*Tou said nothing at the time?" said CHnton.
"No, because I wasn't sure. I couldn't beheve it. I thought that Sarah's mother had done this herself when she was in a fever and didn't know what she was doing. I tried to tell myself that was it. The more I think of it, the more I believe that Martha was mad . . . she is mad."
I was silent. The story had not taken me by surprise because I had long wondered about Aunt Martha. It was true, I was sure, that she had wanted my mother out of the way, and it had also occurred to me that she had intended to train Celia Hansen as my father's third mie.
Aunt Martha, grim, forceful, a dominating woman, mad! Yes, in a way I could believe that.
We talked for a while and Celia certainly seemed relieved. I supposed that keeping something like that to oneself could have an effect on a sensitive person.
When Clinton and I were alone in our room I asked him what he thought of Celia's account of my mother's death.
He shrugged his shoulders. "The old girl was capable of anything, I'm sure. She was one of those who would make up her mind what she wanted and go all out to get it."
"There are people like that," I said pointedly.
"I believe there are." He drew me close to him. "I see I shall have to be watchful of my Sarah. Madness in the family, eh?"
I was to remember that conversation afterward.
At the end of the week Celia said she should go, but I urged her to stay a Httie longer.
"Is there any reason why you must go?" I asked.
She shook her head. "There's nothing to go back to. I wouldn't want to overstay my welcome, that's all."
"You must know how glad I am to have you. Clinton is overjoyed because he says he feels he can leave us in the house together if he should be called out and have to stay away overnight."
"If you are sure . . ."
"My dear Celia, you must stay as long as you like."
"I will stay a littie longer then. I must say I was hoping you would invite me to. This place fascinates me and I always enjoyed
being with you. Ralph is a darling. What fun it would be to teach him I I would be more qualified to do that than I was when I came to you."
That all turned out well,"* I said. "So it's settled. Youll stay."
After that she said nothing about leaving. When I told Clinton that I had asked her to remain he was all in favor of it
"It's better for you to have a companion," he said.
I guessed he was not only thinking of those occasions when he would be away from home. Visions of Anula's seductive bedroom came into my mind.
The days passed quickly. I had another letter from Toby, which he must have written immediately on receipt of mine. He was delighted to hear from me. He told me something about the work he was doing and the community he lived in. He made me see the bungalow which he occupied presided over by a rather rascally khansamah who cheated him right and left but without whom he would have found it extremely difficult to exist. "He shops for me and overcharges for everything he buys, but if I tried to do it myself I'd be charged far more. You see, they are all in league against the poor sahib—particularly if he's on his own without a mem to take care of him. There is a great deal of entertaining and being entertained. The English community stick together. I daresay you find it very much the same where you are."
I wrote immediately in reply and told him in a light-hearted way about our club and the ball which had been given in my honor on my arrival and the busybody Mrs. Glendenning. I was sure her type had its representative in his community as well as mine.
It was shortly after writing that letter to Toby that the first of the strange happenings took place. I had decided one day to walk home from Clytie's. It was one of those rare occasions when I was alone and as I came through the woods I was thinking of my mother and wondered if she had ever walked alone in these woods. Jungle, of course, was the right term for them. At one time it must have gone on and on for miles. A great deal of it had been cut down and cultivated to grow tea. If Clinton had his way all this part would be put to use.
I shall not allow itl I thought; and I laughed to myself, thinking
of how angry Clinton would be if he knew he would never have the plantation for which he had married me.
People did strange things under stress of emotion. I was guilty of just that. I had been mad with rage when I had gone to the solicitor's office. I would never forget the insult he had heaped on me by staying with that woman. But what angered me most was the fact that I had allowed him to spend the night with me when he returned. I should have fought him with all my strength, and although I pretended that I had given way reluctantly, he knew that was not quite true.
How I hated him! How could I have become enmeshed with him! He was not the sort of man I wanted for a husband. I wanted someone gentle, kind, who loved me exclusively, someone who would comfort and cherish me throughout his life.
It was pleasant to be in touch with Toby.
There was something in the thicket on this day that was different. What was it? I stood listening. Was it Clytie who had said I should grow accustomed to the jungle noises? She was right. I had. Even when I heard something dash through the undergrowth I would not be alarmed. But always one must be watchful for snakes. Yet if one was cautious, it was safe enough. Leila had said she had seen an anaconda in the jungle near the water the other day. They were somewhat rare, but I had actually seen a cobra—a rather frightening sight. It had been curled up sleeping under a tree. I had hurried past. Down by the marshy banks of the river I often saw crocodiles, mostly sleeping and seeming docile enough until they started lashing their tails. Then it was time to get away. I was no longer startled by the odd stick insect, or suddenly coming on a lizard or a chameleon. Geckos were a commonplace and I had often seen them darting up the walls inside the house.
I was becoming accustomed to this world where living things thrived in the steaming heat as they never could at home.
