hide in the cupboard." " Place in the cupboard." " Where is that scoundrel?" " Who?" "You dare take his side." "You think I don't see you together grinning and laughing." " You shouldn't be so funny." " Mr. Sefton." " Get away from here." " Leave her alone." "You come with me, little Jacob." " l got a job for you." " l have to keep Susan." " Miss Susan, you scoundrel." " l have to do what Miss Susan says." "I'm getting yours now." "The captain did say." "He only takes orders from Miss Susan." " Keep out, Boggis or you'Il be sorry." " l've heard him." "Some day you'Il leave your incense here." "Leave him be!" "You wouldn't do this if my father was at home." "But he isn't, is he?" " Let him go." " Can I help?" "Tell me!" "Do not worry, Susan, he won't hurt him, he wouldn't dare." " But who..." " Come on, let's see what's happening." " No, no!" " Sefton, leave him alone!" "Backwards, cat." "Control yourself." "I've got a job for him, that's all." "I shot a pheasant today that fell into the chimney, and I want it." " Don't." "Jacob, don't do it." " Can't you stop it, Mr. Caxton?" "None of this would happen if the master was home." "Hold your tongue, girl." "When the captain's away," "Mr. Sefton is master here." " Get on, little..." " l want my bird, I'm tired of wating." "Don't." "It's all right. I can do it." "See, you're the on making all the fuss." " Now take her upstairs before I really lose my temper." " Come with me." "You can wait in your room." "It'Il be all right." "Faster." "Robert, light the fire." " That'Il speed things up a bit." " You don't have to do this, you know." " He can't force you." " What are you on man?" "Come on, don't make a... of it." "Holy god." " For two pins, I..." " You what?" "You 'd lose your place that's what." "Just pray for him, that's all we can do now." "If it isn't Lord Farrar's precious spurs." " Should someone go up after him?" " Who would you suggest, sir?" "I may be in... bother if anything happens to him." "Boggis, clear this out." "Dampen it down." "It was a bit of fun, man, where is your sense of humor?" "Valuable than the captain's, are they?" " What?" "Who is it?" " Ssh, it's me." " Are you all right?" "Are you hurt?" " l'm all right." "Will you help me play a trick on Mr. Sefton?" "For heaven's sake, Susan, I'm too busy for this." "Sefton, what's going on?" "I told you, he sent Jacob up the chimney." " Is this true?" " Why does it matter?" " So is it true?" " And if it is?" "My darling, you've been foolish." "What will you tell your father if the boy comes to any harm?" "Mr. Sefton was shooting and a bird fell into the chimney." " It would have been more foolish to have left it there." " Thank you, Caxton." "When I want your advice, I shall ask for it." "What's that?" "Mr. Sefton, I got your bird." "Oh my dear!" "Are the gentlemen shooting chickens these days?" "That's enough, all of you!" "Shouldn't someone take it to cook with the rest of the bag?" "Come on, Jacob." "I'm your mother and I love you very much, but you must learn to control your temper or you'Il end up in worse trouble than this." " That'Il teach him." " l doubt it." "Have to put up with." " Take it away, Caxton." " Very good, sir." "I want to get rid of him, Caxton." "I want him out of this house." "How dare he... about waving my father's favour in my face?" "How dare he?" "Patience, Mr. Sefton." "Patience." "When, oh when will be free of these dreadful coupons?" "Mom says... all got worse before it gets better." "She's right, I'm afraid." "It seems unfair, with the war's nearly over." "When will things could get back to normal?" "She doesn't think things will ever be normal again." "Oh yes, well, a different normal but normal." "Don't mind work for it." "I'm so glad you could come and stay." "I'd hate to think you had no memories of the old place before it went." " l've got some memories now all right." " You mustn't be frightened." "The house is bound to share some secrets." " But you mustn't be scared." " l don't think I'm scared." " l don't know what I feel exactly." " Good." "Very few people realize they don't know what they feel until they're at least 40." "Tolly, tell me, you do understand death is not the important thing?" "What is then?" "Whether you are loved or not." "That's what people think about it at the end of their lives." "Do you believe that?" "Yes, I do." "You got