var g_txt=[
{t:"The Madness of Summer",p:2,x:42,y:42,w:145,h:14},
{t:"by Colin Holcombe",p:2,x:42,y:65,w:108,h:14},
{t:"© 2007",p:2,x:42,y:88,w:42,h:14},
{t:"‘The Madness of Summer’ is a work of fiction.",p:2,x:42,y:112,w:260,h:14},
{t:"Names, characters, places and incidents are",p:2,x:42,y:132,w:254,h:14},
{t:"products of the author’s imagination, and any",p:2,x:42,y:152,w:255,h:14},
{t:"resemblance to actual events, locales and",p:2,x:42,y:172,w:237,h:14},
{t:"persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.",p:2,x:42,y:192,w:263,h:14},
{t:"Published by Ocaso Press Ltda.",p:2,x:42,y:308,w:183,h:14},
{t:"Santiago, Chile. All rights reserved.",p:2,x:42,y:332,w:200,h:14},
{t:"No part of this book may be used or reproduced",p:2,x:42,y:378,w:271,h:14},
{t:"in any manner whatsoever without written",p:2,x:42,y:398,w:233,h:14},
{t:"permission, except in the case of brief",p:2,x:42,y:418,w:215,h:14},
{t:"quotations in critical articles and reviews.",p:2,x:42,y:438,w:231,h:14},
{t:"THE MADNESS OF SUMMER",p:3,x:70,y:57,w:246,h:24},
{t:"— A NOVEL —",p:3,x:129,y:243,w:127,h:24},
{t:"Colin Holcombe",p:3,x:125,y:453,w:136,h:24},
{t:"1",p:4,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"Chapter One",p:4,x:42,y:167,w:150,h:27},
{t:"So we stayed, the model family at the Buck-",p:4,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"mayne Annual Pageant, until the curtain fell",p:4,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"around nine o ’clock, when I saw Megan and my",p:4,x:42,y:272,w:284,h:14},
{t:"wife off and returned to the Community Centre,",p:4,x:42,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"squeezing past Council members and performers",p:4,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"to where Martins was brandishing our drinks.",p:4,x:42,y:332,w:255,h:14},
{t:"‘What was that again?’ I said when we clinked",p:4,x:61,y:355,w:265,h:14},
{t:"glasses.",p:4,x:42,y:375,w:47,h:14},
{t:"‘Whittaker, my dear boy, I was asking about",p:4,x:61,y:398,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the woman you were avoiding earlier.’",p:4,x:42,y:418,w:211,h:14},
{t:"‘Celia.’",p:4,x:61,y:442,w:38,h:14},
{t:"Martins pulled out a notebook. ‘Celia the fairy",p:4,x:61,y:465,w:264,h:14},
{t:"was played by . . . ’",p:4,x:42,y:485,w:108,h:14},
{t:"2",p:5,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Imogen Lawley.",p:5,x:61,y:42,w:92,h:14},
{t:"’",p:5,x:152,y:42,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘Played by Imogen Lawley, who looked ravish-",p:5,x:61,y:65,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ing in a lavender-blue number. Any more charm-",p:5,x:42,y:85,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ers you know?’",p:5,x:42,y:105,w:85,h:14},
{t:"‘Penny Lawley. In white over there, talking to",p:5,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the vicar. She was the shepherdess.’",p:5,x:42,y:148,w:209,h:14},
{t:"‘I do know my Iolanthe. In fact I’ll go over to",p:5,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"have a word with her now, which will let you get",p:5,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"back to the sister.’",p:5,x:42,y:212,w:103,h:14},
{t:"‘Just wanting an interview.’",p:5,x:61,y:235,w:152,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen can ask me any time. But hark, the",p:5,x:61,y:258,w:265,h:14},
{t:"damsel approaches.’",p:5,x:42,y:278,w:117,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen,’ I said when she stood in front of us,",p:5,x:61,y:302,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘this is Joel Martins, director of Casebook F ilms.",p:5,x:42,y:322,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Imogen Lawley, reporter on the Dorset Times.’",p:5,x:42,y:342,w:262,h:14},
{t:"She turned to survey the plump figure with its",p:5,x:61,y:365,w:264,h:14},
{t:"tangled mop of grey hair. ‘Doesn’t look l ike a film",p:5,x:42,y:385,w:283,h:14},
{t:"director to me ’, she decided, staring up through",p:5,x:42,y:405,w:283,h:14},
{t:"those ext ravagant lashes.",p:5,x:42,y:425,w:144,h:14},
{t:"‘Very true,’ conceded Martins, seeing Imogen",p:5,x:61,y:448,w:265,h:14},
{t:"pose in exasperating innocence. ",p:5,x:42,y:468,w:193,h:14},
{t:"‘But we have to",p:5,x:234,y:468,w:91,h:14},
{t:"employ the most unlikely types. Even S tephen",p:5,x:42,y:488,w:283,h:14},
{t:"3",p:6,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"here is going to be a s tar of the small screen.",p:6,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"History in the Community, Time and Tradition.",p:6,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"We haven",p:6,x:42,y:82,w:62,h:14},
{t:"’t decided on a title yet. Depends on",p:6,x:103,y:82,w:222,h:14},
{t:"what we find locally. Could be quite rewarding,",p:6,x:42,y:102,w:284,h:14},
{t:"wouldn’t you think?’",p:6,x:42,y:122,w:112,h:14},
{t:"‘I don’t know what you mean, Mr Martins.’",p:6,x:61,y:145,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘I mean you should come for a screen test.’ He",p:6,x:61,y:168,w:265,h:14},
{t:"gave me a flustered look before turning back to",p:6,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the woman who smiled at him indifferently. ‘With",p:6,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"your sister. We need local people. ’",p:6,x:42,y:228,w:195,h:14},
{t:"‘Which sister, Mr Martins?’",p:6,x:61,y:252,w:153,h:14},
{t:"‘Good God, Whittaker. Is the place overrun",p:6,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"with talent?’",p:6,x:42,y:295,w:67,h:14},
{t:"‘Whole tribe of them ’, I said gloomily, wonder-",p:6,x:61,y:318,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ing if Martins knew what he was taking on.",p:6,x:42,y:338,w:240,h:14},
{t:"But in fact Melissa had married and moved",p:6,x:61,y:362,w:266,h:14},
{t:"away, to Ludlow or somewhere, the smart wife of",p:6,x:42,y:382,w:284,h:14},
{t:"an accomplished country lawyer. Penny was the",p:6,x:42,y:402,w:284,h:14},
{t:"left-over, the damaged goods, and only Imogen",p:6,x:42,y:422,w:283,h:14},
{t:"could be called shameless, the vamp with the",p:6,x:42,y:442,w:284,h:14},
{t:"pale green eyes and snub nose. ",p:6,x:42,y:462,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘Excuse me, you",p:6,x:231,y:462,w:95,h:14},
{t:"two’, I said. ‘Ought to circulate.’",p:6,x:42,y:482,w:178,h:14},
{t:"4",p:7,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Who now?’ said Martins, reaching for his",p:7,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"notebook.",p:7,x:42,y:62,w:55,h:14},
{t:"‘Ted Ten Percent. Imogen will explain.’ The",p:7,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"woman gave me an open stare: Imogen with the",p:7,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tight hold on life, who gives exactly what she",p:7,x:42,y:125,w:284,h:14},
{t:"promises.",p:7,x:42,y:145,w:55,h:14},
{t:"‘I shall come over shortly, as soon as I’ve tied",p:7,x:61,y:168,w:265,h:14},
{t:"up a screen test with this entrancing damsel.’",p:7,x:42,y:188,w:257,h:14},
{t:"You’ll be sorry, I thought, threading my way",p:7,x:61,y:212,w:265,h:14},
{t:"over to a raffish and clearly inebriated Edward",p:7,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Tennant at the drinks table. He surveyed me",p:7,x:42,y:252,w:284,h:14},
{t:"expectantly, screwing up an eye. ",p:7,x:42,y:272,w:196,h:14},
{t:"‘Dr Whittaker, I",p:7,x:236,y:272,w:88,h:14},
{t:"believe. The very man.’ He turned to the barman.",p:7,x:42,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘I say, could you give us something decent?",p:7,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Johnnie Walker maybe. ’",p:7,x:42,y:332,w:136,h:14},
{t:"‘Thanks, but I’ll stick to this.’",p:7,x:61,y:355,w:160,h:14},
{t:"‘You should accept hospitality when it’s",p:7,x:61,y:378,w:265,h:14},
{t:"offered. Not every day that a patron of the",p:7,x:42,y:398,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Dorchester art scene is so lavish.’ He leant over",p:7,x:42,y:418,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the table, extracted the bottle from the barman,",p:7,x:42,y:438,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and topped up his drink. ‘Sure ?’",p:7,x:42,y:458,w:181,h:14},
{t:"‘Didn’t know you’d moved into the arts.’",p:7,x:61,y:482,w:220,h:14},
{t:"5",p:8,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘I am a patron of everything worthy in the",p:8,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"area. ’ He ignored my look, and handed the bottle",p:8,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"to the barman, who saw it safely back under the",p:8,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"table. ‘Who’s the untidy man in the loud suit?’ he",p:8,x:42,y:102,w:285,h:14},
{t:"said, nodding across the room.",p:8,x:42,y:122,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘Joel Martins. Director for the new TV series.’",p:8,x:61,y:145,w:256,h:14},
{t:"‘You keep strange company, but I expect it",p:8,x:61,y:168,w:264,h:14},
{t:"was Jill’s idea.’",p:8,x:42,y:188,w:84,h:14},
{t:"‘Eddie, the opportunity grew out of the BBC",p:8,x:61,y:212,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Time Watch series, as you know. After we made",p:8,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"those finds at Leyton.’",p:8,x:42,y:252,w:124,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, I hope Jill’s persuaded you to leave t he",p:8,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"shabby respectability of academic life. To spread",p:8,x:42,y:295,w:284,h:14},
{t:"your wings, and perform on the greater stage of",p:8,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"life.’",p:8,x:42,y:335,w:22,h:14},
{t:"Clearly, he didn’t know the situation, and I let",p:8,x:61,y:358,w:264,h:14},
{t:"him continue.",p:8,x:42,y:378,w:76,h:14},
{t:"‘Now listen, Whittaker. I’m going to bend your",p:8,x:61,y:402,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ear with something you wouldn’t have d reamt of",p:8,x:42,y:422,w:283,h:14},
{t:"in a thousand years.’",p:8,x:42,y:442,w:117,h:14},
{t:"6",p:9,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Nothing to do with your website, I hope. The",p:9,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"local tourism article Phil Duffy drafted and you",p:9,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"rewrote, bringing threats of legal action.’",p:9,x:42,y:82,w:226,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing like that.’",p:9,x:61,y:105,w:101,h:14},
{t:"‘And there was the bust-up with Saintly Sandy,",p:9,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"remember, after your funny piece about the",p:9,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Church Fete. Not to mention the unpleasantness",p:9,x:42,y:168,w:282,h:14},
{t:"with the Countryside Association.’",p:9,x:42,y:188,w:192,h:14},
{t:"‘We are now a responsible, well-informed and",p:9,x:61,y:212,w:264,h:14},
{t:"forward-looking company.’ He swilled his drink,",p:9,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and sniffed thoughtfully.",p:9,x:42,y:252,w:136,h:14},
{t:"‘So what is it?’ I said, seeing the bartender",p:9,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"give me a jovial wink.",p:9,x:42,y:295,w:119,h:14},
{t:"‘You",p:9,x:61,y:318,w:26,h:14},
{t:"’ve seen your write-up there?",p:9,x:86,y:318,w:164,h:14},
{t:"‘Book on local history, forthcoming TV series?",p:9,x:61,y:342,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Yes, most satisfactory.’ I looked around for",p:9,x:42,y:362,w:283,h:14},
{t:"someone to join.",p:9,x:42,y:382,w:92,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, we’ve added to it’, he continued. ‘Not",p:9,x:61,y:405,w:264,h:14},
{t:"that much. Still the smashing photo.’",p:9,x:42,y:425,w:206,h:14},
{t:"‘The pugilist with the angry freckles? I didn’t",p:9,x:61,y:448,w:265,h:14},
{t:"want you to use that one, Eddie .’",p:9,x:42,y:468,w:184,h:14},
{t:"7",p:10,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Now bear with me, Whittaker, old man. You",p:10,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"have to look the part.’",p:10,x:42,y:62,w:120,h:14},
{t:"‘No I don’t.’",p:10,x:61,y:85,w:64,h:14},
{t:"‘As the organiser of the Leyton Rings Festival.’",p:10,x:61,y:108,w:265,h:14},
{t:"He pushed back a lock of hair and said, ‘Good",p:10,x:42,y:128,w:284,h:14},
{t:"name that, what d’ye know, almost Celtic.’",p:10,x:42,y:148,w:237,h:14},
{t:"‘Festival? What festival?’",p:10,x:61,y:172,w:141,h:14},
{t:"‘The Leyton Rings one we’re helping you with,",p:10,x:61,y:195,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Imogen and I.’",p:10,x:42,y:215,w:81,h:14},
{t:"‘Wait a minute’, I said. ‘You’re organising",p:10,x:61,y:238,w:265,h:14},
{t:"some event up there. On the Leyton Rings?’",p:10,x:42,y:258,w:250,h:14},
{t:"‘Not really a rock concert. A celebration of al-",p:10,x:61,y:282,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ternative lifestyles.’",p:10,x:42,y:302,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘Not on my dig you’re not.’",p:10,x:61,y:325,w:147,h:14},
{t:"‘But it’s not your site, is it, old sport? More the",p:10,x:61,y:348,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Stoke Monkton Archaeological Centre’s.’",p:10,x:42,y:368,w:229,h:14},
{t:"‘Which I run.’",p:10,x:61,y:392,w:77,h:14},
{t:"‘Under the auspices of Bath South University.",p:10,x:61,y:415,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Isn’t that a grand name?’",p:10,x:42,y:435,w:141,h:14},
{t:"‘Is this going somewhere?’",p:10,x:61,y:458,w:151,h:14},
{t:"8",p:11,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Now the farm’s been left to the girls and Phil",p:11,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Duffy’, he continued, staring into his glass as he",p:11,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"emptied it. ‘And of course I don’t know why. I’m",p:11,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"just saying the girls got ninety per cent, but",p:11,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Duffy’s is the remaining ten. All of them think the",p:11,x:42,y:122,w:284,h:14},
{t:"festival is a good idea, a fantastic idea.’",p:11,x:42,y:142,w:221,h:14},
{t:"‘God almighty, Eddie, have you thought of the",p:11,x:61,y:165,w:265,h:14},
{t:"consequences, even supposing you got the",p:11,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"funds? Or the publicity?’",p:11,x:42,y:205,w:139,h:14},
{t:"‘That ’s where you come in, with your TV se-",p:11,x:61,y:228,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ries.’",p:11,x:42,y:248,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘There won ’t be a series if a rock festival hap-",p:11,x:61,y:272,w:264,h:14},
{t:"pens.’",p:11,x:42,y:292,w:34,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s not a rock concert, though they’ll be a lot",p:11,x:61,y:315,w:265,h:14},
{t:"of music. Perhaps ancient stuff as well.’",p:11,x:42,y:335,w:227,h:14},
{t:"‘Not the Pagan Historical Centre? You",p:11,x:61,y:358,w:228,h:14},
{t:"’re not",p:11,x:288,y:358,w:37,h:14},
{t:"roping them in, are you? The Countryside Asso-",p:11,x:42,y:378,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ciation would go ballistic.’",p:11,x:42,y:398,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘Everyone is catered for. Quite ecumenical. A",p:11,x:61,y:422,w:264,h:14},
{t:"multicultural event to put Dorset on the map.’",p:11,x:42,y:442,w:253,h:14},
{t:"9",p:12,x:180,y:511,w:7,h:15},
{t:"‘Dorset does not need to be put on the map .",p:12,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"It’s overrun with tourists and second-homers as it",p:12,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"is. You should read the letters in the local press.’",p:12,x:42,y:82,w:275,h:14},
{t:"‘I do. Imogen writes them. Or some of them.’",p:12,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"He beamed at my annoyance. ",p:12,x:42,y:125,w:187,h:14},
{t:"‘Whittaker, I just",p:12,x:228,y:125,w:97,h:14},
{t:"thought I should sound you out before pushing",p:12,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"ahead. Of course you",p:12,x:42,y:165,w:133,h:14},
{t:"’ll get your stall there. Or",p:12,x:173,y:165,w:152,h:14},
{t:"you could run a tour like the Saturday rambles.",p:12,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Up to you. Everyone’s enthusiastic about getting",p:12,x:42,y:205,w:284,h:14},
{t:"academic kudos.’",p:12,x:42,y:225,w:99,h:14},
{t:"‘Getting me the sack, more likely.’ First came",p:12,x:61,y:248,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the hours explaining the TV series to Jill, to whom",p:12,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"status and respectability were family virtues, and",p:12,x:42,y:288,w:283,h:14},
{t:"now there would be shabby evasions to my Prin-",p:12,x:42,y:308,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cipal. ‘Listen, would you?’ I said. ‘You can’t just",p:12,x:42,y:328,w:283,h:14},
{t:"barge in and take over . It’s taken months, years",p:12,x:42,y:348,w:283,h:14},
{t:"in fact, to get this TV series going. Endless meet-",p:12,x:42,y:368,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ings, screenshots, a whole army of consultants",p:12,x:42,y:388,w:282,h:14},
{t:"and focus groups.’",p:12,x:42,y:408,w:106,h:14},
{t:"‘Which will pay off.’",p:12,x:61,y:432,w:110,h:14},
{t:"‘Jill didn’t see me for weeks. You",p:12,x:61,y:455,w:200,h:14},
{t:"’ve no idea",p:12,x:260,y:455,w:65,h:14},
{t:"what trouble that caused.’",p:12,x:42,y:475,w:145,h:14},
{t:"10",p:13,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Seems to me you",p:13,x:61,y:42,w:118,h:14},
{t:"’re sunk either way, old",p:13,x:177,y:42,w:148,h:14},
{t:"man. But you can talk it through with my partner.’",p:13,x:42,y:62,w:277,h:14},
{t:"‘No thank you.’",p:13,x:61,y:85,w:84,h:14},
{t:"‘As you like. See my friend here has another",p:13,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"drink’, he said to the barman, and strode off, the",p:13,x:42,y:128,w:284,h:14},
{t:"sleek crest of hair flapping as the head lurched",p:13,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"forward.",p:13,x:42,y:168,w:46,h:14},
{t:"‘You’re a difficult man to keep up with’, said",p:13,x:61,y:192,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Martins when he emerged, breathless again.",p:13,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘That was Ted Ten Percent, I take it. Nothing to",p:13,x:42,y:232,w:284,h:14},
{t:"do with what our fairy told me?’",p:13,x:42,y:252,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘No.’",p:13,x:61,y:275,w:25,h:14},
{t:"‘Whittaker, my dear boy, you",p:13,x:61,y:298,w:173,h:14},
{t:"’re supposed to",p:13,x:233,y:298,w:92,h:14},
{t:"be showing me around, filling the scene with local",p:13,x:42,y:318,w:283,h:14},
{t:"colour. Can’t just leave it to Imogen, can we?’",p:13,x:42,y:338,w:256,h:14},
{t:"‘What’s she been saying?’",p:13,x:61,y:362,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘Something about a Leyton Rings Festival,",p:13,x:61,y:385,w:264,h:14},
{t:"which you’re committed to.’",p:13,x:42,y:405,w:154,h:14},