But that afternoon there was something in the jungle that alerted me. Even before it occuned to me that I was being stalked, I sensed it.
There it was ... a sudden breaking of a twig ... a footfall. It could be a small animal, a hog deer making its cautious way
through the undergrowth, aware of danger all about him. Leila's anaconda would make short work of him if he discovered him.
No, I did not think it was an animal.
I could not understand why I felt this sudden fear.
Alone in the heart of the junglel Yes, but the house was near. I had taken this walk through the woods alone before and thought nothing of it. There again! The cautious step. Now that I had stopped it had stopped too. I went on. There it was again . . . creeping after me.
A strange and unaccountable panic took possession of me. I started to run. The steps were coming after me, crashing through the trees now. An animal. It couldn't be. It would not stop when I did.
I paused. My heart was beating so fast that it was painful.
"Who's there?" I shouted.
There was no answer. Whoever was following had stopped dead when I did.
Now I knew real fear. I started to run again. There it was coming after me.
I ran with all the speed of which I was capable. My relief was intense when I came to the spot where the trees grew thinner. I had reached the edge of the garden. I went in and stood looking back into the jungle waiting for someone to emerge.
No one did.
''Who is it?" I shouted, my voice steady now, from the safety of the garden.
There was no answer. No one appeared. Nothing happened. I went slowly into the house.
It must have been someone following me, hoping to catch me before I reached safety. Who? Why should I have been chased through the woods?
I went up to the bedroom and sat at the mirror studying myself. What a sight! Hair wild, eyes staring, and that puckered look of bewildered fear.
I washed and changed and went downstairs.
C
elia was sitting in the drawing room reading. She looked up and smiled. "Anything wrong?" she asked.
"I don't know. I had a scare in the woods."
"A scare. What sort of scare?"
"I thought I was being pursued. It was quite. . . uncanny." Pursued? Who would pursue you?" "I can't think of anyone. But it was somehow . . . honific." *'Was it some animal?" "You mean stalking me?"
"Perhaps. You know more about jungle life than I do." "Celia, it was horrible. It really frightened me." "It must have been imagination/' she said. "No," I replied. "It was real enough." "Come and sit down. You look quite shaken." She began to talk of other things and I knew she was trying to soothe me.
That was the beginning of the strange events.
The next thing happened about two days later. It was the custom to rest in the afternoons during the hottest part of the day. We all took the siesta with the exception of Clinton. Now that Celia was with me I did not go to Clytie's so much or if I did go I would drive over in the dog cart and it would be just a morning call.
I remember on this morning the heat had been intense. Celia and I had ridden over to Ashington's together. I was with Clytie and Seth, and Celia had gone into the garden with Ralph. Celia and the boy had become fast friends and I was amused how, in her rather tutorial way, she liked to add to his knowledge. As he was a highly imaginative boy this suited him very well. It was a common sight to see those two, heads close, absorbed in conversation or bent over one of his books which she would read to him.
Seth had been discussing some new method of irrigation. He talked animatedly and it was obvious to me that since I had paid that visit to the solicitor I had taken a great weight off his mind. It was clear that he now had an incentive to work harder and to make the plantation a success. Not that he had not done this before but the fact that he felt secure in his position had clearly had its effect.
When Celia and I returned home we took a light lunch and retired to our rooms. I did not sleep. I rarely did in the afternoons.
Sometimes I read and at others I would find my mind wandering over all that had happened since I had come out here. As I have said, Celia's coming had brought a normality to our existence in some way. CHnton had changed and we did not spar as much as we used to. Celia was there with us and her presence was naturally restraining. Whether he liked that or not, I could not be sure. But he certainly thought it was good to have her there during the day.
It was while I was lying on my bed that I heard a sudden rap on the door.
"Come inl" I cried, expecting to see Celia. If Clinton had returned it was hardly likely that he would knock.
"Who's there?" I shouted again and there was still no response.
I got out of bed and went to the door. There was no one there.
How strange that was! The knock had been so loud. Someone must have been there. One of the servants perhaps. But why should she or he not come in when bidden to do so. And why go away after knocking?
Following my experience in the woods, I felt disturbed.
I got out of bed and went along to Celia's room, the door of which was closed as mine had been. I knocked.
"Come in," she cried.
She was lying on her bed reading.
"You didn't knock on my door?" I asked.
"Knock on your door? Why?"
"There was a knock. I called 'Come in' and no one came. I got out and looked. No one was there."
"It must have been Leila coming up with something."
"Well, why should she knock and go away?"
Celia lifted her shoulders. It was clear that she did not attach much importance to the incident.
*T,eila," I said, "did you knock at my door this afternoon?"
She had brought me warm water with which to wash before I changed for the evening meal.
"Knock, missee. Me . . . knock?"
"Yes, during the afternoon. Someone did and when I called 'Come in,' no one came."
She shook her head. "I did not."