possibly... in that." "Granny?" "You've never seen him, have you?" "Since he's been missing." "Because I haven't. I mean I'm sure he's all right but if he wasn't" "I think you would have seen him by now, don't you?" "And if you had, you would've told me, wouldn't you?" "Yes, I would've told you." "And no, I haven't seen him." "That's something anyway." "So, here's the shopping." "What there is of it." " Thank you, Tolly." " Where is Boggis?" "He's working with the brambles in the tower garden." " Where is that?" " Go to the stone coronet, then turn left." " Why won't he wear a proper coat?" " Because he's a boy." "Boggis is kind, but if I eat another rabbit I swear I turn into one." "He will keep bringing them in, no matter what I say." " You got your work at all?" " l don't know how they would turn into this." " Why is it called the tower garden?" " Because of the tower." " What tower?" " Over there." "Well, I suppose you can't see it now." "When did it get so grown over?" "What was it used for?" "Water tower I think." " A big bath underneath." " A bath?" " You mean like having a bath." " l know." "Seems funny, don't it?" " Can I see?" " It's too dark to see anything." "I 've got a torch." " It is much bigger down there." " A bath was a big event those days." "They dug out all these tunnels and rooms so that their...is under the ground where it based." "Like the Romans." "And then they got plumming in the house and forgot about this place." "So in the end, it was a garden ornament, a folly." " When was this?" "Before the fire?" " Oh, yeah. 20 years or more." "My... came in there a few days before the fire happened." " Why?" " Never you mind." "He swore it was the same as our usual brand." "Looks simply revolting." "War means sacrifice." " l think, Tolly is all right." " Yes." "It's a funny old house to wake up and find yourself in." " But it is our funny old house." " That's what he said." "Did he?" "Did he really?" "I dearly have to go, I'm afraid so." "I do the sums but they don't change." " Is there nothing you can sell?" " Not really." "Nothing that would make any difference." "You think there'd be an old master tucked in somewhere?" "We had a Vermeer once, heaven knows we could use it now." " l wish I couldn't feel I was cheating Tolly." " He is sensible boy." "He'Il get through it." "So he has more important things to worry about." "Never stops thinking about his father for a start." " But none of us do." " No." " Who are you?" " You can see me?" "Of course I can see you." "Why shouldn't I see you?" "Who is this boy?" "I think he might be a relation of mine." "You are, aren't you, in a way?" "In a way." "But I know your family, and I can assure you, this ain't none of them." " The staff he is wearing." " It's all right, Jacob." " Maybe he can help." " What happened?" " Fred Boggis." "They caught him poaching." " Just some hens." " But now Sefton wants to sell him to the gang." " What gang?" " The press gang." "They kidnap men to crew the ships." " Why?" "How else they gonna find kind of sailors?" "So he will have to go with the gang and Sefton and Caxton will split what they get for him." "The stupid thing is my father would save him and he is due back any day." "Caxton knows he is still here somewhere." " He's watching us all the time." " Where's Fred hiding?" "There's a maze of tunnels under the old water tower." "I know it, I'Il find it." "Go to the kitchen first, he hasn't had anything to eat for 3 days." "And you can find out if we can visit him." "Excuse me?" "Nothing from the captain yet, Mrs. Robins." "It's not easy to consider the time they say." "How can we plan our menu as much as by your leave?" "Menu is not much of interest for the admiralty, Mrs. Gross." " Yes, girl?" " l was just wondering if there was any news about Fred Boggis?" "Really, Rose?" "I was just wondering if had any work to do?" " Because if not why would we pay your wages?" " Yes, Mrs. Gross." "Not that I wouldn't like to give her a world of comfort." "Mr. Sefton's very hard on young Boggis, that I do think." "Mr. Caxton's put him up to it." "Mr. Caxton gets his office up when the captain's away." "He's cleverer than he works for, if you ask me." "That's all is a recipe for trouble." "He certainly takes great many of the captain's duties." "Now, now." "Rose, whatever is the matter with you, girl?" "I just... nothin, ma'am." " l