{t:"‘On the contrary, I am not in the slightest",p:13,x:61,y:428,w:264,h:14},
{t:"committed. I’ve only just heard about it.’",p:13,x:42,y:448,w:224,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, it would be an almighty spanner in the",p:13,x:61,y:472,w:265,h:14},
{t:"works. The archetypal market town, a scene",p:13,x:42,y:492,w:283,h:14},
{t:"11",p:14,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"steeped in the past and its ancient customs,",p:14,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"slowly adapting to change but keeping its charac-",p:14,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ter. Then we learn a whacking great rock festi-",p:14,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"val’s arriving. Hardly the thing, is it?’",p:14,x:42,y:102,w:205,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s an alternative culture festival, apparently .’",p:14,x:61,y:125,w:256,h:14},
{t:"‘Call it what you like, but it’s not going to wash.",p:14,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Our viewers want to escape into the past, to be-",p:14,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"long to the unchanging rhythms of rural life.’",p:14,x:42,y:188,w:249,h:14},
{t:"‘I get the picture.’",p:14,x:61,y:212,w:97,h:14},
{t:"‘You need to do more than that, my dear boy.",p:14,x:61,y:235,w:265,h:14},
{t:"You need to kill it off.’",p:14,x:42,y:255,w:121,h:14},
{t:"‘Phil will see sense, and Penny won",p:14,x:61,y:278,w:226,h:14},
{t:"’t have",p:14,x:285,y:278,w:42,h:14},
{t:"given her permission. There’s another daughter",p:14,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"somewhere, too.",p:14,x:42,y:318,w:94,h:14},
{t:"’",p:14,x:135,y:318,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘Melissa. Imogen ’s spoken to her. Another",p:14,x:61,y:342,w:264,h:14},
{t:"hopeful who can hear the cash tills ringing.’",p:14,x:42,y:362,w:246,h:14},
{t:"‘Christ.’",p:14,x:61,y:385,w:43,h:14},
{t:"‘So I can leave i t in your capable hands?’",p:14,x:61,y:408,w:230,h:14},
{t:"‘All right. I’ll start with Penny .’",p:14,x:61,y:432,w:166,h:14},
{t:"But the woman wasn’t now talking to the vicar,",p:14,x:61,y:455,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and in pushing through to the far side of the hall I",p:14,x:42,y:475,w:284,h:14},
{t:"12",p:15,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"collided with Neville Barnes, who put a heavy arm",p:15,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"across. He was wearing the usual red shirt, which",p:15,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"now looked ironed for a change. ",p:15,x:42,y:82,w:192,h:14},
{t:"‘Just a moment,",p:15,x:233,y:82,w:92,h:14},
{t:"Doc’, he said.",p:15,x:42,y:102,w:77,h:14},
{t:"‘Trying to find Penny Lawley. She was around",p:15,x:61,y:125,w:265,h:14},
{t:"here. ’",p:15,x:42,y:145,w:31,h:14},
{t:"‘You should talk to me.’",p:15,x:61,y:168,w:131,h:14},
{t:"‘Shortly.’",p:15,x:61,y:192,w:48,h:14},
{t:"He settled his weight on the other leg. ‘Now",p:15,x:61,y:215,w:265,h:14},
{t:"what’s this I hear about your blocking the Leyton",p:15,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Rings Festival? Tell us it’s not true .’",p:15,x:42,y:255,w:202,h:14},
{t:"‘Look, Ned, I don’t want to discuss it. I can see",p:15,x:61,y:278,w:265,h:14},
{t:"all kinds of problems, but maybe something toned",p:15,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"down will keep everyone happy. ’",p:15,x:42,y:318,w:181,h:14},
{t:"‘What problems?’",p:15,x:61,y:342,w:100,h:14},
{t:"Anything involving Barnes caused problems",p:15,x:61,y:365,w:264,h:14},
{t:"was the truthful answer, but I mumbled something",p:15,x:42,y:385,w:284,h:14},
{t:"about permission and policing.",p:15,x:42,y:405,w:173,h:14},
{t:"‘Fascists.’",p:15,x:61,y:428,w:57,h:14},
{t:"‘Then there’s the Countryside Association.",p:15,x:61,y:452,w:264,h:14},
{t:"They have a lot of influence round here. Courts,",p:15,x:42,y:472,w:283,h:14},
{t:"local government.’",p:15,x:42,y:492,w:102,h:14},
{t:"13",p:16,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Lackeys of the bourgeois dictatorship.’",p:16,x:61,y:42,w:220,h:14},
{t:"‘I need to see Penny .’",p:16,x:61,y:65,w:122,h:14},
{t:"‘You won’t get anywhere with her.’",p:16,x:61,y:88,w:192,h:14},
{t:"Any more than you did with Imogen, I was",p:16,x:61,y:112,w:264,h:14},
{t:"tempted to remark. Barnes’s mooning after the",p:16,x:42,y:132,w:283,h:14},
{t:"predatory Imogen has been one of the happier",p:16,x:42,y:152,w:283,h:14},
{t:"topics of conversation for years. ‘Ned,’ I said,",p:16,x:42,y:172,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘let’s have this conversation another time .’",p:16,x:42,y:192,w:236,h:14},
{t:"‘We’ve al ways supported you.’",p:16,x:61,y:215,w:171,h:14},
{t:"‘Lots of volunteers from the Pagan Historical",p:16,x:61,y:238,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Centre. Yes, most helpful. Can I find Penny now?’",p:16,x:42,y:258,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘More than helpful. Without us you’d never",p:16,x:61,y:282,w:264,h:14},
{t:"have got started.’",p:16,x:42,y:302,w:97,h:14},
{t:"‘Well we did. Once those finds came to light.’",p:16,x:61,y:325,w:257,h:14},
{t:"‘Handy, weren ’t they? ’ He looked pleased, as",p:16,x:61,y:348,w:264,h:14},
{t:"he does when the odd thought blunders into that",p:16,x:42,y:368,w:283,h:14},
{t:"brutish head.",p:16,x:42,y:388,w:74,h:14},
{t:"‘Now don’t be silly .’",p:16,x:61,y:412,w:108,h:14},
{t:"‘You hadn’t thought about that, had you?’ He",p:16,x:61,y:435,w:265,h:14},
{t:"gave me a friendly shove.",p:16,x:42,y:455,w:145,h:14},
{t:"14",p:17,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"In fact I’d been thinking about them a lot, and",p:17,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"even Phil admitted they were a puzzle. But you",p:17,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"can’t ignore evidence, and the dig started.",p:17,x:42,y:82,w:236,h:14},
{t:"‘You want to know how we did it?’",p:17,x:61,y:105,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘If you’ve been playing games I don’t want to",p:17,x:61,y:128,w:265,h:14},
{t:"know. All right?’",p:17,x:42,y:148,w:91,h:14},
{t:"‘The Dorset Times, Wiltshire Gazette. Proba-",p:17,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"bly the BBC. I mean, would you want to build a",p:17,x:42,y:192,w:284,h:14},
{t:"whole series around a hoax? Expert fooled by",p:17,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"locals. Dr Steven Whittaker was last night shown",p:17,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"to have been taken in by a joke perpetrated by",p:17,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the locals of Buckmayne, the town which ",p:17,x:42,y:272,w:253,h:14},
{t:"is to",p:17,x:299,y:272,w:27,h:14},
{t:"feature in a television series. Doesn’t sound too",p:17,x:42,y:292,w:284,h:14},
{t:"good to me.’",p:17,x:42,y:312,w:69,h:14},
{t:"‘We found corroborating evidence. ’",p:17,x:61,y:335,w:198,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course you did.’ He leered at me.",p:17,x:61,y:358,w:207,h:14},
{t:"Was that why the Pagan Historical Centre had",p:17,x:61,y:382,w:265,h:14},
{t:"been so keen to help? I began to feel uneasy.",p:17,x:42,y:402,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘Think I’ll go and see Penny .’",p:17,x:42,y:422,w:162,h:14},
{t:"‘She’s on our side.’",p:17,x:61,y:445,w:108,h:14},
{t:"15",p:18,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Not if she’s got any sense,’ I growled, the fa-",p:18,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"mous anger beginning to make itself felt, ‘you",p:18,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"great Bolshevik lump.’",p:18,x:42,y:82,w:125,h:14},
{t:"‘Now see here, Doc. Don ’t you start calling me",p:18,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"names, or there’s a few things we could say",p:18,x:42,y:125,w:284,h:14},
{t:"about you.’",p:18,x:42,y:145,w:61,h:14},
{t:"But the temper was up. ",p:18,x:61,y:168,w:146,h:14},
{t:"‘Just get out of my",p:18,x:210,y:168,w:115,h:14},
{t:"way, would you? You and the pagans, for Christ’s",p:18,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sake. ’",p:18,x:42,y:208,w:33,h:14},
{t:"‘But at least we don’t have people humping",p:18,x:61,y:232,w:265,h:14},
{t:"our wives, do we? ’",p:18,x:42,y:252,w:104,h:14},
{t:"‘Push off, Ned.’",p:18,x:61,y:275,w:88,h:14},
{t:"‘Twice a week while hubby is out archaeologiz-",p:18,x:61,y:298,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ing. The supercool hospital administrator. Bet",p:18,x:42,y:318,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she’s not so cool then.’",p:18,x:42,y:338,w:130,h:14},
{t:"I raised my fist but had it caught in a tight grip.",p:18,x:61,y:362,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Just remember what we’ve got on you.’",p:18,x:42,y:382,w:223,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing’, I said, feeling the blood swelling the",p:18,x:61,y:405,w:266,h:14},
{t:"veins and the eyes hurting. I was conscious of",p:18,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"people looking, and then Martins was ambling",p:18,x:42,y:445,w:284,h:14},
{t:"over. ‘Not dull here, is it?’ he said. ‘Like to fill me",p:18,x:42,y:465,w:284,h:14},
{t:"in?’",p:18,x:42,y:485,w:20,h:14},
{t:"16",p:19,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Just a difference of opinion.’",p:19,x:61,y:42,w:163,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing to do with that festival? I do hope not,",p:19,x:61,y:65,w:264,h:14},
{t:"my dear boy, because I",p:19,x:42,y:85,w:136,h:14},
{t:"’ve just been talking to, let",p:19,x:177,y:85,w:148,h:14},
{t:"me see, an Aubrey James. He was surprised to",p:19,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"have the news.’",p:19,x:42,y:125,w:88,h:14},
{t:"‘Jones. Countryside Association man.’ Yes,",p:19,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Aubrey wouldn’t be pleased.",p:19,x:42,y:168,w:160,h:14},
{t:"‘Seemed to intimate there could be serious",p:19,x:61,y:192,w:264,h:14},
{t:"trouble. Mentioned the pagans.’",p:19,x:42,y:212,w:178,h:14},
{t:"‘Joel, go home. I’ll sort this out, and see you in",p:19,x:61,y:235,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the morning.’",p:19,x:42,y:255,w:74,h:14},
{t:"‘No, they sound interesting.’ He made a note",p:19,x:61,y:278,w:264,h:14},
{t:"with his thick pencil.",p:19,x:42,y:298,w:114,h:14},
{t:"‘As you like’, I said. ‘Neville Barnes is over in",p:19,x:61,y:322,w:265,h:14},
{t:"the corner.’",p:19,x:42,y:342,w:64,h:14},
{t:"‘I am hastening there this very moment. But",p:19,x:61,y:365,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Jones not James? Right, got that.’",p:19,x:42,y:385,w:194,h:14},
{t:"He plunged into the crowd, on the far side of",p:19,x:61,y:408,w:264,h:14},
{t:"which I could now see Jones lifting his eyebrows",p:19,x:42,y:428,w:283,h:14},
{t:"at me. I waved and intimated I’d be over shortly,",p:19,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"while I looked round for Penny. Perhaps she was",p:19,x:42,y:468,w:283,h:14},
{t:"changing out of her costume, or had gone home.",p:19,x:42,y:488,w:283,h:14},
{t:"17",p:20,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"I fought my way to the exit, smiling at several who",p:20,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"wanted to detain me, and placing the glass on the",p:20,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"small table by the door. Old Mrs Rainer nodded",p:20,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"as I went through into the night air. Penny was",p:20,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"not in the car park, and I was slowly turning to go",p:20,x:42,y:122,w:284,h:14},
{t:"inside when I saw a figure on a bench near the",p:20,x:42,y:142,w:284,h:14},
{t:"war memorial.",p:20,x:42,y:162,w:79,h:14},
{t:"‘Aren’t you cold like that?’ I said, coming up",p:20,x:61,y:185,w:265,h:14},
{t:"and draping my jacket round the bare shoulders.",p:20,x:42,y:205,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘You had enough of the celebrations?’",p:20,x:61,y:228,w:214,h:14},
{t:"‘You were very good. Everyone said so. ’",p:20,x:61,y:252,w:225,h:14},
{t:"‘Thank you.’ She turned and gave me that en-",p:20,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"igmatic smile. ‘But I’m gla d it’s over.’",p:20,x:42,y:295,w:206,h:14},
{t:"‘You could probably take it on tour. I heard",p:20,x:61,y:318,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Tessa Jones has plans. Even Yeovi l.’",p:20,x:42,y:338,w:211,h:14},
{t:"‘What did you want to talk about?’",p:20,x:61,y:362,w:191,h:14},
{t:"That was Penny: abrupt, not one for small talk.",p:20,x:61,y:385,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, it doesn’t have to be now, but sometime I",p:20,x:42,y:405,w:283,h:14},
{t:"would like to discuss the festival. What Eddie and",p:20,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Imogen seem to have cooked up.’",p:20,x:42,y:445,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘Oh, the festival.’",p:20,x:61,y:468,w:95,h:14},
{t:"18",p:21,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘As I say, sometime.’ She didn’t respond, but",p:21,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"stared across the dark street and down the hill to",p:21,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"where the stone frontage of the Black Swan",p:21,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"glowed in the floodlights. A car started up, and",p:21,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"there were snatches of conversation behind us",p:21,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"from the Community Centre. People were going",p:21,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"home, or for a last drink somewhere. ",p:21,x:42,y:162,w:242,h:14},
{t:"‘I think",p:21,x:284,y:162,w:41,h:14},
{t:"tongues are going to wag,’ I said, ‘if we sit here",p:21,x:42,y:182,w:283,h:14},
{t:"too long.’ She didn’t move and I was uncom-",p:21,x:42,y:202,w:283,h:14},
{t:"fortably aware of how near she was, and shifted",p:21,x:42,y:222,w:283,h:14},
{t:"a little.",p:21,x:42,y:242,w:36,h:14},
{t:"‘People always talk’, she said, looking up and",p:21,x:61,y:265,w:264,h:14},
{t:"smiling.",p:21,x:42,y:285,w:44,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, with the most . . . ’ But I couldn’t think of",p:21,x:61,y:308,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the right word, and added, ‘Look, it’s getting cold.",p:21,x:42,y:328,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps we can talk some other time? ’",p:21,x:42,y:348,w:219,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen said she’d run me, but you can take",p:21,x:61,y:372,w:265,h:14},
{t:"me back if you like.’",p:21,x:42,y:392,w:111,h:14},
{t:"‘To Leyton?’",p:21,x:61,y:415,w:69,h:14},
{t:"‘If Jill doesn’t mind.’",p:21,x:61,y:438,w:112,h:14},
{t:"It seemed churlish to refuse, though the figure",p:21,x:61,y:462,w:265,h:14},
{t:"looked fuller in its low-cut dress, the large eyes",p:21,x:42,y:482,w:284,h:14},
{t:"19",p:22,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"and hair in loose curls resembling some intaglio",p:22,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"of the Ptolemaic queens long before Cleopatra",p:22,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"was thought of. ‘Do you need to change?’ I said.",p:22,x:42,y:82,w:273,h:14},
{t:"She seemed not to hear, and said, ‘Is that",p:22,x:61,y:105,w:265,h:14},
{t:"your car over there, the Rover?’",p:22,x:42,y:125,w:177,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m arranging something better with Jill",p:22,x:61,y:148,w:265,h:14},
{t:"shortly.’",p:22,x:42,y:168,w:44,h:14},
{t:"We didn’t speak for a while, and I tried not to",p:22,x:61,y:192,w:264,h:14},
{t:"remember Penny as I had first met her: the queen",p:22,x:42,y:212,w:284,h:14},
{t:"of the county, locals had told me, though that title",p:22,x:42,y:232,w:284,h:14},
{t:"probably belonged to Melissa.",p:22,x:42,y:252,w:169,h:14},
{t:"Penny caught me looking at her, and smiled.",p:22,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘Like old times’, she said.",p:22,x:42,y:295,w:142,h:14},
{t:"‘So why don ’t you tell me about the Leyton",p:22,x:61,y:318,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Rings Festival?’ I said, glancing in the rear mirror.",p:22,x:42,y:338,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘Everyone else seems to know about it.’",p:22,x:42,y:358,w:222,h:14},
{t:"‘Do they?’",p:22,x:61,y:382,w:56,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m only making conversation.’",p:22,x:61,y:405,w:173,h:14},
{t:"‘You",p:22,x:61,y:428,w:26,h:14},
{t:"’re not uncomfortable with me, are you ,",p:22,x:86,y:428,w:239,h:14},
{t:"Steven?’",p:22,x:42,y:448,w:49,h:14},
{t:"‘I don’t want you to read too much into it.’",p:22,x:61,y:472,w:231,h:14},
{t:"20",p:23,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Think Jill will come back?’",p:23,x:61,y:42,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘When whatever she’s holding out for is satis-",p:23,x:61,y:65,w:264,h:14},
{t:"fied, no doubt. Like most women.’ I resented",p:23,x:42,y:85,w:283,h:14},
{t:"making the comment, and we drove on ",p:23,x:42,y:105,w:229,h:14},
{t:"in silence,",p:23,x:268,y:105,w:58,h:14},
{t:"turning off on one of the minor roads. ‘Wasn’t",p:23,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"directed at you’, I added.",p:23,x:42,y:145,w:139,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you still want her to come back?’",p:23,x:61,y:168,w:207,h:14},
{t:"‘Can we talk about something else? It’s just a",p:23,x:61,y:192,w:265,h:14},
{t:"temporary misunderstanding.’",p:23,x:42,y:212,w:169,h:14},
{t:"‘Seven years is more than temporary.’ She",p:23,x:61,y:235,w:265,h:14},
{t:"half turned to look at me, but then wound down",p:23,x:42,y:255,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the window. I could feel the night air with its warm",p:23,x:42,y:275,w:283,h:14},
{t:"smell of cattle and fields, into which Penny’s per-",p:23,x:42,y:295,w:283,h:14},
{t:"fume dissolved, so unlike the metallic scents that",p:23,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Jill prefers, which set her off as someone neatly",p:23,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tailored and in control of things, which of course",p:23,x:42,y:355,w:284,h:14},
{t:"she is. Abruptly I changed gear as we ap-",p:23,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"proached the steep stretch that leads to the",p:23,x:42,y:395,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Rings, not replying when Penny went on, ‘It’s still",p:23,x:42,y:415,w:283,h:14},
{t:"there, you know.’",p:23,x:42,y:435,w:95,h:14},
{t:"‘The first turning on the left, isn’t it?’",p:23,x:61,y:458,w:204,h:14},
{t:"‘The land of lost content.’",p:23,x:61,y:482,w:143,h:14},