"If s very strange. It was so distinct. I was resting on my bed and there was this knock."
"There is a full moon tonight," said Leila, her black eyes round with speculation. "It could be the Spirit of the Full Moon."
"Whatever should he knock on my door for?"
"Mayhap he think of you this full moon."
"Leila, are you sure you didn't bring something and then decide after all not to disturb me?"
Leila shook her head firmly.
"Well, someone did," I said almost angrily.
"Spirit of Full Moon," said Leila sagely.
I could see that I could get no sense out of her and that I was getting more disturbed than the occasion warranted. It was so irritating to have heard such a decisive knock and then to find everyone so little interested, except Leila with her absurd suggestions about the Spirit of the Moon. Celia seemed to think that I dreamed it and why make such a fuss about it.
Clinton came in while I was changing. He was in high spirits and kissed me warmly.
"Have you had a good day?" he asked.
"Yes, and you? Clinton, what do they mean when they say the Spirit of the Moon decides to visit you?"
"It means there's madness in the air."
I felt suddenly frightened. I decided not to mention the rap on my door.
Something strange was going on. There had been another occasion when, walking through the woods, I had fancied myself followed. It was the same cautious stalking. I was really frightened.
I was panting when I reached the clearing. I waited there. Surely if it were some animal it would come rushing out after me. Nothing came. It could not have been an animal. It was someone who did not want to be seen. WTio?
I mentioned it to Clinton and Celia that evening.
"It's jungle nerves," said Clinton.
"What on earth are they?"
"It's something that obsesses you in the jungle. It has a certain efifect on you and you imagine things."
*This was not imagination. Someone was following me."
"Hardly likely/' said Clinton.
I caught Celia's eye. She was looking at me anxiously. She was thinking, I guessed, of the rap on my door, which she thought I had imagined.
The next time I'm followed I'll find out who it is, I promised myself.
There was another strange incident a few days later. It was siesta time again and once more I was lying on my bed reading. Suddenly I was aware of a sound and, turning, I stared at the door. The handle was slowly turning. This time I did not speak. I lay there watching. The door opened very slowly.
I did not know why I should have felt so alarmed but I was deeply conscious of the silence of the house. I waited, expecting someone to come silently into the room. The Spirit of the Moon? A ghostly figure which would point at me and say: "We are thinking of you."
Nothing happened . . . only silence.
I leaped out of bed. The corridor was empty.
Something very strange was going on. I had to find out and I should do so cautiously this time.
I said to Leila when she came in with my hot water: "You brought up my towels yesterday afternoon, didn't you?"
She looked at me blankly. "No, missee. I go out all afternoon. To buy cottons for sewing."
"What time did you go?"
She wrinkled her brow and remembered it was three o'clock. It was half past three when my door had mysteriously opened.
Of course she could have been lying.
Later I told Celia what had happened. "I heard no one," she said.
"But someone must have been there to open my door like that. Why?"
"It seems a silly thing to do. Quite pointless."
"Quite pointless," I agreed.
"It must have been Leila bringing something and then remembering you were resting."
"She was out at the time, she says."
"Are you sure, Sarah, that you didn't leave the door unlatched? Perhaps a sudden breeze . . ."
"I never lea
ve the door open."
"But perhaps this once you did. It seems the only explanation unless . . ."
"Unless whatr
"Unless you were dozing and dreamed it."
"Celia, I was awake. I got out of bed and the door was open."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it's not really important, is it?"
She gave me a searching look and I said: "It is important. Too many strange things have been happening. Twice someone followed me in the woods. It's no use saying I imagined it. It happened. Then the rap on my door."
"What does it mean?"
I could see that she thought I was making a great deal out of nothing so I let the matter drop. But it was on my mind and I decided I would talk to Clytie. I went over to see her. She was in the garden with Ralph when I arrived.
He ran towards me and threw his arms about my knees—a habit of his and an endearing one. He made visitors feel as though he really was glad to see them.
"I've got a new elephant," he announced. "It walks."
"You wind him up," said Clytie. "Ralph is completely devoted to him. He is neglecting aU the others on account of him."
"He's going to take me bathing," said Ralph. "We go into the water and it comes right up to me on his back. I am in a gold cage with an umbrella over me. He gets a bit frightened but I tell him it's all right. I won't let him drown. Then we go hunting panthers. Mama, may I have a panther? One that runs so that my elephant can hunt him?"
"We'll see," replied Clytie. "It's a matter of first find your panther."
"Panthers is nice," commented Ralph, "but elephants is bet-terer."
He ran off to hunt with his elephant and Clytie and I sat down under the shade of one of the palm trees.
"Is anything wrong?" she asked.
"I don't know yet Strange things have been happening." And I told her.
She hstened gravely. I was grateful that she did not say it was imagination.
"It looks," she said at length, "as if someone is playing tricks."
The Spring of the Tiger Page 29