cut my finger." " Get on with your work." "Yes, ma'am." "I just need to get some more milk, ma'am." "Who are you?" " Are you a ghost?" " l don't think I can be." "I mean, I'm not dead." "I'm not even born yet." " What?" " Never mind." " l need some food for Fred Boggis to eat." " Fred?" " Can you help?" " Of course." "Have you seen him?" "Is he all right?" "I don't know yet." "What about this pie?" "That'Il never work." "Put it inside your clothes." " That might do it." " It's worthy try." "What if Caxton and his men see you?" "Some people can. I did." "Let's just hope they can't." "If you do get to Fred tell him to look after himself." " Tell him Rose said so." " l will." "Fred, are you down here?" "Are you here?" "Susan told me to come." " Who are you?" " You can see me then." "Of course I can. I should think everyone else can see you, too." "No, no-one did." " What is that?" " It's just a torch." "I brought you some food." "Torch?" "It's not even burning." "How does it work?" " There." " Thanks." "The message is:" "You've got to stay here." "They will find me, they searched it twice already." "One came so close, I could smell his breath." "Next time they gonna get me for sure, I know, I have to make a room for..." "No, the captain will be home any day now, any moment, I promise." " That's what Miss Susan says?" " It is." "All right, I'Il stay." "Though I may regret it." "Keep hidden, and good luck." "You wouldn't you lend me out, would you?" "Gets so dark down here." "Keep it." "Don't use it too much." "The battery will run out so and I don't suspect you'Il get another." " What is a battery?" " It's a big question." " And Rose said you look after yourself." " She know." "Rose." "Check it out." "At last we've solved the mystery of the miracle light." " It's been put of our mythology for so long." " How is it?" "I can't why I didn't guess." "It's obvious, once you know." "It was a present from my dad." "Then you both helped Fred." "Granny?" "This morning I had the torch in my pocket." " But it was already in the case." " l suppose, that's right." " But surely it's not impossible." " No, obviously not." " There's one thing I do not understand." " Only one?" "Lucky old you." "Seriously: with ghosts, why is it that some people can see them and some can't?" " And others can see them sometimes?" " l don't know." "Might depend on being open." "Maybe we get so full of our own affairs, we block off everything else." " Some people can always see them, can't they?" " Yes." "Now I've got some very tedious business to attend to." "Why don't you go for a walk?" " l'Il see you at lunch." " All right." "Bismarck, go with him." "Ah, useless dog." "Granny, what if you all right if I forgot answer the bell?" "Are you so lost to proportion, son, that even supposing you were entitled to feel aggrieve with this man but you will not it seems reasonable to you to condemn him to 10 years of slavery?" "Well, may you be silent." "You are weak and easily led." "Those who are easily led are not easily followed." "You are disgrace to this family." " Now go to your room." " Thomas!" " To your room, sir." "I'm sad, Caxton." "After our years together I would've looked for something better." "Your employment is terminated." "What?" "You may take a month's wages and you have notice." "But Thomas, you can't mean that." "The Farrars will be here in 2 days." "I can't receive them in a house with no-one to run it." "Get on of the footmen to cover his duties." "One of the footmen?" "After all the hospitality I've had from them?" "My mind is made up." "But you don't understand, the Greshams are coming, the Carberys are coming, the North- brooks are coming." "It'Il be a disaster." " Put them off." " Put them off?" "Do you know how long it's taken me to get them say yes." "They've never been here before. I hardly know them." "What will they think of me if the house is in chaos?" "Why do you invite people you don't know?" "Because, Thomas, I'm trying to build something." "I'm trying to make a life for myself, isn't that what you want?" "And now you disgrace me." "Why?" "What have I done?" "Well, I'm sure you'Il manage." "I could work out my notice, sir." "If you'd let me." " Until you find someone to take over." " Out of the question." "Surely I'm entitled to one favour, Thomas?" "After all the time Caxton's been with us, is it so