Free The Black Moon by Winston Graham Page A

Geoffrey, it might be advisable that we should say nothing of having met those young men.'
    `But why? They were doing no harm.'
    `Your Uncle George is strict about trespass. One should not want to get them into trouble."
    `Agreed.' He chuckled. `But they are strong ! One day when I grow up I hope I shall be as strong.'
    `You will. If you eat well and go to bed early.'
    `Oh that old tale; You know, Wenna, I wonder if there was a word of truth in their story of being related to Uncle Ross. Mama has told me that Aunt Demelza was low born, but I had not, realized as low as that. It may well have been a fable, to enlist our sympathy.'
    `I have seen them in church,' said Morwenna. `I remember seeing them but Captain Poldark comes so seldom that I have no way of knowing, if they were in his pew. I think they sat at the back.'
    'The younger one is funny, isn't he?' Such a funny smile. I wonder what their names are. I must ask Mama some time about Aunt Demelza.'
    `If you ask your mother about them she is sure to discover our secret:'
    `Yes ... Yes, 'I am not good at keeping a secret, am I ? So I will leave it a few days . Or why do you not ask? Yo u are so much cleverer than me '
    By now they had reached the far side of, the next field and the gate which led into the garden of Trenwith; The chimneys and gables of the house w ere to be seen among its sur rounding trees. As Morwenna lifted the latch of the gate they heard footsteps behind. It was Drake halfway across the field running and leaping among the grass and stones to overtake them.
    He came up smiling and gasping for breath. In his hands was a large bunch of bluebells, much larger than the one M orwenna carried. He handed them to her.
    `All that time you wasted talking to we. You might've pick ed as many more so I've picked as many more. Thank ye, and good eve to you.'
    They stood and watched him trot back. Morwenna looked around to see if there was anyone about who might have observed him. Among the bluebell s were pink ragged robin and whi te milkmaid. Having regard to the speed with w hich it had been done it was a pretty bouquet. Morwenna knew from his eyes that it was meant as a bouquet; She resented the impertinence, coming as it did from one of his station. But he had gone running and hopping back into the wood.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
    Ross went to see Caroline Penvenen on Whit Tuesday, the 10th of June. He had shopping to do and business in Truro and suggested that Demelza should come as far as Killewarren with him, spend a few hours with Caroline and the n make a leisurely return home. Demelza refused.
    `For one thing, I'm queasy. It won't last long, if I mind the other times; but just now I'm queasy, and riding behind you don't make it better. Also I would have to borrow a mine pony.'
    When he reached Killewarren and was shown into the parlour Caroline was already waiting for him; and he explained Dem elza's absence, though not the reason for her indisposition. (It was one of the few morbid quirks in Demelza's character, he thought, this desire always to hide her pregnancies from people until the last moment possible.) Caroline said: ` But even for you, there was no need
    "Need enough. I presume you have no further news?'
    'I have written to the Admiralty twice but they say they have no information yet.'
    `No, in formation about Dwight or about the Travail?'
    'About the Travail; I g ather. Here is the last letter. One of the petty; humiliations of this matter is that I have no official status . I am not his wife, nor his sister, nor his cousin, nor his ox nor his ass nor anything that is his. I still avoid telling people of our engagement, since it could so easy come back to Uncle Ray.'
    He thought how drawn and thin she looked in her long dark frock the tall bright sunflower had suddenly faded, `Are you eating anything , Caroline?' She looked up. 'Am I allowed no secrets?' 'And now that hunting is over, do you have any change of company or scene? Do you go out?'
    `The most