{t:"21",p:24,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Penny, I’m sorry about your marriage, but",p:24,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"that’s it.’",p:24,x:42,y:62,w:47,h:14},
{t:"‘And I’m sorry about yours.’",p:24,x:61,y:85,w:155,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s well out of bounds’, I said. What did",p:24,x:61,y:108,w:265,h:14},
{t:"she expect—a surrender to that dreaming nature",p:24,x:42,y:128,w:284,h:14},
{t:"that undid my father, made him into the introspec-",p:24,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tive failure, the man who never made a single",p:24,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"friend?",p:24,x:42,y:188,w:39,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, I’m talking about something else.",p:24,x:61,y:212,w:265,h:14},
{t:"When you were at home here. At Leyton where",p:24,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"everything has its particular shape and colour.",p:24,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"You were more al ive then.’",p:24,x:42,y:272,w:149,h:14},
{t:"‘Everything comes at a price, doesn’t it? As I",p:24,x:61,y:295,w:264,h:14},
{t:"keep telling Jill, you can ’t run the house, look",p:24,x:42,y:315,w:284,h:14},
{t:"after Megan, be a university lecturer and TV per-",p:24,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sonality all at the same time .’",p:24,x:42,y:355,w:162,h:14},
{t:"‘But you don ’t have to be any of those, do",p:24,x:61,y:378,w:265,h:14},
{t:"you?’",p:24,x:42,y:398,w:30,h:14},
{t:"‘Sink into the country yokel, is that what you’re",p:24,x:61,y:422,w:265,h:14},
{t:"saying?’ Penny was as sensitive as I was to sur-",p:24,x:42,y:442,w:283,h:14},
{t:"roundings, but I wasn’t buying into that line.",p:24,x:42,y:462,w:246,h:14},
{t:"22",p:25,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘You’ve missed the turning, though I expect it",p:25,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"looks different at night.’",p:25,x:42,y:62,w:132,h:14},
{t:"‘You were talking,’ I said as the signpost",p:25,x:64,y:85,w:260,h:14},
{t:"came up on the right. ‘We’ll go down to the valley",p:25,x:42,y:105,w:284,h:14},
{t:"and back by the other route.’",p:25,x:42,y:125,w:161,h:14},
{t:"‘But you wouldn’t sense it.’",p:25,x:61,y:148,w:151,h:14},
{t:"I let the remark pass. There was now a moon",p:25,x:61,y:172,w:265,h:14},
{t:"that lit up the white gash of the road and threw",p:25,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"shadows under the wind-bent hedges.",p:25,x:42,y:212,w:216,h:14},
{t:"‘Don’t you feel the night breathing into us?’",p:25,x:64,y:235,w:261,h:14},
{t:"She wound the window right down. ‘Is that bet-",p:25,x:42,y:255,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ter?’",p:25,x:42,y:275,w:25,h:14},
{t:"‘Just chilly.’ I began to wish I’d not offered the",p:25,x:61,y:298,w:265,h:14},
{t:"lift, and we now had even more time together.",p:25,x:42,y:318,w:256,h:14},
{t:"‘You should let life happen. That’s what I",p:25,x:61,y:342,w:265,h:14},
{t:"think.’",p:25,x:42,y:362,w:34,h:14},
{t:"I could feel the closeness of the woman, the",p:25,x:61,y:385,w:264,h:14},
{t:"drowsy happiness in the body, but with the",p:25,x:42,y:405,w:285,h:14},
{t:"schoolteacher ’s practised common sense I said,",p:25,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘So that ’s how you r marriage worked out, is it?",p:25,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Just happened, and then didn’t happen.’",p:25,x:42,y:465,w:228,h:14},
{t:"23",p:26,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘You don’t understand.’ She looked at me and",p:26,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"smoothed down the dress. ‘I lost my bearings",p:26,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when I left the area.’ The voice was hurt, and I",p:26,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"was again annoyed at my words.",p:26,x:42,y:102,w:184,h:14},
{t:"We drove up the hill and stopped by the farm",p:26,x:61,y:125,w:264,h:14},
{t:"entrance, where I got out and unfastened the",p:26,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"gate. When I turned, Penny was standing close to",p:26,x:42,y:165,w:284,h:14},
{t:"me, the look enigmatic and penetrating. ‘Unless",p:26,x:42,y:185,w:282,h:14},
{t:"you want to enter the land of enchantment?’ she",p:26,x:42,y:205,w:284,h:14},
{t:"said.",p:26,x:42,y:225,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘I’ll leave fairy matters to Imogen.’",p:26,x:61,y:248,w:188,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, it’s nothing to do with power or spells",p:26,x:61,y:272,w:264,h:14},
{t:"or history. It’s finding the right person.’",p:26,x:42,y:292,w:217,h:14},
{t:"I laughed savagely. ‘You can’t seriously think",p:26,x:61,y:315,w:265,h:14},
{t:"that.’",p:26,x:42,y:335,w:27,h:14},
{t:"‘We’ll all be here in two weeks’ time. Melissa",p:26,x:61,y:358,w:265,h:14},
{t:"too. She’ll come if Imogen and I haven",p:26,x:42,y:378,w:239,h:14},
{t:"’t found",p:26,x:280,y:378,w:45,h:14},
{t:"someone. ’",p:26,x:42,y:398,w:58,h:14},
{t:"‘I don’t believe it, not of grown-up people.’",p:26,x:61,y:422,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Come in and talk to me about the festival. I’d",p:26,x:61,y:445,w:264,h:14},
{t:"like that.’",p:26,x:42,y:465,w:50,h:14},
{t:"24",p:27,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Just stop there, will you? It’s a madness,",p:27,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"however much you or Imogen need the money.",p:27,x:42,y:62,w:265,h:14},
{t:"’",p:27,x:306,y:62,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘We have to survive. Even you.’",p:27,x:61,y:85,w:177,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m going to say goodnight.’ I hoped she",p:27,x:61,y:108,w:265,h:14},
{t:"wouldn’t feel the reluctance in the words, which",p:27,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"hung in the air.",p:27,x:42,y:148,w:84,h:14},
{t:" ‘Goodnight Steven.’",p:27,x:61,y:172,w:115,h:14},
{t:"I took the hand, finding it warm and inviting,",p:27,x:61,y:195,w:265,h:14},
{t:"but climbed swiftly back into the Rover, and for",p:27,x:42,y:215,w:283,h:14},
{t:"some reason wound up the window before swing-",p:27,x:42,y:235,w:284,h:14},
{t:"ing the car round. I saw her in the rear mirror",p:27,x:42,y:255,w:283,h:14},
{t:"make an elaborate curtsey―a strange, vulner-",p:27,x:42,y:275,w:283,h:14},
{t:"able but entrancing image that stayed in my",p:27,x:42,y:295,w:284,h:14},
{t:"thoughts the whole drive back to Buckmayne.",p:27,x:42,y:315,w:256,h:14},
{t:"25",p:28,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Chapter Two",p:28,x:42,y:167,w:145,h:27},
{t:"Imogen was late for our meeting the following",p:28,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"morning, and I had time over a second half of",p:28,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"shandy to think how my Sunday mornings had",p:28,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"been spent, a prospect that now seemed",p:28,x:42,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"strangely inviting. Jill would be catching up with",p:28,x:42,y:312,w:284,h:14},
{t:"paperwork, and I’d be finishing the household",p:28,x:42,y:332,w:283,h:14},
{t:"chores before collecting the neighbour’s kid, and",p:28,x:42,y:352,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Megan, if she was pestered enough.",p:28,x:42,y:372,w:206,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you want to come to the park with us this",p:28,x:61,y:395,w:264,h:14},
{t:"morning or not?’ was how I started.",p:28,x:42,y:415,w:199,h:14},
{t:"‘Only if you’re going to spend time with me.",p:28,x:61,y:438,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Like Uncle David does. Only that ’s a secret.’ She",p:28,x:42,y:458,w:283,h:14},
{t:"folded a careful smile into that tranquil face.",p:28,x:42,y:478,w:247,h:14},
{t:"26",p:29,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Just make up your mind, if you would,",p:29,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Megan’, I repeated, now tying my running shoes.",p:29,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘We’re leaving shortly.’",p:29,x:42,y:82,w:128,h:14},
{t:"‘But Mummy’s promised to take me shopping.’",p:29,x:61,y:105,w:263,h:14},
{t:"‘Then you’re going shopping, aren’t you?’ How",p:29,x:61,y:128,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Jill was as a child I didn’t know, but surely not this",p:29,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"angelic creature with the hateful tongue.",p:29,x:42,y:168,w:226,h:14},
{t:"‘But it’s not fair you take Tim and not me .’",p:29,x:61,y:192,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Megan, last week, if you remember, we re-",p:29,x:61,y:215,w:264,h:14},
{t:"scheduled the whole weekend round you, and",p:29,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"then you decided not to go.’",p:29,x:42,y:255,w:156,h:14},
{t:"‘It was too cold.’",p:29,x:61,y:278,w:91,h:14},
{t:"‘So this weekend we’re going back to the first",p:29,x:61,y:302,w:264,h:14},
{t:"plan’, I said pleasantly, always pleasantly. ‘It’s the",p:29,x:42,y:322,w:285,h:14},
{t:"park at nine-thirty, and then you",p:29,x:42,y:342,w:181,h:14},
{t:"’re free to do what",p:29,x:222,y:342,w:103,h:14},
{t:"you want.’",p:29,x:42,y:362,w:57,h:14},
{t:"‘Only so you can go off on your stupid walks.",p:29,x:61,y:385,w:264,h:14},
{t:"That’s what Mummy calls them.’ So had my",p:29,x:42,y:405,w:284,h:14},
{t:"teacher, and half the class, but I had formed the",p:29,x:42,y:425,w:284,h:14},
{t:"school historical society, and it had gone on to",p:29,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"win medals.",p:29,x:42,y:465,w:67,h:14},
{t:"27",p:30,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Megan hadn’t come that last time, and I re-",p:30,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"turned at ten-thirty to find my wife still working at",p:30,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"papers on the dining room table. She looked up,",p:30,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"annoyed at the question.",p:30,x:42,y:102,w:138,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven,’ she said, clicking shut the laptop as",p:30,x:61,y:125,w:264,h:14},
{t:"she leant forward, ‘we have a perfectly sensible",p:30,x:42,y:145,w:283,h:14},
{t:"arrangement. I manage the house in addition to",p:30,x:42,y:165,w:284,h:14},
{t:"my professional duties. All you have to do is look",p:30,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"after Megan, and sometimes the boy next door.’",p:30,x:42,y:205,w:269,h:14},
{t:"I thought it best not to mention the garden,",p:30,x:61,y:228,w:264,h:14},
{t:"cooking, cleaning the house, taking Jill on re-",p:30,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"peated shopping trips to Bath. ‘I’m just saying that",p:30,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"if you",p:30,x:42,y:288,w:37,h:14},
{t:"’ve promised to buy Megan some new",p:30,x:78,y:288,w:248,h:14},
{t:"shoes or whatever, could you let me know?’",p:30,x:42,y:308,w:246,h:14},
{t:"‘I haven’t promised.’",p:30,x:61,y:332,w:113,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s what she told me. Why she’s sulking in",p:30,x:61,y:355,w:265,h:14},
{t:"her room.’",p:30,x:42,y:375,w:57,h:14},
{t:"Jill’s expression didn’t change—it never",p:30,x:61,y:398,w:264,h:14},
{t:"does—but there was a reproving weariness in the",p:30,x:42,y:418,w:283,h:14},
{t:"voice. ",p:30,x:42,y:438,w:40,h:14},
{t:"‘I said we might consider it. She’s exag-",p:30,x:81,y:438,w:243,h:14},
{t:"gerating.’",p:30,x:42,y:458,w:53,h:14},
{t:"28",p:31,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Like her Uncle David?’ I said, seeing myself",p:31,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"as the fighter, battling his way down the field time",p:31,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"after time, blonde hair flapping about his ears.",p:31,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Pass, boy, pass, shouted the sports master, but",p:31,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"this maestro never would.",p:31,x:42,y:122,w:145,h:14},
{t:"‘Not again, Steven.’",p:31,x:61,y:145,w:110,h:14},
{t:"‘Megan keeps talking about an Uncle David",p:31,x:61,y:168,w:264,h:14},
{t:"who plays with her.’ I repeated, enjoying the spec-",p:31,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tacle of the controlled administrator thoroughly",p:31,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ruffled.",p:31,x:42,y:228,w:40,h:14},
{t:"‘Are you keeping an eye on her? We don ’t",p:31,x:64,y:252,w:260,h:14},
{t:"want her mixing with unsavoury types.’",p:31,x:42,y:272,w:218,h:14},
{t:"‘She says this David is your friend and it’s their",p:31,x:61,y:295,w:264,h:14},
{t:"secret.’ I went on loosening my running shoes,",p:31,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"which I left in the centre of the lounge, just to",p:31,x:42,y:335,w:284,h:14},
{t:"annoy this most tidy of women.",p:31,x:42,y:355,w:175,h:14},
{t:"Jill sighed, and took the offending items into",p:31,x:61,y:378,w:266,h:14},
{t:"the scullery, placing them in a bowl of disinfec-",p:31,x:42,y:398,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tant. ‘How many times? This isn’t the men’s",p:31,x:42,y:418,w:283,h:14},
{t:"changing room.’ For a moment I had a picture of",p:31,x:42,y:438,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Jill striding through, lecturing men in various",p:31,x:42,y:458,w:283,h:14},
{t:"stages of undress on the need for order and dis-",p:31,x:42,y:478,w:283,h:14},
{t:"29",p:32,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"cipline. ‘Just Megan’s sense of fun’, Jill continued",p:32,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when she was settled again with her papers. ‘You",p:32,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"know that.’",p:32,x:42,y:82,w:61,h:14},
{t:"But I didn’t. For weeks I watched Megan care-",p:32,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"fully, though she stayed the happy child with the",p:32,x:42,y:148,w:284,h:14},
{t:"venomous tongue, an oddity I mentioned to Phil-",p:32,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"lip Duffy, when we were one day sitting in the",p:32,x:42,y:188,w:284,h:14},
{t:"converted church which serves as archaeological",p:32,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"storeroom.",p:32,x:42,y:228,w:60,h:14},
{t:"‘Megan is six ’, I said. ‘Must have some grip on",p:32,x:61,y:252,w:264,h:14},
{t:"reality by now.’",p:32,x:42,y:272,w:83,h:14},
{t:"‘What do you think of this?’ he said, handing",p:32,x:61,y:295,w:265,h:14},
{t:"over a fragment.",p:32,x:42,y:315,w:92,h:14},
{t:"‘Beaker ware. Late Iron Age. ’",p:32,x:61,y:338,w:163,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes,’ he said, making an entry in the book,",p:32,x:61,y:362,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘supports the earlier finds.’",p:32,x:42,y:382,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘Penny’s finds. Not the previous excavat ion at",p:32,x:61,y:405,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Leyton. That was early Iron Age .’",p:32,x:42,y:425,w:186,h:14},
{t:"‘Happens.’",p:32,x:61,y:448,w:60,h:14},
{t:"‘Phil, can we get back to the point? My darling",p:32,x:61,y:472,w:265,h:14},
{t:"daughter intimates that Jill’s having an affair.’",p:32,x:42,y:492,w:255,h:14},
{t:"30",p:33,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Does she? ’",p:33,x:61,y:42,w:67,h:14},
{t:"‘But I don’t think it’s true.’",p:33,x:61,y:65,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘So there’s nothing to worry about.’",p:33,x:61,y:88,w:196,h:14},
{t:"‘But why make it up? Seems pointless and",p:33,x:61,y:112,w:265,h:14},
{t:"spiteful, though Jill doesn’t think so .’",p:33,x:42,y:132,w:205,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, it’s no good talking to me. I’m not say-",p:33,x:61,y:155,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ing I didn’t consider it, but I didn’t get married. Not",p:33,x:42,y:175,w:283,h:14},
{t:"my bailiwick.’",p:33,x:42,y:195,w:74,h:14},
{t:"‘Not sure it’s mine now.’ A stupid remark. I",p:33,x:61,y:218,w:264,h:14},
{t:"picked up a potsherd, turning it round in my fin-",p:33,x:42,y:238,w:283,h:14},
{t:"gers.",p:33,x:42,y:258,w:28,h:14},
{t:"‘Fine-looking woman’, said Duffy, taking the",p:33,x:61,y:282,w:266,h:14},
{t:"piece and putting it back in the tray. ‘Not many",p:33,x:42,y:302,w:284,h:14},
{t:"like her round here. ’",p:33,x:42,y:322,w:112,h:14},
{t:"‘Holds down an excellent job, looks after",p:33,x:61,y:345,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Megan, runs the house like clockwork. We make",p:33,x:42,y:365,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the perfect overachieving couple.’ Occasionally",p:33,x:42,y:385,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I’d collect Jill from the hospital if I was taking her",p:33,x:42,y:405,w:283,h:14},
{t:"shopping, or had some chore to run for her, and",p:33,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"staff were always welcoming. Come in, Dr",p:33,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Whittaker. Your wife won",p:33,x:42,y:465,w:150,h:14},
{t:"’t be long. Saw you on",p:33,x:190,y:465,w:135,h:14},
{t:"the box last night. Really interesting. Can we get",p:33,x:42,y:485,w:283,h:14},
{t:"31",p:34,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"you a coffee? We were famously loyal, two",p:34,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"halves of the same coin, as clear in this as the",p:34,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tests waiting for collection at the front desk.",p:34,x:42,y:82,w:245,h:14},
{t:"‘Shall I tell you something?’ said Duffy. ‘I never",p:34,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"thought I’d end up in this dry old place. And you",p:34,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"probably saw your life differently. ’",p:34,x:42,y:145,w:188,h:14},
{t:"‘I’ve never regretted marrying Jill.’",p:34,x:61,y:168,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not saying you did, laddo.’",p:34,x:61,y:192,w:170,h:14},
{t:"‘Could Penny have supported me while I wrote",p:34,x:61,y:215,w:265,h:14},
{t:"the book? Or helped swing it with the TV people?",p:34,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"A career’s important.’",p:34,x:42,y:255,w:121,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, I’m only suggesting you stop setting",p:34,x:61,y:278,w:265,h:14},
{t:"yourself targets. If you see l ife as an obstacle",p:34,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"course, then I dare say you’ll get through again.’",p:34,x:42,y:318,w:284,h:14},
{t:"He peered through his half-frame glasses at an-",p:34,x:42,y:338,w:283,h:14},
{t:"other piece of pottery from the tray. ",p:34,x:42,y:358,w:208,h:14},
{t:"‘What do you",p:34,x:249,y:358,w:77,h:14},
{t:"think?’",p:34,x:42,y:378,w:38,h:14},
{t:"‘I want to talk about Megan.’",p:34,x:61,y:402,w:158,h:14},
{t:"‘Well, this is how I’d be seeing it. We have a",p:34,x:61,y:425,w:264,h:14},