much to ask?" "It is." "The answer is no." "I feel as if I'm in a crow's nest looking out to sea." "When I was little, I wanted to be a sailor just like papa." " Not anymore?" " l am blind and I'm female." " l doubt the navy has a place for me." " Then why not be a great explorer?" " Cross seven seas." " Do you think I could?" "Someone will, why not you?" "Jacob, nothing is impossible, is it?" "Not when you really want it." "What are you doing?" "I'm carving our initials, Miss Susan so one need our fang." "Then make them say that's the famous la- dy traveller and her faithful companion." "I wonder what Sefton would say if he could see us up here." "Yeah, I wonder." "Thank you, sir." "If I hear of any more such incidents, Maria," "I will hold you to blame, you understand me?" "Oh, perfectly. I would be amazed, if you didn't blame me." " Maria, my dear, you mustn't think..." " No, that's right, I mustn't think." "I mustn't think or I'Il go mad." "I mustn't think that you leave me alone in this desert for months and years while you swam around playing tag with the French." "There must be something you can do besides gambling." "And what would that be, I pray?" "Playing calls on neighbours who don't like me?" "Who find me funny and foreign and not to be trusted?" "Or should I stay home?" "Painting fans, knotting lace, helping the..." "Yes, I see what you mean." " l do not want you to be bored." " Then you doom to disappointment." "We both are." "The truth is, my dear, we are not well matched." "It is my fault, I presume?" "That fault is with neither or both of us." "We thought we could be happy, but we are not." "And it's too late now for regrets." "Who's that climbing with Jacob in the oak tree?" "He should be looking after Susan, not larking about some boy in the village." "Why has Boggis allowed it?" "What are they playing at?" "A village boy?" "Don't you recognize your ladylike daughter?" " Can't be." " If you mean it shouldn't be I quite agree with you." " How can she?" "She is..." " Blind?" "Oh my dear, it doesn't get in her way of anything these days." "Is this what you wanted when you brought that foundling into our home?" "Susan!" " Over here." " Father?" "Oh, don't be angry." "You can't climb a tree in this stupid dress." "Trousers are much more sensible." "Give me ten minutes to change and I'Il go back to a model lady, I promise." "She's a good climber, sir." " And the clothes were my idea." " l'm here." "Say you are not cross, please, papa!" " And anyway, not heard so." " l'm not cross." "I'm not cross at all." "I am not cross with any of you." "So was everything all right after Caxton had gone?" "No, I'm afraid not." "'Cause he hadn't gone." "He was still there when the messenger came later that same day calling tha captain back to his ship." "Oh, the custard." "He should have waited until Caxton left." "Oh my dear, any sailor is summoned to the war, he must go." "Caxton!" "Hurry, they are there." "Everything is ready, ma'am." "If you don't like to go to your rooms, we'Il have tea in here at 5." "Tell Miss Susan to join us and put her into the dress which matches this one." " And Jacob, ma'am?" " Send him back to the stables." "We won't need him again today." "Miss Susan, your mother wants you to join her, come and change your frock." "Not you, Jacob." "There's some tea in the kitchen." " l hate how she treats you." " Go." "Susan, over here!" "Is this charming newcomer dear little Susan?" "Courtesy to Lord Farrar, dear." " Fine snub for you, my lord." " My sister meant no insult, Mrs. Carbery." " She is quite blind." " l'm sorry to hear, Mrs. Oldknow." "I don't recall you've ever mentioned before." "How vexing for you." "You're right, Mrs. Carbery." "To have a child born blind is very vexing." " Come here, my dear." "Sit by me." " Of course." " Jacob!" " Oh dear." "Is she all right?" "Do not worry, I am here." "I thought you were told to go back to the stables." "Big pardon, ma'am, but the captain li- kes me to keep close eye on Miss Susan." "If there's nobody too willing one." "Blubber, I wish I had someone to keep me out of mischief." "Your wife will manage that, surely, my lord." "I'm afraid, it would take up too much of her time." " You've found yourself quite a champion, Susan. - l think so." "I'm sure all the ladies in the room envy you for your protector." "That's enough, Susan." "You