The Love Child by Victoria Holt Page B

for me. There is something almost obscene about Oates and his men.”
    “I know it well,” replied Edwin.
    “Where is this going to end?” asked Jocelyn. “I cannot understand why he is not seen as the villain he is.”
    “It is terrible to realize how easily people can be roused to violence,” said Edwin sadly. “One observes it often. Individually they would never be capable of such actions as they will take when they become a mob.”
    “I am sure that philosophizing can at times be a useful occupation,” Leigh put in, “but this is the time for practical suggestions. Now, Frinton, this place is all right as a temporary haven, but we have to think of something better. You can’t stay here. You could be discovered.”
    “I’ll come out and guard you,” cried Carl. “I’ll bring the dogs with me. I’ll teach them to fight anyone who tries to get into the cave.”
    “There is one thing I want you to do, Carl,” said Leigh.
    “What is it? What is it? You only have to say.”
    “It’s quite simple,” replied Leigh. “You just obey orders.”
    “Aye, aye, sir,” said Carl. “You’re a sort of captain, Leigh. We have to do what you say. Does Edwin have to, too? Will you, Edwin? Perhaps you wouldn’t like to, being a lord and all that.”
    “We are here to help Jocelyn escape,” said Edwin. “That’s all we have to think about.”
    “It’s all I am thinking about,” retorted Carl.
    “Carl,” I reminded him, “it will be necessary to say nothing of this to anyone. .
    . anyone, remember!”
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    “Of course I remember. It’s a great secret. Nobody must know.”
    I looked at Leigh. “We’ve got to think of something quickly. I wonder if Jocelyn could come to the house as a traveller who has lost his way.”
    “We would be expected to put him on the right road immediately,” put in Christabel.
    “I wonder if he could come as someone to work in the house.”
    “As what?” asked Leigh. “A gardener? Can you garden, Frinton?”
    “As my tutor!” cried Carl. “They’re always saying that I don’t learn anything with the Reverend Helling.”
    “That’s a reflection on you, dear brother,” I retorted, “not on the Reverend Helling.
    If we want a scholar hi the family we shall have to get a new brother … not a new tutor. I think it’s dangerous for Jocelyn to come to the house. How could he possibly do that? My father and mother must have met you somewhere.”
    “Yes,” said Jocelyn, “I have met them.”
    Leigh, who had been rather thoughtful, sat there with a smile on his face. Something was brewing in his mind, I could see. I knew him so well that I realized he wanted to think about it before telling the rest of us and however I urged him he would say nothing until he had decided to.
    Edwin was saying: “Well, that’s no good.”
    “At least,” said Leigh, “you are safe here for the time being.”
    We made all sorts of plans as we sat there on the beach but Leigh still said nothing of what I believed was brewing in his mind.
    We would get a change of clothes for Jocelyn-something which would be more suitable for travelling if he had to go off in a hurry. One of us would come every day with food until we made up our minds what we were going to do. There must be no more picnics, as they would arouse suspicion. Emily Philpots would already be saying that we must be mad to think of such a thing at this tune of the year, and Sally might even get someone to follow us to make sure that Carl kept his leather jerkin on.
    No. We should come singly, or perhaps two of us together. We should have to be very wary.
    We all looked to Leigh. He was the natural leader. He was more bold and ruthless than Edwin. Edwin was always too much afraid of hurting people’s feelings. It made him act overcautiously.
    Leigh had always joked about being the elder of the two. He was, by a few weeks.
    I think I admired Leigh more than anyone I knew, and I was gratified whenever he showed a special