{t:"fragment of late Iron Age ware, which we de-",p:34,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"scribe and classify and place in its proper setting.",p:34,x:42,y:465,w:284,h:14},
{t:"It’s no different from a thousand such pieces, and",p:34,x:42,y:485,w:283,h:14},
{t:"32",p:35,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"we’ll write it up the same way ",p:35,x:42,y:42,w:192,h:14},
{t:"in a dry-as-dust",p:35,x:231,y:42,w:94,h:14},
{t:"paper to help us on our way from lecturer to pro-",p:35,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"fessor to leading expert. Some living person with",p:35,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"his hopes and dreams made this, but we haven’t",p:35,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"a clue about what mattered to him.’",p:35,x:42,y:122,w:198,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s called science. We on ly analyse what we",p:35,x:61,y:145,w:264,h:14},
{t:"can measure.’ I put on the schoolmaster ’s air, but",p:35,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the thought worried me too, even when the dig",p:35,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"was going well. If I was a martinet for proper",p:35,x:42,y:205,w:283,h:14},
{t:"documentation, and didn’t allow anything out until",p:35,x:42,y:225,w:284,h:14},
{t:"its position had been plotted, it was only to pre-",p:35,x:42,y:245,w:283,h:14},
{t:"vent such thoughts creeping up unawares. Even",p:35,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"at night, with the self-contained figure of Jill lying",p:35,x:42,y:285,w:283,h:14},
{t:"beside me, I knew better than to probe that dark",p:35,x:42,y:305,w:283,h:14},
{t:"headland into which you docked for the stipulated",p:35,x:42,y:325,w:283,h:14},
{t:"time, and then went off on your proper business.",p:35,x:42,y:345,w:274,h:14},
{t:"‘So perhaps your poor child is trying to tell you",p:35,x:61,y:368,w:265,h:14},
{t:"something’, Duffy was saying. ‘She sees her",p:35,x:42,y:388,w:283,h:14},
{t:"parents drifting apart. Why she’s crying out to be",p:35,x:42,y:408,w:284,h:14},
{t:"noticed, in the way only her imaginary uncle",p:35,x:42,y:428,w:284,h:14},
{t:"David does.’",p:35,x:42,y:448,w:70,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course Megan is loved.’",p:35,x:61,y:472,w:154,h:14},
{t:"33",p:36,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘She wants to be part of a real family, not just",p:36,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"slotted into routines. Maybe you were too, S te-",p:36,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ven, is what I’m guessing.’",p:36,x:42,y:82,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘I should quit that line of thought right now. I",p:36,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"couldn’t be slotted in anywhere.’",p:36,x:42,y:125,w:181,h:14},
{t:"‘Like Phil Duffy then, the solitary child. When",p:36,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"contemporaries got jobs locally, settled down and",p:36,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"got married, I kept thinking there had to be some-",p:36,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"thing else. So I came here. Tried a few manual",p:36,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"jobs, then museum work. In an abstract way I",p:36,x:42,y:228,w:285,h:14},
{t:"was closer to the past than the everyday preoc-",p:36,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cupations round me .’",p:36,x:42,y:268,w:119,h:14},
{t:"I’d heard this before, and looked at the rows of",p:36,x:61,y:292,w:264,h:14},
{t:"cardboard boxes, the long tiers of them. ‘To end",p:36,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"up in a tomb like this?’ I said. ‘Is that what you",p:36,x:42,y:332,w:283,h:14},
{t:"wanted?’",p:36,x:42,y:352,w:51,h:14},
{t:"‘Wanted?’ He looked up at me with that disap-",p:36,x:61,y:375,w:264,h:14},
{t:"proving little nose and then tucked it into the note",p:36,x:42,y:395,w:284,h:14},
{t:"he was writing.",p:36,x:42,y:415,w:85,h:14},
{t:"My thoughts returned to the present scene,",p:36,x:61,y:462,w:264,h:14},
{t:"where the Black Swan was now filling up with its",p:36,x:42,y:482,w:283,h:14},
{t:"34",p:37,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Sunday crowd, still without Imogen. That conver-",p:37,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sation echoed in my mind, distant but unnerving.",p:37,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"Duffy’s family had come from the west Riding,",p:37,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"and we’d lived in north-west London, but there",p:37,x:42,y:102,w:284,h:14},
{t:"was the same feeling that Dorchester offered",p:37,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"something different.",p:37,x:42,y:142,w:113,h:14},
{t:"I knew that immediately in getting off the train,",p:37,x:61,y:188,w:265,h:14},
{t:"even at that first June interview. Acceptance",p:37,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"came by return, but I remember the",p:37,x:42,y:228,w:284,h:14},
{t:"disappointment the following September, looking",p:37,x:42,y:248,w:284,h:14},
{t:"round the teacher ’s common room after the",p:37,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"introductions had been made, at such pleasant,",p:37,x:42,y:288,w:283,h:14},
{t:"decent but ordinary folk. That evening I bought a",p:37,x:42,y:308,w:284,h:14},
{t:"map, and walked the length of the town, slowly",p:37,x:42,y:328,w:283,h:14},
{t:"taking the streets in turn, late into the evening,",p:37,x:42,y:348,w:284,h:14},
{t:"when I phoned Jill to say the school was fine,",p:37,x:42,y:368,w:283,h:14},
{t:"which it was. After the first shock of teaching on",p:37,x:42,y:388,w:283,h:14},
{t:"my own, the days went effortlessly. The Head sat",p:37,x:42,y:408,w:283,h:14},
{t:"in on one class, and I drew him in, getting him to",p:37,x:42,y:428,w:285,h:14},
{t:"answer questions, which surprised the boys and",p:37,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"made the girls giggle. He took the exercise in",p:37,x:42,y:468,w:283,h:14},
{t:"35",p:38,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"good part, but was nettled, I understood from",p:38,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"staffroom comments later.",p:38,x:42,y:62,w:148,h:14},
{t:"I didn’t care, not until I met Imogen, and every-",p:38,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"thing changed. From that trivial encounter fol-",p:38,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"lowed the even ts of the next twelve year s—my",p:38,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"leaving the school, taking up research, writing the",p:38,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"book, meeting Penny, and sticking close to Jill.",p:38,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Sensible years, with solid achievements that now",p:38,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"returned to haunt me. Perhaps I wasn’t even",p:38,x:42,y:205,w:285,h:14},
{t:"surprised that only two mon ths after my little talk",p:38,x:42,y:225,w:283,h:14},
{t:"with Duffy, I returned from a meeting to find the",p:38,x:42,y:245,w:284,h:14},
{t:"house locked against me. Not really surprised,",p:38,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"though even our solicitor was apologetic.",p:38,x:42,y:285,w:229,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m sorry, but Mrs Whittaker believes the mar-",p:38,x:61,y:332,w:264,h:14},
{t:"riage has broken down. Irretrievably, in her view.’",p:38,x:42,y:352,w:275,h:14},
{t:"‘But we’ve known each other for a while, so",p:38,x:61,y:375,w:265,h:14},
{t:"surely you can say something off the record.’",p:38,x:42,y:395,w:254,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, I’ve been engaged by Mrs Whittaker,",p:38,x:61,y:418,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and that is my formal position.’",p:38,x:42,y:438,w:173,h:14},
{t:"‘I go up to London as a happily married man",p:38,x:61,y:462,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and then, the very same day, I come back to find",p:38,x:42,y:482,w:283,h:14},
{t:"36",p:39,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"the marriage has mysteriously and irretrievab ly",p:39,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"broken down. We had our differences, but noth-",p:39,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ing like this. Has she found someone else? ’",p:39,x:42,y:82,w:246,h:14},
{t:"‘I can’t say anything that would jeopardize my",p:39,x:61,y:105,w:265,h:14},
{t:"client’s claim that your absence from the home",p:39,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and emotional coldness has finally caused her to",p:39,x:42,y:145,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sue for divorce. Why she’s claiming the house",p:39,x:42,y:165,w:284,h:14},
{t:"and child.’",p:39,x:42,y:185,w:58,h:14},
{t:"‘Even when she earns more than me? ’",p:39,x:61,y:208,w:217,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s all I can say.’ He showed me to the",p:39,x:61,y:232,w:265,h:14},
{t:"door. ‘Get decent representation, and you might",p:39,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"make a few inquiries at the hospital. Just a",p:39,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"thought, and you didn’t hear it from me .’",p:39,x:42,y:292,w:225,h:14},
{t:"In fact I heard it from Brian Stacey in the De-",p:39,x:61,y:315,w:264,h:14},
{t:"partment, in a roundabout fashion, because his",p:39,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"son was undergoing treatment. ‘I assumed you",p:39,x:42,y:355,w:285,h:14},
{t:"knew’, he said when I followed up a lunchtime",p:39,x:42,y:375,w:284,h:14},
{t:"conversation with a coffee in the staff canteen.",p:39,x:42,y:395,w:283,h:14},
{t:"He looked sheepish. ‘Sorry, but one tries not to",p:39,x:42,y:415,w:283,h:14},
{t:"interfere. ’",p:39,x:42,y:435,w:53,h:14},
{t:"‘Does one? ’",p:39,x:61,y:458,w:67,h:14},
{t:"37",p:40,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Farley doesn’t seem a bad guy. He stood in",p:40,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"for Jason ’s paediatrician once. ’",p:40,x:42,y:62,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘The well-off ladykiller?’",p:40,x:61,y:85,w:132,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, can’t you leave it at that?’",p:40,x:61,y:108,w:191,h:14},
{t:"But everything behind Jill Wooten’s figure was",p:40,x:61,y:132,w:264,h:14},
{t:"needful information, if only to get at that well-",p:40,x:42,y:152,w:283,h:14},
{t:"groomed entity who was everyon e’s idea of suc-",p:40,x:42,y:172,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cess in the caring professions. I’m sure we can",p:40,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"do something, Mrs. Roberts. If you’ll be kind",p:40,x:42,y:212,w:284,h:14},
{t:"enough to fill out one of these forms, I’ll get",p:40,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"someone to attend to it straight away. That ’s what",p:40,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"attracted me, the feeling that life would now be",p:40,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ordered and successful. I can storm and rage at",p:40,x:42,y:292,w:285,h:14},
{t:"Megan, but Jill will simply say, Oh no, drawing out",p:40,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the words and hanging on them, as though puz-",p:40,x:42,y:332,w:284,h:14},
{t:"zled anyone should ask her. Why don’t you sit",p:40,x:42,y:352,w:283,h:14},
{t:"down here while we get a bite to eat? Or Megan",p:40,x:42,y:372,w:283,h:14},
{t:"dear, show grandma your drawing book. Megan,",p:40,x:42,y:392,w:283,h:14},
{t:"turn the computer off, it’s time for tea. Yes, now if",p:40,x:42,y:412,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you please, so you can have some of the special",p:40,x:42,y:432,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cake you wanted.",p:40,x:42,y:452,w:98,h:14},
{t:"38",p:41,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"I looked around at the Black Swan ’s usual",p:41,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"crowd and raised a glass to a couple of regulars",p:41,x:42,y:62,w:282,h:14},
{t:"who’d befriended me when I’d been forced to",p:41,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"take a flat in Buckmayne, on those few occasions",p:41,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when I wasn’t keeping myself busy at Leyton.",p:41,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Now even that stratagem had run into the buffers,",p:41,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"if Barnes was speaking the truth. I had ever y",p:41,x:42,y:162,w:283,h:14},
{t:"reason to be angry, and my temper wasn’t im-",p:41,x:42,y:182,w:283,h:14},
{t:"proved when Imogen finally appeared in the pub",p:41,x:42,y:202,w:283,h:14},
{t:"garden around eleven, and minced towards me.",p:41,x:42,y:222,w:283,h:14},
{t:"She was wearing a short skirt, tight blouse and",p:41,x:42,y:242,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cork shoes tied with blue bows. I saw her place",p:41,x:42,y:262,w:283,h:14},
{t:"one foot carefully in front of the other, but kept my",p:41,x:42,y:282,w:283,h:14},
{t:"eyes on the tables beyond, where people were",p:41,x:42,y:302,w:283,h:14},
{t:"now turning to look at her.",p:41,x:42,y:322,w:146,h:14},
{t:"‘Dr Whittaker, I have kept you waiting. I am",p:41,x:61,y:345,w:265,h:14},
{t:"sorry.’",p:41,x:42,y:365,w:34,h:14},
{t:"‘You have.’ The professional putdown, which I",p:41,x:61,y:388,w:264,h:14},
{t:"indulgently softened with, ‘But I suppose I should",p:41,x:42,y:408,w:283,h:14},
{t:"get you a drink.’",p:41,x:42,y:428,w:90,h:14},
{t:"‘Spritzer. And make sure they don’t add ice,",p:41,x:61,y:452,w:264,h:14},
{t:"please. ’",p:41,x:42,y:472,w:43,h:14},
{t:"39",p:42,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘As madam wishes.’ I could afford to be un-",p:42,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"bending to someone who was still a schoolgirl,",p:42,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"whatever the rumpus she caused among the",p:42,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"farming set.",p:42,x:42,y:102,w:67,h:14},
{t:"Imogen was sat at another rustic table when I",p:42,x:61,y:125,w:264,h:14},
{t:"returned, still in sight of a group of local yobs, to",p:42,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"whom she presented an aloof profile and knowing",p:42,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"smile―as she had when I took her for history that",p:42,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"first term. Every teacher learns to spot trouble,",p:42,x:42,y:205,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and she would be mine I knew from the moment",p:42,x:42,y:225,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she put her hand up. No, I told her promptly. I’d",p:42,x:42,y:245,w:283,h:14},
{t:"prefer you to address me as sir or Mr Whittaker, if",p:42,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you would . . . wha t’s your name? Imogen what?",p:42,x:42,y:285,w:283,h:14},
{t:"That gained a half-hour’s peace, but soon she",p:42,x:42,y:305,w:284,h:14},
{t:"was angling that body at the boys again, just as",p:42,x:42,y:325,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she was here, though now a good deal more",p:42,x:42,y:345,w:283,h:14},
{t:"developed and provocative.",p:42,x:42,y:365,w:154,h:14},
{t:"I continued in my schoolmaster style, but was",p:42,x:61,y:388,w:264,h:14},
{t:"brought up short when she leant across, stubbed",p:42,x:42,y:408,w:283,h:14},
{t:"out a cigarette, and said, ‘Steven, can we be",p:42,x:42,y:428,w:283,h:14},
{t:"friends?’ Two of the lads I could see were listen-",p:42,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ing in, and there was a round of guffaws at some",p:42,x:42,y:468,w:284,h:14},
{t:"40",p:43,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"comment I didn’t catch. ‘You wanted an interview.",p:43,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"We could go somewhere. ’",p:43,x:42,y:62,w:147,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m afraid I have to be in Dorchester later.’",p:43,x:61,y:85,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘Big make up with Jill, is it?’",p:43,x:61,y:108,w:156,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen, have you brought your reporter ’s",p:43,x:61,y:132,w:264,h:14},
{t:"pad?’ I said gently, as though giving a mischie-",p:43,x:42,y:152,w:283,h:14},
{t:"vous terrier some leeway before reigning it in.",p:43,x:42,y:172,w:256,h:14},
{t:"She opened the small handbag and looked in.",p:43,x:61,y:195,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Possibly .’",p:43,x:42,y:215,w:57,h:14},
{t:"‘So let ’s get started.’ We had an audience",p:43,x:61,y:238,w:264,h:14},
{t:"now, and I was determined to be the model sub-",p:43,x:42,y:258,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ject, listening politely to each question before",p:43,x:42,y:278,w:283,h:14},
{t:"selecting the correct answer.",p:43,x:42,y:298,w:163,h:14},
{t:"She put her hands on the table and smiled",p:43,x:61,y:322,w:264,h:14},
{t:"with a professional coolness. ‘How are you get-",p:43,x:42,y:342,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ting on in Buckmayne?’ she asked.",p:43,x:42,y:362,w:198,h:14},
{t:"‘The series is shaping up well, though Case-",p:43,x:61,y:385,w:264,h:14},
{t:"book Films is still looking for extras.’",p:43,x:42,y:405,w:204,h:14},
{t:"‘And you personally?’",p:43,x:61,y:428,w:121,h:14},
{t:"‘There has been a good deal of interest in the",p:43,x:61,y:452,w:264,h:14},
{t:"film series, and many kind offers of help. People",p:43,x:42,y:472,w:283,h:14},
{t:"41",p:44,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"have been most generous with their time and",p:44,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ideas.’",p:44,x:42,y:62,w:36,h:14},
{t:"She looked at me and laughed, that contrived",p:44,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"laugh which is so irritating. ‘Overwhelmed with",p:44,x:42,y:105,w:284,h:14},
{t:"help, would you say?’",p:44,x:42,y:125,w:121,h:14},
{t:"I thought of the previous night’s conversations,",p:44,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and said, ‘Not overwhelmed exactly, no.’",p:44,x:42,y:168,w:226,h:14},
{t:"Imogen drew out a slim notebook and said as",p:44,x:61,y:192,w:265,h:14},
{t:"she wrote, ‘Dr Whittaker agreed that he had not",p:44,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"been exactly overwhelmed with offers of help.’",p:44,x:42,y:232,w:259,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s it. Interview over.’",p:44,x:61,y:255,w:140,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven,’ she said, slipping the gold pencil",p:44,x:61,y:278,w:264,h:14},
{t:"back into its case, ",p:44,x:42,y:298,w:111,h:14},