wear us out with your..." "Go along." "Hope to see you later on and your gallant knight." "Children are a blessing, of course, but I can fest a relieve that mine are grown and gone." "Heaven knows thie incessant babble and fidget would try the patience of a jaw." "I believe Jesus was very fond of their company." "Of course he and Joseph were carpenters, not nearly such fine folks as we." "If you'Il excuse me I have some things to see to before we go to dress." "We dine at eight." "You're an axe, Lady Gresham." "She had worked so hard to bring these people to Green Knowe and they patronized her from the moment they arrived." "I've changed my mind, I'Il wear the rose taffeta tonight." "Keep the blue silk for tomorrow." "And the rubies, they want some gold filigrane, not the diamond setting." "Oh, heaven." "Madam, come quick." "Caxton was the thief." "He decided to steal them the moment he was sacked." "That's why he wanted to stay on." "Well, they shred his room." "They never found a thing and then it was too late." "Maria should've cancelled the rest of the party but the crime had to be dealt of." "And the guests were reluctant to inbulk on another long journey at once." "All of which meant two days later fourteen of them set down to dine." "Your loss hasn't spoiled your guests' appetite." "We all know there is pleasure in a friend's misfortune." " The Germans even have a name for it." " You could win something back tonight." "With a little luck." "In truth I don't feel very lucky this evening." "In anything." "I'm told we ought to be questioned tomorrow." "And all the servants." " My maid is beside herself." " Seems rather unnecessary." " But perfectly thrilling." " Our hostess is a..." "I'm relieved to know something can disturb her infinite refinement." "Sure you must pity her a little." "It's hard to pity a woman who cares more for her jewels than for her child." "What is it, Caxton?" "Caxton, what's the matter?" "I'm sorry I have to tell you, madam, but the house is on fire." "What?" " What's that noise?" " Your lordship, don't." "Northwood, Gresham, help with the ladies." "Jonathan, help me." "Thomas, help me." "Mrs. Oldknow, I hate to hurry you but I really do think we'd find it more congenial on the lawn." "Step aside." "Susan, by Jacob." "Arthur, George, the house is on fire." "Make the men woke up, get buckets." " There is fire, Jacob." " What's going on?" "Grab every bucket there, men." " Jacob, wake up." " What?" " The house is on fire." "Look." " Susan!" "The servants know the house better then we do, so leave them to rescue the contents." " Are there sacks and buckets?" " Boggis is taking them." " What happens?" " We make a chain to the pond." " We have to hold it back, it's best we can." " Why does no one do anything?" " Quickly." "Quickly, men." " Ma'am!" "I had them the Vermeer must be caught." "Caxton, could you just..." "Susan!" "Where is Miss Susan?" "Where is the child?" "Maria, is she still in the house?" " She can't be, she won't be." " Where is she?" "I don't know." "Have you seen Susan?" " Where had Nellie taken her?" " l don't know." " Find Mrs. Gross." "Why do you do for trouble?" "It is worthless." "You come with me." "Has Nellie...?" " Have you seen the girl?" " Here is Nellie." "Where is Miss Susan?" "I was in the kitchen, somebody told me, she had come down." " Stop that and tell me where her room is. - l know." " Get a ladder, somebody..." " No, mylady." "No one can through there." " A blanket then, we can hold them..." " l know a way." " You can not go in there." " Yes, I can, I know how." "Mr. Sefton told me." "Robert, did anyone take the painting in the dining room?" "Mr. Caxton had put in a sack." "I 've not seen him since." " Susan!" " Jacob, is that you?" " It's me." " l knew you'd come. I knew you'd." " Well I didn't, but here I am." "Are we going to die?" "You can tell me, I don't mind now you are here." "We are gonna die, but I saint you I 'd rather it wasn't right now." "The window is locked and the door is.., I can feel the heat on the other side." "Just do as I tell you." "Go in there and climb." "Wait for me, don't move." "Let's go." " Where are we now?" " Back at the old part." " Crawl over the plank." " Yes." "Climb down there." "Are you ready?" " This is the ladder." " Oh, there." " Do not be afraid." " l'm not." "I've got it." " Put your foot here." " l