{t:"‘it is not an interview. It is an",p:44,x:155,y:298,w:170,h:14},
{t:"offer of help.’",p:44,x:42,y:318,w:74,h:14},
{t:"‘I can see that, especially with the latest",p:44,x:61,y:342,w:264,h:14},
{t:"plans.’",p:44,x:42,y:362,w:37,h:14},
{t:"‘Which I will tell you about, but not here.’ She",p:44,x:61,y:385,w:266,h:14},
{t:"raised an eyebrow.",p:44,x:42,y:405,w:106,h:14},
{t:"‘Not likely’, I said. The whole get-up was a",p:44,x:61,y:428,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ruse to attract the poor stumbling male, just as I",p:44,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"drew my students on with graphic evocations of",p:44,x:42,y:468,w:283,h:14},
{t:"events.",p:44,x:42,y:488,w:40,h:14},
{t:"42",p:45,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Afraid what Jill will think?’ When I ignored the",p:45,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"remark, she added, ‘Or is it Penny?’",p:45,x:42,y:62,w:204,h:14},
{t:"I thought how different Penny was to her sis-",p:45,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ter: good-natured and placid, with the warm blue",p:45,x:42,y:105,w:285,h:14},
{t:"eyes of summer, as one of the locals had put it:",p:45,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the woman I had snubbed last night. The memory",p:45,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"annoyed me. ‘Why should I care what your sister",p:45,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"thinks?’ I said crossly. ‘Probably in it together, the",p:45,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"two of you, to wind up the poor schoolteacher.’",p:45,x:42,y:205,w:262,h:14},
{t:"‘You think that?’ She lolled her head and said,",p:45,x:61,y:228,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Penny is interested, I can tell you, though I’d be",p:45,x:42,y:248,w:284,h:14},
{t:"more fun.’",p:45,x:42,y:268,w:57,h:14},
{t:"‘Trouble is what I’m registering.’",p:45,x:61,y:292,w:181,h:14},
{t:"‘The person who took the trouble was my sis-",p:45,x:61,y:315,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ter ’, continued Imogen. ‘All that illustration work,",p:45,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"which you took for granted.’",p:45,x:42,y:355,w:156,h:14},
{t:"‘We paid commercial rates.’ When she shook",p:45,x:61,y:378,w:265,h:14},
{t:"her head, I added, ‘And Penny was going out with",p:45,x:42,y:398,w:283,h:14},
{t:"someone else. Married him, I seem to remember.’",p:45,x:42,y:418,w:280,h:14},
{t:"‘Only when you ditched her.’",p:45,x:61,y:442,w:160,h:14},
{t:"43",p:46,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘I did not ditch her. There was nothing be-",p:46,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"tween us, and I was engaged to Jill. It was unfor-",p:46,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tunate, but life moves on.’",p:46,x:42,y:82,w:145,h:14},
{t:"‘Life moves on ’, repeated Imogen, mimicking",p:46,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"my exp ression. ‘Come on, let ’s pick up some",p:46,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sandwiches and go for a drive. I’ve already made",p:46,x:42,y:145,w:283,h:14},
{t:"them.’",p:46,x:42,y:165,w:35,h:14},
{t:"‘You seem pretty sure of yourself.’",p:46,x:61,y:188,w:193,h:14},
{t:"She smiled in getting to her feet, and stood",p:46,x:61,y:212,w:265,h:14},
{t:"there with the small knuckles tucked into the hip.",p:46,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘My car’s parked near yours. Just follow.’",p:46,x:42,y:252,w:230,h:14},
{t:"Imogen was gone a good half-hour and I",p:46,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"thought of getting out to press the doorbell to her",p:46,x:42,y:295,w:283,h:14},
{t:"flat when she appeared, now changed into jeans",p:46,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and carrying a large bag. She looked sensible",p:46,x:42,y:335,w:284,h:14},
{t:"and matter of fact, and I felt relieved when she",p:46,x:42,y:355,w:283,h:14},
{t:"swung the bag onto the back seat and settled",p:46,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"next to me.",p:46,x:42,y:395,w:62,h:14},
{t:"‘Sorry, that was Eddie phoning. But I told him",p:46,x:61,y:418,w:265,h:14},
{t:"we’d make better progress with just the two of",p:46,x:42,y:438,w:283,h:14},
{t:"us.’",p:46,x:42,y:458,w:20,h:14},
{t:"44",p:47,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘You’re still seeing Edward Tennant?’ I began",p:47,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"after a wh ile, when we were motoring down to",p:47,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Weymouth. How calmly that profile leaned for-",p:47,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ward, absorbing the brightly painted bungalows",p:47,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and boarding houses that lined the coast road.",p:47,x:42,y:122,w:262,h:14},
{t:"‘Only professionally.’ She laughed. ‘As a busi-",p:47,x:61,y:145,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ness partner.’",p:47,x:42,y:165,w:78,h:14},
{t:"‘Is that wise, do you think? He’s still in trouble",p:47,x:61,y:188,w:265,h:14},
{t:"with the Inland Revenue for dodgy records. And",p:47,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"there’s that girl on the Radford Estates. Father ’s",p:47,x:42,y:228,w:282,h:14},
{t:"threatened to shoot him on sight.’",p:47,x:42,y:248,w:189,h:14},
{t:"She placed a finger on my arm. ‘Steven, I",p:47,x:61,y:272,w:264,h:14},
{t:"know all about Eddie.’",p:47,x:42,y:292,w:123,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course you do’, I said, wondering what the",p:47,x:61,y:315,w:265,h:14},
{t:"two got up to—a thought I shut out as Imogen sat",p:47,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"back and poked her neat toes from the sandals.",p:47,x:42,y:355,w:269,h:14},
{t:"‘But you can ask me what you l ike. I always",p:47,x:61,y:378,w:265,h:14},
{t:"tell the truth.’",p:47,x:42,y:398,w:73,h:14},
{t:"I reflected she probably did, but wasn’t",p:47,x:61,y:422,w:265,h:14},
{t:"pleased at the thought. ‘So where are we going?’",p:47,x:42,y:442,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I said when we were nearing Weymouth.",p:47,x:42,y:462,w:230,h:14},
{t:"45",p:48,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘There’s a nice stretch of beach down by",p:48,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Bowleaze. You know it.’",p:48,x:42,y:62,w:133,h:14},
{t:"I ignored the reminder, and twenty minutes",p:48,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"later was carrying the bags down towards the",p:48,x:42,y:105,w:284,h:14},
{t:"cove. Imogen tripped on ahead. Nine years had",p:48,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"passed since I picnicked here with Penny. She",p:48,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"had married and divorced and returned to Dor-",p:48,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"chester. I had worked on, supporting Jill who",p:48,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"supported me: the pact we had made on those",p:48,x:42,y:205,w:283,h:14},
{t:"long weekends, an endless number of them,",p:48,x:42,y:225,w:283,h:14},
{t:"where I got on with the book and she did what-",p:48,x:42,y:245,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ever a well-bred young woman did in Chester:",p:48,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"played tennis, or went to dances. I never asked",p:48,x:42,y:285,w:283,h:14},
{t:"her. She showed no interest in my book, and I",p:48,x:42,y:305,w:283,h:14},
{t:"never questioned how she spent her time. With",p:48,x:42,y:325,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Mrs Wooten so quick to stress her daughter was",p:48,x:42,y:345,w:283,h:14},
{t:"a prize that few could aspire to, it seemed hardly",p:48,x:42,y:365,w:283,h:14},
{t:"wise to try, though there were invitations I re-",p:48,x:42,y:385,w:283,h:14},
{t:"member being left casually for my inspection by",p:48,x:42,y:405,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the telephone or on the table in the entrance hall.",p:48,x:42,y:425,w:275,h:14},
{t:"‘What have you got in this?’ I said when we fi-",p:48,x:61,y:472,w:264,h:14},
{t:"nally got to the place, and lay out on the sands,",p:48,x:42,y:492,w:283,h:14},
{t:"46",p:49,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"some distance from the other holidaymakers.",p:49,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘Seems mighty heavy.’",p:49,x:42,y:62,w:126,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you want to go for a swim first? I brought",p:49,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Eddie’s old togs for you.’",p:49,x:42,y:105,w:139,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not wearing Eddie’s things’, I said, vexed",p:49,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"at the thought.",p:49,x:42,y:148,w:82,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven,’ she said, swinging round to face me,",p:49,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘don ’t be such a spoilsport. If you were the soul of",p:49,x:42,y:192,w:284,h:14},
{t:"decency with Penny, you’re not going to try it with",p:49,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"me, are you? Just hold the towel, and don ’t look",p:49,x:42,y:232,w:284,h:14},
{t:"so outraged. Then you can go into contortions",p:49,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"getting into Eddie ’s trunks, or I’ll hold the towel for",p:49,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you.’",p:49,x:42,y:292,w:26,h:14},
{t:"‘If you want.’",p:49,x:61,y:315,w:71,h:14},
{t:"‘You don ’t look very pleased. Most men would",p:49,x:61,y:338,w:264,h:14},
{t:"give a month’s salary for this. Race you to the",p:49,x:42,y:358,w:283,h:14},
{t:"water.’",p:49,x:42,y:378,w:37,h:14},
{t:"Afterwards we spread towels on the hot sand",p:49,x:61,y:402,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and lay ou t. Imogen took off her top and applied",p:49,x:42,y:422,w:283,h:14},
{t:"suntan lotion. Then onto the slim legs.",p:49,x:42,y:442,w:215,h:14},
{t:"‘Rub some into my back, would you?’",p:49,x:61,y:465,w:211,h:14},
{t:"‘We can’t be too long. I’m meeting Jill later.’",p:49,x:61,y:488,w:246,h:14},
{t:"47",p:50,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘You can do better than that. Rub it in prop-",p:50,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"erly.’",p:50,x:42,y:62,w:26,h:14},
{t:"The body was soft and yielding, so different",p:50,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"from the controlled stiffness that is Jill’s. Of",p:50,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"course we have ou r jokes and shared opinions,",p:50,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"but Jill would never have let me intrude in the way",p:50,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"Imogen demanded, an exploration that led the",p:50,x:42,y:165,w:284,h:14},
{t:"fingers to imagine the airy structure of the lungs",p:50,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and the soft anatomy of those more female parts.",p:50,x:42,y:205,w:277,h:14},
{t:"‘Now I’ll do yours. Just lie out.’ That privacy",p:50,x:61,y:228,w:265,h:14},
{t:"was returned, and I had the feeling Imogen was",p:50,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"making her own sensory conquests. But there",p:50,x:42,y:268,w:284,h:14},
{t:"was nothing to lose, as I’d almost told my mother",p:50,x:42,y:288,w:283,h:14},
{t:"at her nursing home at Cheltenham, where I",p:50,x:42,y:308,w:284,h:14},
{t:"dutifully visited once a month.",p:50,x:42,y:328,w:167,h:14},
{t:"‘All right. Turn over.’",p:50,x:61,y:352,w:114,h:14},
{t:"I rolled round to see her hanging over me and",p:50,x:61,y:375,w:264,h:14},
{t:"smiling. Perhaps my embarrassment showed, as",p:50,x:42,y:395,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she hummed, ‘You can look but you’d better not",p:50,x:42,y:415,w:283,h:14},
{t:"touch.’",p:50,x:42,y:435,w:38,h:14},
{t:"‘Could you stop being such a tease?’",p:50,x:61,y:458,w:209,h:14},
{t:"‘If I want someone I will let them know.’",p:50,x:61,y:482,w:220,h:14},
{t:"48",p:51,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Then I’m out of practice.’",p:51,x:61,y:42,w:144,h:14},
{t:"‘Should hope so. You never did this with any-",p:51,x:61,y:65,w:264,h:14},
{t:"one else?’ She smiled at my annoyance. ",p:51,x:42,y:85,w:238,h:14},
{t:"‘But you",p:51,x:279,y:85,w:48,h:14},
{t:"didn’t marry her.’",p:51,x:42,y:105,w:95,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s enough, Imogen. I couldn’t have done,",p:51,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"anyway. She was engaged to someone else. ’",p:51,x:42,y:148,w:253,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s rather naughty of you.’",p:51,x:61,y:172,w:168,h:14},
{t:"‘Not engaged, it was an arranged marriage.’ In",p:51,x:61,y:195,w:264,h:14},
{t:"looking back through the dark windings of that",p:51,x:42,y:215,w:283,h:14},
{t:"frenetic activity, the warm breasts and the",p:51,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"brusque arms, I saw only some foreign country",p:51,x:42,y:255,w:284,h:14},
{t:"where other expectations and standards held.",p:51,x:42,y:275,w:257,h:14},
{t:"‘Some dusky creature from the middle East.",p:51,x:61,y:298,w:264,h:14},
{t:"You",p:51,x:42,y:318,w:23,h:14},
{t:"’re a d ark horse, Steven.’",p:51,x:64,y:318,w:141,h:14},
{t:"But I wasn’t, only a raw student whose brief",p:51,x:61,y:342,w:264,h:14},
{t:"tangles with women on campus were no prepara-",p:51,x:42,y:362,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tion for the hot Subhadra, who was a wonder, a",p:51,x:42,y:382,w:283,h:14},
{t:"meticulously articulated woman who was more",p:51,x:42,y:402,w:283,h:14},
{t:"giving than anyone before or since. Not the slow",p:51,x:42,y:422,w:284,h:14},
{t:"rhythms I remembered, but the quiet acceptance",p:51,x:42,y:442,w:284,h:14},
{t:"as I became more confident and closer to her.",p:51,x:42,y:462,w:283,h:14},
{t:"How many times would she wait, or go back to",p:51,x:42,y:482,w:283,h:14},
{t:"49",p:52,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"collect me, drawing alongside and then bringing",p:52,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"me into tandem with her needs. ‘I wasn’t the only",p:52,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"one, by all accounts.’",p:52,x:42,y:82,w:119,h:14},
{t:"‘Having her fling before settling down to mar-",p:52,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ried life?’",p:52,x:42,y:125,w:51,h:14},
{t:"‘Something like that.’ Where was she now,",p:52,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"dear Subhadra, in the respectability of semi-",p:52,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"detached houses and neat rows of gardens?",p:52,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Many would be wondering that.",p:52,x:42,y:208,w:176,h:14},
{t:"‘Were you sorry when she left? More than with",p:52,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Jill now?’",p:52,x:42,y:252,w:52,h:14},
{t:"Those Tuesdays kept me going, through the",p:52,x:61,y:275,w:265,h:14},
{t:"lecture halls, the commuting to cheap digs, the",p:52,x:42,y:295,w:284,h:14},
{t:"pointless weekly essay. They were the inside",p:52,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"glow, the pilot light that gave comfort whenever I",p:52,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"thought of her, something that no one else had. ‘It",p:52,x:42,y:355,w:284,h:14},
{t:"was different,’ I said. ‘Jill takes away a whole life.’",p:52,x:42,y:375,w:278,h:14},
{t:"‘Poor you.’ She rested her head on my shoul-",p:52,x:61,y:398,w:264,h:14},
{t:"der and put an arm round. ‘Why don’t you tell",p:52,x:42,y:418,w:283,h:14},
{t:"your friend here?’",p:52,x:42,y:438,w:99,h:14},
{t:"‘And half of Dorchester? No thank you. Be-",p:52,x:64,y:462,w:261,h:14},
{t:"sides, it’s not fair to Jill.’",p:52,x:42,y:482,w:136,h:14},
{t:"50",p:53,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Penny will hear of it, and no one else.’",p:53,x:61,y:42,w:216,h:14},
{t:"‘Better make it Melissa, since you",p:53,x:61,y:65,w:201,h:14},
{t:"’re so thick",p:53,x:260,y:65,w:65,h:14},
{t:"together.’ Somehow I didn’t want Penny to know.",p:53,x:42,y:85,w:275,h:14},
{t:"‘We don’t see Melissa now. She’s sold out.’",p:53,x:61,y:108,w:247,h:14},
{t:"‘Heard she’d married well.’",p:53,x:61,y:132,w:150,h:14},
{t:"‘Detached house, swimming pool, kids at pub-",p:53,x:61,y:155,w:265,h:14},
{t:"lic school. But not happily, not if she comes over",p:53,x:42,y:175,w:284,h:14},
{t:"to see us every year, even in that big Bentley of",p:53,x:42,y:195,w:285,h:14},
{t:"hers.’",p:53,x:42,y:215,w:31,h:14},
{t:"The superb Melissa whom I had met only",p:53,x:61,y:238,w:265,h:14},
{t:"once, so like Penny but more regal and",p:53,x:42,y:258,w:283,h:14},
{t:"unapproachable. That a rundown place like",p:53,x:42,y:278,w:284,h:14},
{t:"Leyton could breed such creatures seemed wildly",p:53,x:42,y:298,w:284,h:14},
{t:"improbable. ",p:53,x:42,y:318,w:73,h:14},
{t:"‘Is she coming over at midsummer,",p:53,x:114,y:318,w:210,h:14},
{t:"do you think? Penny invited me. Or perhaps she",p:53,x:42,y:338,w:284,h:14},
{t:"did.’",p:53,x:42,y:358,w:24,h:14},
{t:"‘Yes, you’d be right for her.’ Imogen laughed.",p:53,x:61,y:382,w:264,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course we know. So do men, but they sup-",p:53,x:42,y:402,w:283,h:14},
{t:"pose it’s just sex.’",p:53,x:42,y:422,w:100,h:14},
{t:"For me it was something else, free of the re-",p:53,x:61,y:445,w:264,h:14},
{t:"sponsibilities that loomed up with Jill the moment",p:53,x:42,y:465,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I invited her out to a restaurant I couldn’t afford.",p:53,x:42,y:485,w:283,h:14},
{t:"51",p:54,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"She was polite and detached, volunteering little",p:54,x:42,y:42,w:285,h:14},
{t:"about herself, and perhaps it was out of annoy-",p:54,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"ance, to get some response from this most supe-",p:54,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"rior of creatures, that I asked to see her again.",p:54,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Later, much later, in the following year when we",p:54,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"became an unlikely item, I got to meet her girl-",p:54,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"friends who came from what my mother would",p:54,x:42,y:162,w:283,h:14},
{t:"have called the better end of town. Jill’s affairs",p:54,x:42,y:182,w:282,h:14},
{t:"were no concern of theirs, though I formed the",p:54,x:42,y:202,w:284,h:14},
{t:"impression they thought her interests lay else-",p:54,x:42,y:222,w:283,h:14},
{t:"where, that I was useful company, provided no",p:54,x:42,y:242,w:284,h:14},
{t:"more than border civilities were expected.",p:54,x:42,y:262,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen, I was just a student. And Subhadra",p:54,x:61,y:285,w:265,h:14},
{t:"was working, as a beautician in fact. I don’t think",p:54,x:42,y:305,w:284,h:14},
{t:"it ever crossed our minds to make it permanent.’",p:54,x:42,y:325,w:273,h:14},
{t:"Imogen pulled away. ",p:54,x:61,y:348,w:124,h:14},
{t:"‘That ’s not what I’m talk-",p:54,x:184,y:348,w:141,h:14},
{t:"ing about. Getting married doesn’t make it right.’",p:54,x:42,y:368,w:273,h:14},
{t:"‘I didn’t say it did.’",p:54,x:61,y:392,w:102,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps the irritation showed, as Imogen",p:54,x:61,y:415,w:265,h:14},
{t:"came back with, ‘What’s wrong with deciding who",p:54,x:42,y:435,w:284,h:14},
{t:"we will have, and when we will bring the draw-",p:54,x:42,y:455,w:283,h:14},
{t:"bridge up?’",p:54,x:42,y:475,w:64,h:14},
{t:"52",p:55,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘So Penny said.’",p:55,x:61,y:42,w:92,h:14},
{t:"‘You snubbed her. Said you",p:55,x:61,y:65,w:162,h:14},
{t:"’d leave f airy mat-",p:55,x:222,y:65,w:103,h:14},
{t:"ters to me. They’re not fairy matters, and you",p:55,x:42,y:85,w:284,h:14},
{t:"made her wonder about you.’",p:55,x:42,y:105,w:163,h:14},
{t:"‘All right. Crass of me, but I didn’t want to",p:55,x:61,y:128,w:265,h:14},
{t:"complicate matters.’",p:55,x:42,y:148,w:114,h:14},
{t:"That was equally presumptuous, but Imogen",p:55,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"said, ‘There’s nothing to complicate. You won ’t",p:55,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"surrender to that sense of body, which is hers far",p:55,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"more than mine, though you sense it now.’",p:55,x:42,y:232,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘Only because you’re flaunting yourself,’ I",p:55,x:64,y:255,w:261,h:14},
{t:"said, making my way to firmer ground.",p:55,x:42,y:275,w:216,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not doing anything of the sort. I’m showing",p:55,x:61,y:298,w:265,h:14},
{t:"what you already know. The Lawleys will take",p:55,x:42,y:318,w:283,h:14},
{t:"what they wan t, and after that we will throw you",p:55,x:42,y:338,w:283,h:14},
{t:"out.’",p:55,x:42,y:358,w:24,h:14},
{t:"‘Like your dad.’",p:55,x:61,y:382,w:85,h:14},
{t:"‘He wasn’t murdered. He just stopped living",p:55,x:61,y:405,w:265,h:14},
{t:"with his wife properly, and it made him angry or",p:55,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"careless. Just as you are.’",p:55,x:42,y:445,w:148,h:14},
{t:" ‘Jill hasn’t behaved too well.’",p:55,x:61,y:468,w:164,h:14},
{t:"53",p:56,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Nor have you . You married the wrong girl, de-",p:56,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"liberately, for status or material advancement.’",p:56,x:42,y:62,w:259,h:14},
{t:"At this I was furious, but kept my mouth",p:56,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"closed.",p:56,x:42,y:105,w:40,h:14},
{t:"‘That ’s what you",p:56,x:61,y:128,w:97,h:14},
{t:"’re going to talk to Jill about,",p:56,x:157,y:128,w:168,h:14},
{t:"isn’t it? How you can get it back, the marriage",p:56,x:42,y:148,w:284,h:14},
{t:"and the TV series.’",p:56,x:42,y:168,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course I",p:56,x:61,y:192,w:70,h:14},
{t:"’m going to talk about the film se-",p:56,x:130,y:192,w:195,h:14},
{t:"ries’, I said. ‘Which you and Eddie are dropping",p:56,x:42,y:212,w:284,h:14},
{t:"an almighty spanner in, to quote my director.’",p:56,x:42,y:232,w:254,h:14},
{t:"‘Because it won ’t help you. You",p:56,x:61,y:255,w:191,h:14},
{t:"’re not a TV",p:56,x:251,y:255,w:73,h:14},
{t:"personality, or a bureaucrat.’",p:56,x:42,y:275,w:161,h:14},
{t:"‘You can be more than a teacher, can ’t you?’",p:56,x:61,y:298,w:252,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, you were a fantastic teacher. That ’s",p:56,x:61,y:322,w:264,h:14},
{t:"why I’m doing this. Because you helped me grow",p:56,x:42,y:342,w:283,h:14},
{t:"up, get a degree and a decent job. Only you don’t",p:56,x:42,y:362,w:283,h:14},
{t:"believe that.’",p:56,x:42,y:382,w:70,h:14},
{t:"‘Was only at the school for a couple of terms,",p:56,x:61,y:405,w:264,h:14},
{t:"until that wretched field trip.’ I could remember",p:56,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the Head Teacher lecturing me as I stood there,",p:56,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"rigid with suppressed anger. No, Mr Whittaker.",p:56,x:42,y:465,w:283,h:14},
{t:"You will learn one lesson in this job. You don’t",p:56,x:42,y:485,w:283,h:14},
{t:"54",p:57,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"blame the pupils. You’re in charge, and if things",p:57,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"go wrong, you",p:57,x:42,y:62,w:87,h:14},
{t:"’re the guilty party. No one else.",p:57,x:128,y:62,w:197,h:14},
{t:"Are you ",p:57,x:42,y:82,w:50,h:14},
{t:"listening . . . ? Even then, I knew I’d",p:57,x:95,y:82,w:230,h:14},
{t:"taken a wrong turning. Later would come the",p:57,x:42,y:102,w:284,h:14},
{t:"meeting with her sister, but the Lawleys were not",p:57,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the shapings of adolescent fantasy by then, but",p:57,x:42,y:142,w:284,h:14},
{t:"warm-blooded women, as urgent as Subhadra,",p:57,x:42,y:162,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and far more dangerous.",p:57,x:42,y:182,w:139,h:14},
{t:"Imogen was still looking at me. ",p:57,x:61,y:205,w:183,h:14},
{t:"‘As you",p:57,x:243,y:205,w:44,h:14},
{t:"’ll see,",p:57,x:286,y:205,w:37,h:14},
{t:"’",p:57,x:322,y:205,w:2,h:14},
{t:"she said, placing a finger on my nose, ‘I can still",p:57,x:42,y:225,w:283,h:14},
{t:"be bloody-minded when I have to be.’",p:57,x:42,y:245,w:210,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen, you were actually the most difficult",p:57,x:61,y:268,w:264,h:14},
{t:"pupil I’ve ever had. It was a torment having you in",p:57,x:42,y:288,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the class. And that field trip we don ’t need to talk",p:57,x:42,y:308,w:283,h:14},
{t:"about.’",p:57,x:42,y:328,w:38,h:14},
{t:"‘You did better for yourself. You got the Stokes",p:57,x:61,y:352,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Monkton job.’",p:57,x:42,y:372,w:75,h:14},
{t:"‘When the book came out. Before that I was",p:57,x:61,y:395,w:264,h:14},
{t:"someone to be quickly exchanged with a teacher",p:57,x:42,y:415,w:283,h:14},
{t:"from another school. Didn’t you realize that?’",p:57,x:42,y:435,w:252,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course. I was delighted I had these powers.’",p:57,x:61,y:458,w:264,h:14},
{t:"55",p:58,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Expect you were’, I said, thinking back to",p:58,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"those difficult months. Jill was away and I had no",p:58,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"friends in the district. Some of my fellow teachers",p:58,x:42,y:82,w:282,h:14},
{t:"invited me round for dinner occasionally, and",p:58,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"there were out-of-school activities, which I threw",p:58,x:42,y:122,w:284,h:14},
{t:"myself into. They didn’t assuage the longing, or",p:58,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"soften the sharp sense of danger, and it was the",p:58,x:42,y:162,w:284,h:14},
{t:"need to do something else that got me started on",p:58,x:42,y:182,w:285,h:14},
{t:"the history trails.",p:58,x:42,y:202,w:93,h:14},
{t:"Phillip Duffy appeared when I was taking",p:58,x:61,y:225,w:265,h:14},
{t:"photographs of a round barrow, or rather waiting",p:58,x:42,y:245,w:283,h:14},
{t:"for the sun to go down and throw a shadow over",p:58,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the enclosing ditch. A thin man in jeans and tweed",p:58,x:42,y:285,w:283,h:14},
{t:"cap trotted up to ask if I knew what I was looking",p:58,x:42,y:305,w:283,h:14},
{t:"at. Archaeology attracts its fair share of crackpots,",p:58,x:42,y:325,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and I was guarded until the little leprechaun with",p:58,x:42,y:345,w:283,h:14},
{t:"its round face danced about the site pointing out",p:58,x:42,y:365,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the setting and the symmetry of the outer ditch,",p:58,x:42,y:385,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when I agreed to a quick drink at a local pub.",p:58,x:42,y:405,w:284,h:14},
{t:"‘You should write this down’, I told him later,",p:58,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when I dropped him off at his Dorchester flat. ‘I",p:58,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"have, he said. ‘I’ll show you sometime, if you",p:58,x:42,y:465,w:270,h:14},
{t:"’re",p:58,x:311,y:465,w:14,h:14},
{t:"interested.’",p:58,x:42,y:485,w:62,h:14},
{t:"56",p:59,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"I thought no more of Duffy until I ran into him",p:59,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"at the Dorchester Museum. He invited me",p:59,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"through. ‘If you can call it an office’, he added as",p:59,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"we found ourselves in a small alcove awas h with",p:59,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"papers and archaeology journals.",p:59,x:42,y:122,w:187,h:14},
{t:"‘You work here? ’",p:59,x:61,y:145,w:94,h:14},
{t:"‘Would it have made any difference? I’d still be",p:59,x:61,y:168,w:266,h:14},
{t:"one of those self-taught amateurs who make a",p:59,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"nuisance of themselves.’",p:59,x:42,y:208,w:140,h:14},
{t:"‘I wouldn’t put it that way’, I said, going up to a",p:59,x:61,y:232,w:265,h:14},
{t:"map fastened to one wall, several sheets sello-",p:59,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"taped together and yellowing. ‘Is this yours?’",p:59,x:42,y:272,w:251,h:14},
{t:"‘History trails. How you can see monuments",p:59,x:61,y:295,w:264,h:14},
{t:"with the least possible effort.’ He ran his fingers",p:59,x:42,y:315,w:282,h:14},
{t:"through the untidy patch of hair that formed a sharp",p:59,x:42,y:335,w:284,h:14},
{t:"point to the little head. ‘Now isn’t that a good idea?",p:59,x:42,y:355,w:281,h:14},
{t:"’",p:59,x:322,y:355,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘But that ’ll be what, twelve, fifteen miles at",p:59,x:61,y:378,w:265,h:14},
{t:"least. And you haven",p:59,x:42,y:398,w:126,h:14},
{t:"’t got a car, so it’s a major",p:59,x:166,y:398,w:159,h:14},
{t:"investment, even to get out there.’",p:59,x:42,y:418,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘Bus takes you most of the way, and you can",p:59,x:61,y:442,w:265,h:14},
{t:"think on the journey back. Sometimes best to be",p:59,x:42,y:462,w:283,h:14},
{t:"on your own.’",p:59,x:42,y:482,w:75,h:14},
{t:"57",p:60,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘As you like, though I’d be happy to run you",p:60,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"out occasionally. ’",p:60,x:42,y:62,w:96,h:14},
{t:"‘Maybe when the summer holidays are on us.’",p:60,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"He opened those evas ive eyes and grinned. ‘My-",p:60,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"self, I’ve nothing against teachers. Bit superior",p:60,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when they come round the museum, but it’s a",p:60,x:42,y:145,w:284,h:14},
{t:"responsibility, the little darlings being what they",p:60,x:42,y:165,w:284,h:14},
{t:"are. ’",p:60,x:42,y:185,w:24,h:14},
{t:"‘The girls can be.’ I mentioned some of my",p:60,x:61,y:208,w:264,h:14},
{t:"recent experiences.",p:60,x:42,y:228,w:111,h:14},
{t:"‘That’ll be one of the Lawleys.’",p:60,x:61,y:252,w:170,h:14},
{t:"‘You know them?’",p:60,x:61,y:275,w:100,h:14},
{t:"‘Smashers.’",p:60,x:61,y:298,w:67,h:14},
{t:"‘Nothing a good teacher can ’t handle. ’",p:60,x:61,y:322,w:213,h:14},
{t:"An optimistic remark as Imogen was continu-",p:60,x:61,y:368,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ing with, ‘Powers I shall use if you do something",p:60,x:42,y:388,w:284,h:14},
{t:"silly. Like taking up with Jill again.’",p:60,x:42,y:408,w:193,h:14},
{t:"‘That ’s outrageous’, I said placidly, not believ-",p:60,x:61,y:432,w:265,h:14},
{t:"ing the conversation.",p:60,x:42,y:452,w:117,h:14},
{t:"58",p:61,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"She stopped and looked surprised. ‘Right. So",p:61,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"are you coming in properly now?’ She tugged off",p:61,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the swimsuit bottom and stared at me with bare-",p:61,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"faced impudence.",p:61,x:42,y:102,w:101,h:14},
{t:"‘No’, I said.",p:61,x:61,y:125,w:63,h:14},
{t:"‘Please you rself.’",p:61,x:61,y:148,w:96,h:14},
{t:"There weren ’t many people around, but when",p:61,x:61,y:172,w:265,h:14},
{t:"she returned a few minutes later and stood in",p:61,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"front of me, her body dark against the back-",p:61,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"lighting of the midday sun, my eyes were dazzled",p:61,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"by the light or something else. ",p:61,x:42,y:252,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you have to",p:61,x:231,y:252,w:94,h:14},
{t:"show yourself like this?’ I said, turning away an-",p:61,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"grily. No doubt I should have adopted the",p:61,x:42,y:292,w:284,h:14},
{t:"schoolmaster ’s pose of tired annoyance and",p:61,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"stared indifferently at her, as Jill would have",p:61,x:42,y:332,w:284,h:14},
{t:"done, and any sensible adult. But I was back as",p:61,x:42,y:352,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the adolescent on his last holiday wi th parents,",p:61,x:42,y:372,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when he chafes at the restrictions of sensible",p:61,x:42,y:392,w:283,h:14},
{t:"clothes and occupations, feeling in the girls",p:61,x:42,y:412,w:283,h:14},
{t:"around him another dimension to life, far more",p:61,x:42,y:432,w:283,h:14},
{t:"uplifting than the clouds that billow out across the",p:61,x:42,y:452,w:284,h:14},
{t:"bay, or the water sparkling with a devious bright-",p:61,x:42,y:472,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ness.",p:61,x:42,y:492,w:30,h:14},
{t:"59",p:62,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Hold the towel higher, can’t you?’",p:62,x:61,y:42,w:190,h:14},
{t:"‘These have tuna and tomato’, she said after",p:62,x:61,y:65,w:265,h:14},
{t:"I’d dressed and she’d dried her hair a little. ‘Or",p:62,x:42,y:85,w:283,h:14},
{t:"there’s egg. Try them.’",p:62,x:42,y:105,w:127,h:14},
{t:"‘Can we talk about the festival? If you",p:62,x:61,y:128,w:251,h:14},
{t:"’re",p:62,x:311,y:128,w:14,h:14},
{t:"planning something on the Leyton Rings, I ought",p:62,x:42,y:148,w:284,h:14},
{t:"to know.’",p:62,x:42,y:168,w:50,h:14},
{t:"‘Do you really want to talk about the past?’",p:62,x:61,y:192,w:238,h:14},
{t:"‘Imogen, you",p:62,x:61,y:215,w:75,h:14},
{t:"’re an attractive woman, and this",p:62,x:135,y:215,w:190,h:14},
{t:"is not being fair, is it?’",p:62,x:42,y:235,w:124,h:14},
{t:"‘You do like me?’ She tilted her head an d gave",p:62,x:61,y:258,w:266,h:14},
{t:"a bewitching smile. ‘All right, I will talk to you, but",p:62,x:42,y:278,w:283,h:14},
{t:"not here. Are you free Tuesday night? I’m inviting",p:62,x:42,y:298,w:284,h:14},
{t:"you to dinner. It’ll be perfectly respectable.’",p:62,x:42,y:318,w:241,h:14},
{t:"‘Just the two of us?’",p:62,x:61,y:342,w:113,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not bringing Penny in until you’ve re-",p:62,x:61,y:365,w:264,h:14},
{t:"formed. It’ll be more fun anyway, won’t it?’ She",p:62,x:42,y:385,w:285,h:14},
{t:"smiled and reached into the bag.",p:62,x:42,y:405,w:185,h:14},
{t:"‘Reformed? Imogen, I’m not going on a d ate",p:62,x:61,y:428,w:264,h:14},
{t:"with you.’",p:62,x:42,y:448,w:53,h:14},
{t:"‘I’ll be outside the flat at eight-thirty. There’s",p:62,x:61,y:472,w:264,h:14},
{t:"another beer. Want it?’",p:62,x:42,y:492,w:130,h:14},
{t:"60",p:63,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Chapter Three",p:63,x:42,y:167,w:161,h:27},
{t:"Ours was exactly like the other houses on the",p:63,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Winterton Estate: upmarket and anonymous.",p:63,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Each had kempt lawns, flowers coming into",p:63,x:42,y:272,w:284,h:14},
{t:"bloom, and an air of expensive neatness. On the",p:63,x:42,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"drive stood a car, and there was probably another",p:63,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"in the garage, both newer than the Rover in which",p:63,x:42,y:332,w:284,h:14},
{t:"I arrived shortly after three. I’d thought Jill would",p:63,x:42,y:352,w:283,h:14},
{t:"show some apprehension in opening the door,",p:63,x:42,y:372,w:283,h:14},
{t:"but she was just as ever, the tailored business-",p:63,x:42,y:392,w:283,h:14},
{t:"woman now wearing a smart sweater and slacks.",p:63,x:42,y:412,w:283,h:14},
{t:"She took me through to the lounge, which had",p:63,x:42,y:432,w:283,h:14},
{t:"been rearranged.",p:63,x:42,y:452,w:97,h:14},
{t:"61",p:64,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘If you",p:64,x:61,y:42,w:36,h:14},
{t:"’re looking for Megan, she’s on a s chool",p:64,x:95,y:42,w:230,h:14},
{t:"trip.’ Jill motioned me to sit down.",p:64,x:42,y:62,w:188,h:14},
{t:"‘On a Sunday?’",p:64,x:61,y:85,w:87,h:14},
{t:"‘Don ’t make difficulties, Steven. There was a",p:64,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"school swimming course, and I thought we should",p:64,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"talk on our own. She’ll be back later.’",p:64,x:42,y:148,w:207,h:14},
{t:"I felt the annoyance tightening in my jaw, but",p:64,x:61,y:172,w:265,h:14},
{t:"managed to smile. Better not move to battle",p:64,x:42,y:192,w:283,h:14},
{t:"stations immediately, though the plan was",p:64,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"already faltering. Who knew what went on inside",p:64,x:42,y:232,w:284,h:14},
{t:"that cool head?",p:64,x:42,y:252,w:86,h:14},
{t:"‘Perhaps we’d better start’, I said as my wife",p:64,x:61,y:275,w:264,h:14},
{t:"crossed those long legs again. ‘Well, I understand",p:64,x:42,y:295,w:283,h:14},
{t:"from Jenkins that you want a divorce. Why that is,",p:64,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I don ’t know. Coldness and absence from home",p:64,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"were the reasons given me, but perhaps that ’s",p:64,x:42,y:355,w:283,h:14},
{t:"lawyers’ talk.’ The warm brown eyes were steady,",p:64,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"perhaps not kindly at all. I took a deep breath. ‘I",p:64,x:42,y:395,w:283,h:14},