will." "You are almost down." " Look, it's Miss Susan." " He has rescued Miss Susan." " Well done, son." " Susan, my darling." " Well done." " It was a good match work, young man." "You can be proud of yourself." "Thank you." "Thank you, Lord." "Thank you." "What happened to Caxton?" "Fred Boggis saw him run upstairs with a sack." "Maybe he got away with the jewels, maybe not." "Either way he was never seen again after the fire." " Did Maria come to love Jacob?" " She was alway kind to him after that." "If you want to gain a bath before dinner, you'd better go." "Granny, why're called Mrs. Oldknow?" "If you grew up here, shouldn't you be something messing up." "Your grandfather and I were second cousins." "So you are more of an Oldknow than anyone." "You must have liked you'd always lived here." "If I did, I should have realized there's no such thing as always." "Not on earth." "This is the table center for Christmas Day." "Is it worth it?" "Going through all this bother when it's just us." " Kind of Christmas doing properly." " Even in wartime." "Most of all in wartime." "News." "I wish they stop ending and just end." "France is free again." "The Russians are moving in." "It won't be long, we are nearly there." "If you were a prisoner in Germany and no-one knew where you were," "I think it might be a release now." "Why not see what Boggis is up to." "Lovely day, shame to waste it." "I know what you're thinking but you'Il see." "Do you have a holiday at all?" "Plants don't know it is Christmas, do they?" "What you say, Christmas Day it's half of the working." "I should go back early for my dinner." " Now it's soon enough." " What about Mrs. Boggis?" "Won't she be lonely?" "It'Il be soon enough." " Telegram for Mrs. Oldknow." " Thank you." " Shall I wait for an answer?" " No, don't wait." "Telegram." "What rooms did they make the music room from?" "Two downstairs rooms, I think." "With some small bedrooms above." "Low servants' room." "It has a fine high celing." "Is that narrow one the music room chimney?" "No, that goes up to the main stairs along the great hall." " What is it then?" " A leftover from the great changes." "Too much trouble to take it away." "Come, come!" "It's a telegram from your mother, she's coming down to see us." " When?" " Tomorrow." " Is she staying for Christmas?" " l don't know, you read it!" "Arriving tomorrow, stop." "Joan." " Why don't we ring her?" " l've tried, there's no reply." "Well, whatever it is, she obviously doesn't want to say over the telephone." "At least we haven't long to wait." "You'Il be glad to see your mother." "Oh, I've got something for you." "Thank you." "I heard yours was lost." "I've been thinking some more about the jewels." "You and your questions." " Did Maria just give up?" " None of the least of it." "This is absurd." "Without my jewels I'm a prisoner to the end of my days." "That's just to accept that would be absurd." "I want to learn if I can recover my..." "I know why you're here." "You must embroider a picture of the house." "The thing is I am rather busy." "But surely if I ask my maid..." "You must embroider the house." " Very well then." " Use human hair..." "How perfectly disgusting!" "Taken from everyone who was there on the night." "How could I?" "We were 14 at the party and I've no idea what..." "No, not just the guests, the servants, the guests' servants, the villagers, whoever came to help." "Everyone." "But that's impossible." "The hair will tell you where the jewels are to be found." "Even if I do this, would I know how to read it?" "I can not tell you." "Seems a lot of nasty work for a very uncertain result." "I have no other answer." " Why does it have to be me?" " Because, Mrs Oldknow, you have overplayed your hand." " How did Maria get over her?" " With a lot of difficulty." "The word went around, and in the end everyone helped." "Except Lady Farrar." "She refused, point blank." " So what happened?" " Her husband found some on her hair brush." "I think he rather liked Maria." " Does the picture still exist?" " Yes, it hangs up there." " Which is Susan?" " Hers is easy." "Because it was long, Maria used it for the trees." " And Jacob's?" " Well, his was very short in the end." "She sewed that little bird with it." "But it didn't deliver the jewels." "Five generations have held it and stared at that picture, and never