{t:"also understand that you have found someone",p:64,x:42,y:415,w:284,h:14},
{t:"else, a paediatrician at Dorchester General. A",p:64,x:42,y:435,w:283,h:14},
{t:"David Farley. ’ Not part of the plan, which was to",p:64,x:42,y:455,w:283,h:14},
{t:"give her space to exp lain, to open out a territory",p:64,x:42,y:475,w:283,h:14},
{t:"62",p:65,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"where I could deploy my forces, but again there",p:65,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"was no movement. ‘So we had better be adult",p:65,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"about this, and not indulge in. . . . ’ I wa s going to",p:65,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"say accusations of blame, but settled on, ‘feel-",p:65,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ings. You want the house and custody of Megan,",p:65,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I understand. Perhaps that’s a bargaining posi-",p:65,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"tion, and while I haven",p:65,x:42,y:162,w:134,h:14},
{t:"’t taken legal advice yet, it",p:65,x:174,y:162,w:151,h:14},
{t:"does seem to me . . . unreasonable.’ I could feel",p:65,x:42,y:182,w:284,h:14},
{t:"a growing outrage at the injustice, of being asked",p:65,x:42,y:202,w:283,h:14},
{t:"to apologize for what wasn’t my fault.",p:65,x:42,y:222,w:209,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, you have been misinformed. There",p:65,x:61,y:245,w:264,h:14},
{t:"has been no impropriety between David and me. ’",p:65,x:42,y:265,w:275,h:14},
{t:"That was the first chink in the armour, but I",p:65,x:61,y:288,w:264,h:14},
{t:"hesitated. ‘So he’s just a friend?’ I said.",p:65,x:42,y:308,w:223,h:14},
{t:"‘Someone I have been able to talk to. ’",p:65,x:61,y:332,w:210,h:14},
{t:"‘There is me, you know.’ I said, finding the",p:65,x:61,y:355,w:266,h:14},
{t:"words difficult.",p:65,x:42,y:375,w:83,h:14},
{t:"‘You are never home. When you",p:65,x:61,y:398,w:207,h:14},
{t:"’re not in",p:65,x:267,y:398,w:58,h:14},
{t:"London, you’re locked in your study or leading",p:65,x:42,y:418,w:284,h:14},
{t:"those history walks.’",p:65,x:42,y:438,w:114,h:14},
{t:"What did we talk about when we were to-",p:65,x:61,y:462,w:265,h:14},
{t:"gether, or your hospital friends came round? I felt",p:65,x:42,y:482,w:283,h:14},
{t:"63",p:66,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"like saying, but contented myself with, ‘Only in the",p:66,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"summer.’",p:66,x:42,y:62,w:53,h:14},
{t:"‘When you could be at the conferences",p:66,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Professor Hampton organizes. Or with Megan.",p:66,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Taking her out is the least you could do.’",p:66,x:42,y:125,w:228,h:14},
{t:"Reconciliation was the aim, I remembered, an",p:66,x:61,y:148,w:265,h:14},
{t:"appeal to common sense. ",p:66,x:42,y:168,w:164,h:14},
{t:"‘The summer is the",p:66,x:206,y:168,w:119,h:14},
{t:"only time I get to myself’, I said. ",p:66,x:42,y:188,w:198,h:14},
{t:"‘When I really",p:66,x:243,y:188,w:83,h:14},
{t:"become an historian again.’",p:66,x:42,y:208,w:155,h:14},
{t:"‘It is simply a matter of priorities. Everyone has",p:66,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"to do what they don ’t enjoy. If you have you r diffi-",p:66,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"culties with Miles Hampton, there is no need to",p:66,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"take them out on Megan.’",p:66,x:42,y:292,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘Hampton has nothing to do with Megan.’",p:66,x:61,y:315,w:231,h:14},
{t:"‘He has everything to do with you r bad temper.",p:66,x:61,y:338,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Just learn to be a bit more diplomatic. Don ’t",p:66,x:42,y:358,w:283,h:14},
{t:"attack Hampton at the faculty meetings, and he",p:66,x:42,y:378,w:283,h:14},
{t:"won’t be so demanding.’",p:66,x:42,y:398,w:138,h:14},
{t:"How dare Jill give me advice? It took some",p:66,x:61,y:422,w:264,h:14},
{t:"hard swallowing to continue. ‘I haven’t said any-",p:66,x:42,y:442,w:283,h:14},
{t:"thing against him for years. Not since the paper.’",p:66,x:42,y:462,w:275,h:14},
{t:"64",p:67,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘That was a silly thing to do. You can be ex-",p:67,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"tremely childish at times.’",p:67,x:42,y:62,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘Entirely his fault. What did he think? “Alert",p:67,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Settlements: a Deconstructive Approach to",p:67,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Environmental Studies.” Couldn’t be anything",p:67,x:42,y:125,w:284,h:14},
{t:"else but a joke.’",p:67,x:42,y:145,w:88,h:14},
{t:"‘You made him look foolish.’",p:67,x:61,y:168,w:158,h:14},
{t:"‘Only because he took over and signed",p:67,x:61,y:192,w:265,h:14},
{t:"himself up as the senior author. Just luck the",p:67,x:42,y:212,w:284,h:14},
{t:"reviewers threw it out.’",p:67,x:42,y:232,w:126,h:14},
{t:"‘You didn’t apologize .’",p:67,x:61,y:255,w:123,h:14},
{t:"‘How about him apologizing for stealing my",p:67,x:64,y:278,w:262,h:14},
{t:"work, and turning a spoof into a resigning issue?",p:67,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"What about that?’ I stared angrily at her, as no",p:67,x:42,y:318,w:284,h:14},
{t:"doubt I can at committee meetings.",p:67,x:42,y:338,w:199,h:14},
{t:"‘If you’re going to be wilfully combative it’s no",p:67,x:61,y:362,w:265,h:14},
{t:"wonder he’s on your tail all the time. You should",p:67,x:42,y:382,w:283,h:14},
{t:"move.",p:67,x:42,y:402,w:35,h:14},
{t:"’",p:67,x:76,y:402,w:2,h:14},
{t:"‘I like this part of the world.’ Time now to turn",p:67,x:61,y:425,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the tables, illustrate how selfish Jill can be. ",p:67,x:42,y:445,w:259,h:14},
{t:"‘You",p:67,x:300,y:445,w:26,h:14},
{t:"wouldn’t go to Strathclyde.’",p:67,x:42,y:465,w:152,h:14},
{t:"65",p:68,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘We talked about that. There was no position",p:68,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"for me, and Megan has friends here. It’s not a",p:68,x:42,y:62,w:285,h:14},
{t:"time to uproot her on some whim or m isunder-",p:68,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"standing you managed to create. I said I would",p:68,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"reconsider later.’",p:68,x:42,y:122,w:94,h:14},
{t:"‘I didn’t want to go up there on my own’, I said,",p:68,x:61,y:145,w:265,h:14},
{t:"adding, ‘it wouldn’t have been much of a mar-",p:68,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"riage.’ At this blunder I thought Jill would start on",p:68,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"our poor sex l ife, but she stopped and looked at",p:68,x:42,y:205,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the child who has finally blurted out a confession.",p:68,x:42,y:225,w:283,h:14},
{t:"She let the look sink in. ‘Very well, I’ll bring the",p:68,x:42,y:245,w:285,h:14},
{t:"tea in if you",p:68,x:42,y:265,w:66,h:14},
{t:"’re going to be reasonable for once. ’",p:68,x:107,y:265,w:202,h:14},
{t:"Things were not going well, but perhaps she’d",p:68,x:61,y:312,w:264,h:14},
{t:"relent. Or the affair with David Farley was only",p:68,x:42,y:332,w:283,h:14},
{t:"talk. No one could double guess Jill. I remem-",p:68,x:42,y:352,w:283,h:14},
{t:"bered visiting Colonel Wooten and his wife for the",p:68,x:42,y:372,w:283,h:14},
{t:"first time in their place outside Chester, immacu-",p:68,x:42,y:392,w:283,h:14},
{t:"late as the conversation: pleasant, detached, and",p:68,x:42,y:412,w:283,h:14},
{t:"weighing me up. I formed a distinct impression",p:68,x:42,y:432,w:283,h:14},
{t:"when I left that Sunday night of having failed,",p:68,x:42,y:452,w:283,h:14},
{t:"though they were too n ice to show it. Would my",p:68,x:42,y:472,w:283,h:14},
{t:"career be more rewarding later? How d id I see the",p:68,x:42,y:492,w:283,h:14},
{t:"66",p:69,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"question of standards in education? I was cautious,",p:69,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"but then got annoyed, making openings that were",p:69,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"not followed up. A pause, and the inquisition would",p:69,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"start again. I played tennis of course. Did I ride?",p:69,x:42,y:102,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Jill had lessons until she was fourteen. It crossed",p:69,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"my mind to say that my parent’s place was ablaze",p:69,x:42,y:142,w:283,h:14},
{t:"with Gymkhana trophies, or that my aunt had",p:69,x:42,y:162,w:283,h:14},
{t:"been a bareback rider at the Russian state circus,",p:69,x:42,y:182,w:283,h:14},
{t:"but a warning glance from Jill brought me back to",p:69,x:42,y:202,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the role of humble suitor, and I said that ours was",p:69,x:42,y:222,w:283,h:14},
{t:"an intellectual family, which was far from true.",p:69,x:42,y:242,w:258,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps we are all escaping something, but in",p:69,x:61,y:265,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Jill’s case it was a definite someone, whom Mrs",p:69,x:42,y:285,w:282,h:14},
{t:"Wooten made a point of mentioning. You could",p:69,x:42,y:305,w:283,h:14},
{t:"take him to the club. Tommy won ’t be there. And",p:69,x:42,y:325,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I’ve moved the photos. Your friend won ’t want to",p:69,x:42,y:345,w:283,h:14},
{t:"look at Tommy’s portrait, will he? Who was the",p:69,x:42,y:365,w:283,h:14},
{t:"man? I finally asked, but Jill simply said, Someone",p:69,x:42,y:385,w:284,h:14},
{t:"who was keen on me once. Oh, much more than",p:69,x:42,y:405,w:283,h:14},
{t:"that, Jill dear, said her mother. Worshipped the",p:69,x:42,y:425,w:284,h:14},
{t:"ground she walked on. Didn’t he, Jim? Colonel",p:69,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Wooten wouldn’t be drawn, and only gave me a",p:69,x:42,y:465,w:283,h:14},
{t:"conspiratorial wink occasionally, the RAF manner",p:69,x:42,y:485,w:283,h:14},
{t:"67",p:70,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"hiding a good deal of shrewdness, but I do ubt he",p:70,x:42,y:42,w:287,h:14},
{t:"was any more taken with me.",p:70,x:42,y:62,w:154,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps Jill had been marking time, hoping",p:70,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"the fabled Tommy wou ld come back. Certainly",p:70,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she was not keen to shorten the engagement,",p:70,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and the work I poured into my book represented",p:70,x:42,y:145,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the three weekends out of four I spent away from",p:70,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"her, while she was getting her PhD in",p:70,x:42,y:185,w:284,h:14},
{t:"Birmingham. As you",p:70,x:42,y:205,w:123,h:14},
{t:"’d expect of someone with",p:70,x:164,y:205,w:161,h:14},
{t:"Jill’s potential, said her mother, though probably",p:70,x:42,y:225,w:284,h:14},
{t:"without malice. By then they’d got used to the",p:70,x:42,y:245,w:284,h:14},
{t:"once-a-month fiancé. I was never called Steven,",p:70,x:42,y:265,w:283,h:14},
{t:"as far as I can recall: only, he, your friend, that",p:70,x:42,y:285,w:283,h:14},
{t:"rather unfortunate young man you seem to have",p:70,x:42,y:305,w:284,h:14},
{t:"picked up.",p:70,x:42,y:325,w:59,h:14},
{t:"Why expect a change now? I reflected as Jill",p:70,x:61,y:372,w:264,h:14},
{t:"came back with the tray. ",p:70,x:42,y:392,w:157,h:14},
{t:"‘So what is the news",p:70,x:197,y:392,w:127,h:14},
{t:"with the filming?’ she said after pouring the tea.",p:70,x:42,y:412,w:267,h:14},
{t:"‘Still busy with the initial shoots. More to the",p:70,x:61,y:435,w:265,h:14},
{t:"film business than I’d realized.’",p:70,x:42,y:455,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘And you’ve been down to Weymouth.’",p:70,x:61,y:478,w:217,h:14},
{t:"68",p:71,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘All over the place’, I said, wondering how she’d",p:71,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"heard. ‘And of course interviews with experts.’",p:71,x:42,y:62,w:260,h:14},
{t:"‘Colleagues?’",p:71,x:61,y:85,w:76,h:14},
{t:"‘You know how it is. Voice-overs, multiple per-",p:71,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"spectives.’ She didn’t know, and had never wanted",p:71,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"to.",p:71,x:42,y:148,w:14,h:14},
{t:"‘You will find the contacts useful.’",p:71,x:61,y:172,w:189,h:14},
{t:"‘Genuine, helpful and at the viewer ’s level is",p:71,x:61,y:195,w:264,h:14},
{t:"how Martins puts it.’ But I was talking to an expert",p:71,x:42,y:215,w:283,h:14},
{t:"on communication, and let the matter drop. There",p:71,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"was a long pause. ",p:71,x:42,y:255,w:108,h:14},
{t:"‘So what will you do, Jill? Keep",p:71,x:150,y:255,w:176,h:14},
{t:"the place on?’",p:71,x:42,y:275,w:79,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, as I have told you, David is just a",p:71,x:61,y:298,w:265,h:14},
{t:"friend.’",p:71,x:42,y:318,w:39,h:14},
{t:"‘So you",p:71,x:61,y:342,w:46,h:14},
{t:"’d not want to move ov er there, with",p:71,x:106,y:342,w:219,h:14},
{t:"Megan?’",p:71,x:42,y:362,w:49,h:14},
{t:"‘Over where? ’",p:71,x:61,y:385,w:78,h:14},
{t:"‘He’s married, I expect.’",p:71,x:61,y:408,w:133,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, we’re not here to discuss my friends.’",p:71,x:61,y:432,w:260,h:14},
{t:"‘No,’ I said, ‘of course we’ re not.’ Jill was now",p:71,x:61,y:455,w:265,h:14},
{t:"upset, as well she ought to be.",p:71,x:42,y:475,w:172,h:14},
{t:"69",p:72,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘So are you going to explain yourself?’ she",p:72,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"continued, looking at me with those clear brown",p:72,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"eyes, that seemed placid and somewhere else.",p:72,x:42,y:82,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Explain what, Jill? One week I’m a normal",p:72,x:61,y:105,w:265,h:14},
{t:"married man, and the next my wife is suing for",p:72,x:42,y:125,w:283,h:14},
{t:"divorce. Nothing’s changed on my side.’",p:72,x:42,y:145,w:226,h:14},
{t:"‘That is the trouble. You",p:72,x:61,y:168,w:139,h:14},
{t:"’re still seeing matters",p:72,x:199,y:168,w:125,h:14},
{t:"from your own point of view. You were always an",p:72,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"absent father, as I said to Richard Jenkins. It’s",p:72,x:42,y:208,w:282,h:14},
{t:"never been a full marriage. ’",p:72,x:42,y:228,w:153,h:14},
{t:"I paused. None of the obvious rejoinders",p:72,x:61,y:252,w:264,h:14},
{t:"seemed helpful, and it wasn’t kind to press her",p:72,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"further. I wasn’t here to win battles, and tried",p:72,x:42,y:292,w:283,h:14},
{t:"something conciliatory. ",p:72,x:42,y:312,w:144,h:14},
{t:"‘What are you saying?",p:72,x:185,y:312,w:140,h:14},
{t:"We should go to counselling or something?’",p:72,x:42,y:332,w:250,h:14},
{t:"She gave me a withering look. ‘Steven, we’re",p:72,x:61,y:355,w:264,h:14},
{t:"both grown-up people who are perfectly able to",p:72,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sort out their own affairs. All I’m asking for is a",p:72,x:42,y:395,w:284,h:14},
{t:"little more consideration. Is that too much to ask?’",p:72,x:42,y:415,w:280,h:14},
{t:"I could afford to let that go, and say, ",p:72,x:61,y:438,w:216,h:14},
{t:"‘So what",p:72,x:276,y:438,w:50,h:14},
{t:"is it I’m doing? Or not doing?’",p:72,x:42,y:458,w:167,h:14},
{t:"‘You are putting yourself first.’",p:72,x:61,y:482,w:169,h:14},
{t:"70",p:73,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"The usual complaint, and I looked at her with",p:73,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"smiling unconcern.",p:73,x:42,y:62,w:108,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not saying give up the Buckmayne Field",p:73,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"Centre,’ she continued, ‘if that’s what interests",p:73,x:42,y:105,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you, but within reason. It’s not going to make you",p:73,x:42,y:125,w:285,h:14},
{t:"into a top academic, is it?’",p:73,x:42,y:145,w:147,h:14},
{t:"That was the lead I wanted, and now I put",p:73,x:61,y:168,w:265,h:14},
{t:"more warmth into the voice, feeding myself into",p:73,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the situation, as I do when teaching. Jill was no",p:73,x:42,y:208,w:284,h:14},
{t:"different, predictable in her way. ‘Archaeology",p:73,x:42,y:228,w:283,h:14},
{t:"doesn’t win you the Nobel Prize,’ I said, ‘but it’s",p:73,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"respectable. Might even get me into Oxbridge, for",p:73,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"all I know.’",p:73,x:42,y:288,w:59,h:14},
{t:"‘But you should know.’",p:73,x:61,y:312,w:127,h:14},
{t:"So there was some common ground, after the",p:73,x:61,y:335,w:264,h:14},
{t:"unfortunate opening. I just had to give some",p:73,x:42,y:355,w:284,h:14},
{t:"friendly encouragement, and smiled again, giving",p:73,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the tea a brisk stir.",p:73,x:42,y:395,w:105,h:14},
{t:"‘But you have to be serious, and not waste",p:73,x:61,y:418,w:265,h:14},
{t:"time with people who’ll only hurt your career. Phil",p:73,x:42,y:438,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Duffy, for example.’",p:73,x:42,y:458,w:110,h:14},
{t:"71",p:74,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Phil gave me al l his field notes’, I said reasona-",p:74,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"bly. ",p:74,x:42,y:62,w:23,h:14},
{t:"‘The book is mostly his work. Thirty year s of it.’",p:74,x:65,y:62,w:260,h:14},
{t:"‘Which you shaped, organized and got printed.",p:74,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"He owes you a lot.’",p:74,x:42,y:105,w:107,h:14},
{t:"Duffy wasn’t a great asset on the social side,",p:74,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"but he was local, and brought me whatever",p:74,x:42,y:148,w:284,h:14},
{t:"popularity I had in the town. ‘Got me the",p:74,x:42,y:168,w:284,h:14},
{t:"lectureship, you know. Couldn’t have done",p:74,x:42,y:188,w:284,h:14},
{t:"without him.’",p:74,x:42,y:208,w:72,h:14},
{t:"‘But now you can. Town and gown don’t mix.",p:74,x:61,y:232,w:264,h:14},
{t:"You know who I’m talking about.’",p:74,x:42,y:252,w:185,h:14},
{t:"‘Edward Tennant?’",p:74,x:61,y:275,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘Tennant, Barnes. All the other riff-raff.’",p:74,x:61,y:298,w:222,h:14},