found a clue." "Maybe it was a trick." "Of course it didn't work." "Caxton's was missing." "Without his the picture wasn't finished." "No, it was." "He'd given a lock of hair to someone he was keen on." " Maria." " Certainly not." "A housemaid." "Why would you say that?" "No reason." "Anyway Maria used it for one of the chimneys." "There wasn't much of it." "Come to bed." "And don't read too long." "You not be tired for your mother tomorrow." "Granny, can you be nice to her when she gets here?" "Please!" "You make me feel... ashamed." "Of course I'Il be nice to her." "Because we all love dad, don't we?" "All three of us." "I know he'd like to see for all getting on when he comes back." " Yes, of course, he would." " l think, she's found him." " l think, she knows where he is." " We mustn't raise our hopes up too high." " l don't think my hopes can get any higher." " No, nor mine really." " But..." " But what?" "Never mind." "We'Il cross that bridge when we come to it." " Tolly." " Yes." "If you have children, don't ever quarrel with them." "No matter the reason, no matter how angry you get, don't quarrel." "I promise you it never worth it." "You do know I love you more than anyone else in the world?" " Except for daddy?" " Except for David." " l'm glad." " Good." "Becasue I wouldn't want it to be any confusion on that score." " Good night." " Good night." "Maria used it for one of the chimneys." "Low servants' rooms." "Now you have a high ceiling." "Fred Boggis saw him run upstairs with a sack." "Maybe he got away with the jewels, maybe not." " Get away from my way." " Don't go up there." "The stairscase is going, you won't get back." "Of course." "Thank you for helping us with Fred." " I don't know what we should have done without you." " I heard he was all right." "Oh, yes, he never left Green Knowe." " He married a kitchen maid, Rose." " l thought he might." " He can't hurt you." " Did he start the fire?" "He meant to start it in revenge and go." "He had the jewels." "But the silver tempted him and then the gold." "He'd gone back up to hide them in the chimney of his room when the fire took him." " But nobody ever knew." " You know." "I know now." "You're looking for the one behind you." "The one with the rope." "The next one serves the music room." "But you want the disused chimney beyond the..." "It's blocked by the new ceiling below." "Thank you for all help." "Thank you." " What have you been doing?" " Come to the music room, quickly." "What have you been doing?" "You're all black." " How did you find it?" " Susan helped me, and the picture and Mr. Boggis." "And even you." "That doesn't look like much." "These are our silver plates." "Look, there is our crest." "Oh, Tolly." "Fetch a table." "Oh, Tolly." "It is Maria's necklace from the portrait." "Oh, my!" "Rubies." "Does it suit me?" "Oh, look." "There seems to be so many jewels." " What do you think?" " Try that." "Look at all those bracelets." "Oh, my." "And all those rings..." "So Green Knowe can be saved and everything put right?" "It can." "It most certainly can." " You won't sell all the jewels." " Do not worry." "You will not blush for your mother." "Or your wife." "What is it, Tolly?" "I've been thinking about ghosts." "Don't they come back... if they come back  as they were when they died?" " l'Il just go started on the washing up." " Thank you." " Don't they?" " Well, no, not always." "But as a rule, yes." " Why?" " You know why." "I'm afraid, I do." " It's true, they died." " As children?" "It wasn't unusual then." " What did they die of?" " It's hard to say." "Could have something a pill would cure a week today." " Together?" " Susan went first." "And Jacob just few hours after her." "The captain was holding his hand, and crying his eyes upon them." "But that makes it bearable." "Don't you see?" "Those children were both truly loved, so they're not sad." "And it's our job not to think of them as sad." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." " Racing back to the home!" " That's not fair, I wasn't ready." "What is that?" "It can't be." "Oh my darling." "Come." "Let's go inside." "Tolly, come on, let's all be together." "Dad?" "Dad, is that you?" "David!" "Don't worry, I'Il gonna be okay." "I promise." "Come on, the old girl's right." "You find, she often is, yeah?" "Let's all be together." "Tolly dear, let's go inside."