{t:"She wasn’t far off in Barnes’s case, and even",p:74,x:61,y:322,w:266,h:14},
{t:"in the DIY store, supposing he was still there, the",p:74,x:42,y:342,w:284,h:14},
{t:"man blundered about like a blinded Cyclops.",p:74,x:42,y:362,w:251,h:14},
{t:"‘Including the Lawley girls you have taken a",p:74,x:61,y:385,w:265,h:14},
{t:"shine to.’",p:74,x:42,y:405,w:51,h:14},
{t:"Jill wouldn’t have heard about today’s picnic,",p:74,x:61,y:428,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and I could afford an injured tone of self-",p:74,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"righteousness. ‘It’s their farm’, I said. ‘I have to",p:74,x:42,y:468,w:284,h:14},
{t:"keep in with them if only for that.’ In fact I could",p:74,x:42,y:488,w:283,h:14},
{t:"72",p:75,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"do more: prepare the ground, spike the guns",p:75,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"before news got to her. ‘That’s why I’m going with",p:75,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"them to see the bank manager for a loan. Next",p:75,x:42,y:82,w:284,h:14},
{t:"week",p:75,x:42,y:102,w:30,h:14},
{t:"’, I said, stretching my legs in the way that",p:75,x:71,y:102,w:254,h:14},
{t:"annoys Jill. Then I got up.",p:75,x:42,y:122,w:146,h:14},
{t:"‘What’s it to do with you, Steven?’ she said,",p:75,x:61,y:145,w:265,h:14},
{t:"turning her head to follow me as I stared out of",p:75,x:42,y:165,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the window. ‘It’s purely a farm management",p:75,x:42,y:185,w:283,h:14},
{t:"matter.’",p:75,x:42,y:205,w:42,h:14},
{t:"Jill can go cavorting with her doctor friend, but",p:75,x:61,y:228,w:265,h:14},
{t:"our Steven can ’t even return favours. I sat down",p:75,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"again and appeared reasonableness itself, open-",p:75,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ing my hands in a gesture of amazement.",p:75,x:42,y:288,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘They’ve been pretty decent to me, and maybe",p:75,x:42,y:308,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the TV presenter bit will impress the bank man-",p:75,x:42,y:328,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ager. You never know. Everyone wants a slice of",p:75,x:42,y:348,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the action.’",p:75,x:42,y:368,w:61,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, you have to choose. Either you be-",p:75,x:61,y:392,w:265,h:14},
{t:"come a TV personality or a career academic. You",p:75,x:42,y:412,w:284,h:14},
{t:"can ’t be both. Academics do not like their subject",p:75,x:42,y:432,w:283,h:14},
{t:"being popularised.’",p:75,x:42,y:452,w:107,h:14},
{t:"Jill had been thinking, but I simply nodded.",p:75,x:61,y:475,w:241,h:14},
{t:"73",p:76,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘So what is the most important opportunity",p:76,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"now? Academically?’",p:76,x:42,y:62,w:119,h:14},
{t:"‘The Leyton Rings dig. Undoubtedly. That’s",p:76,x:61,y:85,w:264,h:14},
{t:"why I’m helping the Lawleys.’",p:76,x:42,y:105,w:164,h:14},
{t:"‘Leave p ersonalities out of it. Concentrate on",p:76,x:61,y:128,w:265,h:14},
{t:"the future .’",p:76,x:42,y:148,w:60,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps she was right, but I wasn’t taking in-",p:76,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"struction in my own field. ‘We need funding to",p:76,x:42,y:192,w:284,h:14},
{t:"proceed further ’, I said. ‘That ’s where the film",p:76,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"comes in.’",p:76,x:42,y:232,w:58,h:14},
{t:"Jill didn’t say anything for a while. Not a victory",p:76,x:61,y:255,w:265,h:14},
{t:"but a reassessment, I thought. ‘You’re sure?’ she",p:76,x:42,y:275,w:284,h:14},
{t:"said, arranging a small plate of biscuits, the",p:76,x:42,y:295,w:284,h:14},
{t:"custard creams I’ve never liked. ‘You have this",p:76,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"properly worked out?’",p:76,x:42,y:335,w:121,h:14},
{t:"‘Eight programmes first o ff, with the possibility of",p:76,x:61,y:358,w:264,h:14},
{t:"a second series. Here or ",p:76,x:42,y:378,w:143,h:14},
{t:"in Brittany. Perhaps south-",p:76,x:181,y:378,w:144,h:14},
{t:"ern Euro pe. The BBC is excited at the prospect.’",p:76,x:42,y:398,w:257,h:14},
{t:"‘They have promised funding?’",p:76,x:61,y:422,w:175,h:14},
{t:"‘Of course. We’ve on ly put a few trenches",p:76,x:61,y:445,w:264,h:14},
{t:"across. The whole southern half is unexplored.’",p:76,x:42,y:465,w:267,h:14},
{t:"‘How much are they talking about?’",p:76,x:61,y:488,w:198,h:14},
{t:"74",p:77,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"I didn’t know, and got to my feet again as I",p:77,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"launched out on the finds so far. ‘It’s a pretty",p:77,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"spectacular mix of cultures. Could be really big.",p:77,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"There’s stuff there that suggests Mediterranean",p:77,x:42,y:102,w:284,h:14},
{t:"contacts. And the Saxon sceats could be re-",p:77,x:42,y:122,w:283,h:14},
{t:"peated settlement.’",p:77,x:42,y:142,w:107,h:14},
{t:"‘Spare me the lecture. I just want to know",p:77,x:61,y:165,w:265,h:14},
{t:"you’re developing this properly.’",p:77,x:42,y:185,w:178,h:14},
{t:"‘If it goes on being this good everyone wi ll",p:77,x:61,y:208,w:264,h:14},
{t:"want to be involved. Might even get a paper into",p:77,x:42,y:228,w:284,h:14},
{t:"Antiquity .’",p:77,x:42,y:248,w:55,h:14},
{t:"‘Who’d be the co-author.’",p:77,x:61,y:272,w:143,h:14},
{t:"‘Duffy.’",p:77,x:61,y:295,w:40,h:14},
{t:"‘Get someone influential. Some professor",p:77,x:61,y:318,w:264,h:14},
{t:"where you want to go.’",p:77,x:42,y:338,w:126,h:14},
{t:"‘Go where? ’",p:77,x:61,y:362,w:68,h:14},
{t:"‘You can’t stay in this backwater. Isn’t there",p:77,x:61,y:385,w:265,h:14},
{t:"some specialization you could use? ’",p:77,x:42,y:405,w:203,h:14},
{t:"‘Proven ience, perhaps. Yes, that would sort out",p:77,x:61,y:428,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the contamination issue.’ I stopped. Contamination",p:77,x:42,y:448,w:283,h:14},
{t:"wasn’t something I wanted to talk about, but Jill",p:77,x:42,y:468,w:283,h:14},
{t:"75",p:78,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"had missed the point. ‘Or add another layer of",p:78,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"certainty’, I added.",p:78,x:42,y:62,w:104,h:14},
{t:"‘So replace Phil Duffy. You don’t need him.’",p:78,x:61,y:85,w:247,h:14},
{t:"I returned to the sofa and stared at the carpet,",p:78,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the Chinese one that Jill chose to go with the",p:78,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"whitewood furniture, which needs constant clean-",p:78,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ing and is too much of the woman’s boudoir for",p:78,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"my taste. ‘Jill,’ I said, ‘this is my dig, and my town.",p:78,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"You have to accept that sometimes I know what",p:78,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"I’m doing.’",p:78,x:42,y:228,w:58,h:14},
{t:"‘It is also our marriage. If you behave responsi-",p:78,x:61,y:252,w:264,h:14},
{t:"bly then perhaps we can come to some arrange-",p:78,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"ment. Play a p roper part in the marriage, decide on",p:78,x:42,y:292,w:284,h:14},
{t:"a sensible career path, and I’m prepared to over-",p:78,x:42,y:312,w:283,h:14},
{t:"look some of the past.’",p:78,x:42,y:332,w:127,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s something’, I said, pleased at the turn",p:78,x:61,y:355,w:264,h:14},
{t:"of events.",p:78,x:42,y:375,w:55,h:14},
{t:"‘Your unfaithfulness for a start.’",p:78,x:61,y:398,w:178,h:14},
{t:"I stared at her, suddenly vexed. ‘What unfaith-",p:78,x:61,y:422,w:265,h:14},
{t:"fulness?’",p:78,x:42,y:442,w:51,h:14},
{t:"‘You know perfectly well what I’m talking",p:78,x:61,y:465,w:265,h:14},
{t:"about. Which I won’t hesitate to use if necessary.’",p:78,x:42,y:485,w:282,h:14},
{t:"76",p:79,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Some names would help.’",p:79,x:61,y:42,w:148,h:14},
{t:"‘Don’t be stupid. First one Lawley girl and now",p:79,x:61,y:65,w:265,h:14},
{t:"the other.’",p:79,x:42,y:85,w:56,h:14},
{t:"This was to be a conciliation, and so I paused,",p:79,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"took a deep breath and played the anxious hus-",p:79,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"band. ‘Look, there’s nothing going on. Imogen is",p:79,x:42,y:148,w:283,h:14},
{t:"interviewing me, and Penny is just an old friend.",p:79,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"She did the illustrations for the book, which was",p:79,x:42,y:188,w:283,h:14},
{t:"years ago. ’",p:79,x:42,y:208,w:61,h:14},
{t:"‘Please do not treat me like a fool. What you",p:79,x:61,y:232,w:265,h:14},
{t:"get up to with them is for your own conscience,",p:79,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"but it is not reflecting well on me. You will stop if",p:79,x:42,y:272,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you want this marriage to support you.’",p:79,x:42,y:292,w:219,h:14},
{t:"‘I’d like us to get back together, yes of course. ’",p:79,x:61,y:315,w:264,h:14},
{t:"I was biting my tongue, and now wanted to shake",p:79,x:42,y:335,w:284,h:14},
{t:"this silly woman. The word unnerved me. Jill is",p:79,x:42,y:355,w:284,h:14},
{t:"self-important, controlling and a dozen other",p:79,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"things that help her career, but I’d never thought",p:79,x:42,y:395,w:284,h:14},
{t:"her silly before.",p:79,x:42,y:415,w:86,h:14},
{t:"‘Then you know what to do. Stop consorting",p:79,x:61,y:438,w:265,h:14},
{t:"with the undesirables of Buckmayne, and hand",p:79,x:42,y:458,w:283,h:14},
{t:"77",p:80,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"over the field centre to someone else. Being adult",p:80,x:42,y:42,w:283,h:14},
{t:"means making choices.’",p:80,x:42,y:62,w:137,h:14},
{t:"I didn’t speak until the anger had subsided. ‘I’ll",p:80,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"think about it, Jill, if you’re serious about getting",p:80,x:42,y:105,w:284,h:14},
{t:"back together again.’",p:80,x:42,y:125,w:117,h:14},
{t:"‘You’ll do more than think. Yo u’ll give me your",p:80,x:61,y:148,w:264,h:14},
{t:"solemn promise now.’",p:80,x:42,y:168,w:123,h:14},
{t:"I leant back and hugged my knees. ‘For",p:80,x:61,y:192,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Christ’s sake. You’re not the injured party.’",p:80,x:42,y:212,w:240,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s my last offer. I’m not going to bandy",p:80,x:61,y:235,w:265,h:14},
{t:"words with you. If you don’t want a messy divorce,",p:80,x:42,y:255,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and I’m supposing you don’t, not of you want the",p:80,x:42,y:275,w:284,h:14},
{t:"TV series to go ahead, then you’ll grow up and do",p:80,x:42,y:295,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the sensible thing. If not for me, for Megan ’s sake. ’",p:80,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"‘You",p:80,x:61,y:338,w:26,h:14},
{t:"’re mad ’, I said. ‘Trying to blackmail me or",p:80,x:86,y:338,w:240,h:14},
{t:"something?’",p:80,x:42,y:358,w:70,h:14},
{t:"‘Then I’ll ask you to leave the house.’",p:80,x:61,y:382,w:208,h:14},
{t:"‘Not before I",p:80,x:61,y:405,w:72,h:14},
{t:"’ve seen Megan. I’m going to stay",p:80,x:132,y:405,w:194,h:14},
{t:"right here till she gets back, whenever that is. You",p:80,x:42,y:425,w:283,h:14},
{t:"understand me?’ I went over to the table and",p:80,x:42,y:445,w:283,h:14},
{t:"picked up the vase. ‘These need changing. I don’t",p:80,x:42,y:465,w:283,h:14},
{t:"expect you to show the usual courtesies to a",p:80,x:42,y:485,w:285,h:14},
{t:"78",p:81,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"mere husband, but you could at least keep the",p:81,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"place tidy.’ I took the flowers out to the kitchen",p:81,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"and flung them in the bin.",p:81,x:42,y:82,w:144,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven, I want you out of my house now.’",p:81,x:61,y:105,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘It’s our house, in case you’ve forgotten.’",p:81,x:61,y:128,w:227,h:14},
{t:"‘You",p:81,x:61,y:152,w:26,h:14},
{t:"’ll leave n ow unless you want trouble. ’",p:81,x:86,y:152,w:239,h:14},
{t:"She walked over to the telephone. ",p:81,x:42,y:172,w:195,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven?’",p:81,x:236,y:172,w:52,h:14},
{t:"I put the vase back on the table, spilling some",p:81,x:61,y:195,w:265,h:14},
{t:"water, which she could clear up for once. ‘That ’s",p:81,x:42,y:215,w:282,h:14},
{t:"probably Megan now ’, I said as a coach appeared",p:81,x:42,y:235,w:283,h:14},
{t:"in the window.",p:81,x:42,y:255,w:80,h:14},
{t:"Jill dialled a number. ‘Is that the police centre?",p:81,x:61,y:278,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Yes, I wish to report a domestic disturbance at 5",p:81,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Houndswell Place. The Winterton Estate. Would",p:81,x:42,y:318,w:283,h:14},
{t:"you please send an officer immediately. I have",p:81,x:42,y:338,w:284,h:14},
{t:"asked my ex-husband to leave the house but he",p:81,x:42,y:358,w:284,h:14},
{t:"refuses to go. Yes, definitely threatening.’",p:81,x:42,y:378,w:234,h:14},
{t:"‘Give that thing to me. Police? Yes, I am the",p:81,x:61,y:402,w:265,h:14},
{t:"husband, not the ex-husband. I have simply",p:81,x:42,y:422,w:284,h:14},
{t:"asked to see my child. No, there’s not a court",p:81,x:42,y:442,w:283,h:14},
{t:"order, and I’m not being abusive or threatening.",p:81,x:42,y:462,w:284,h:14},
{t:"79",p:82,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"Would you mind putting the station chief on the",p:82,x:42,y:42,w:284,h:14},
{t:"line?’",p:82,x:42,y:62,w:29,h:14},
{t:"‘You do seem rather upset ’, said the voice.",p:82,x:61,y:85,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Perhaps it would be better if you left now.’",p:82,x:42,y:105,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m doing no such thing. Megan is my child as",p:82,x:61,y:128,w:264,h:14},
{t:"well and . . . she’s at the door, I think. Just tell my",p:82,x:42,y:148,w:284,h:14},
{t:"wife to calm down. She’s being wildly unreason-",p:82,x:42,y:168,w:283,h:14},
{t:"able. ’",p:82,x:42,y:188,w:30,h:14},
{t:"‘I think you should leave now, sir.’",p:82,x:61,y:212,w:189,h:14},
{t:"‘The hell I will. I’ve not spoken to Megan for",p:82,x:61,y:235,w:264,h:14},
{t:"eight weeks and . . . what ’s that? No, we’re not",p:82,x:42,y:255,w:283,h:14},
{t:"separated, and . . . all right send a car. You can",p:82,x:42,y:275,w:283,h:14},
{t:"take my wife away in a straight-jacket. She’s",p:82,x:42,y:295,w:283,h:14},
{t:"clearly out of her mind.’",p:82,x:42,y:315,w:132,h:14},
{t:"‘Just vacate the building, if you would, sir.’",p:82,x:61,y:338,w:239,h:14},
{t:"‘Changed all the locks. I ask you, does that",p:82,x:61,y:362,w:265,h:14},
{t:"sound like the action of a reasonable woman?’",p:82,x:42,y:382,w:261,h:14},
{t:"‘The car has now left, sir. I would advise you",p:82,x:61,y:405,w:265,h:14},
{t:"to leave t he premises please. ’",p:82,x:42,y:425,w:167,h:14},
{t:"‘Don ’t forget the medics for my wife’, I said",p:82,x:61,y:448,w:264,h:14},
{t:"and slammed down the phone as Megan ap-",p:82,x:42,y:468,w:283,h:14},
{t:"peared.",p:82,x:42,y:488,w:42,h:14},
{t:"80",p:83,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘Come here immediately’, said Jill.",p:83,x:61,y:42,w:192,h:14},
{t:"Megan looked at me from the doorway.",p:83,x:61,y:65,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘You’re not supposed to be here, daddy .’",p:83,x:42,y:85,w:228,h:14},
{t:"She came up and stood with arms crossed.",p:83,x:61,y:108,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Then she frowned and said, ‘Mummy says you",p:83,x:42,y:128,w:283,h:14},
{t:"left us.’",p:83,x:42,y:148,w:41,h:14},
{t:"‘No, Megan, that’s not true. Sometimes grown-",p:83,x:61,y:172,w:264,h:14},
{t:"ups fall out.’",p:83,x:42,y:192,w:69,h:14},
{t:"‘Mummy says you don’t care for us.’",p:83,x:61,y:215,w:204,h:14},
{t:"How dare my superior wife say such a thing? I",p:83,x:61,y:238,w:265,h:14},
{t:"was incensed and took a deep breath before",p:83,x:42,y:258,w:283,h:14},
{t:"starting quietly, ‘No, we had a row, that’s all.’ Jill",p:83,x:42,y:278,w:283,h:14},
{t:"walked up and down the room but Megan’s eyes",p:83,x:42,y:298,w:283,h:14},
{t:"were on me, and for the first time I began to like",p:83,x:42,y:318,w:283,h:14},
{t:"my daughter, who seemed only confused and",p:83,x:42,y:338,w:283,h:14},
{t:"wanting to think the best. ‘You do understand,",p:83,x:42,y:358,w:283,h:14},
{t:"don’t you, Megan?’ I was quite overwhelmed with",p:83,x:42,y:378,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the thought, and wondered how to continue, not",p:83,x:42,y:398,w:283,h:14},
{t:"helped by the police siren. They’d certainly not",p:83,x:42,y:418,w:283,h:14},
{t:"wasted time. ",p:83,x:42,y:438,w:84,h:14},
{t:"‘But we’ll get together shortly, of",p:83,x:125,y:438,w:201,h:14},
{t:"course’, I said, folding her fingers into my hand.’",p:83,x:42,y:458,w:272,h:14},
{t:"81",p:84,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"The siren stopped and two officers came into",p:84,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"the house. One was now bending down beside",p:84,x:42,y:62,w:284,h:14},
{t:"me, talking to Megan. ‘You all right, little lady?’",p:84,x:42,y:82,w:283,h:14},
{t:"she said.",p:84,x:42,y:102,w:51,h:14},
{t:"‘Daddy’s not supposed to be here.’",p:84,x:61,y:125,w:196,h:14},
{t:"‘If you",p:84,x:61,y:148,w:37,h:14},
{t:"’d like to come with us’, said the other",p:84,x:97,y:148,w:228,h:14},
{t:"officer.",p:84,x:42,y:168,w:39,h:14},
{t:"‘Whatever for?’ I shouted as I was bundled",p:84,x:61,y:192,w:265,h:14},
{t:"into the car, where I sat while Jill gave her version",p:84,x:42,y:212,w:283,h:14},
{t:"of events. Then the woman officer came out of",p:84,x:42,y:232,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the house and joined me in the back-seat. ‘Where",p:84,x:42,y:252,w:283,h:14},
{t:"are you staying sir? We’ll follow you home. ’",p:84,x:42,y:272,w:243,h:14},
{t:"‘What about Megan? She’s my daughter as",p:84,x:61,y:295,w:264,h:14},
{t:"well. This is outrageous.’",p:84,x:42,y:315,w:140,h:14},
{t:"‘Something will be sorted out, I’m sure. If you’ll",p:84,x:61,y:338,w:265,h:14},
{t:"go quietly we’ll see the situation doesn’t escalate.’",p:84,x:42,y:358,w:280,h:14},
{t:"‘Not before I’ve given a statement.’",p:84,x:61,y:382,w:195,h:14},
{t:"‘That’s not necessary. Buckmayne is it?’",p:84,x:61,y:405,w:229,h:14},
{t:"‘I’d like to give one anyway, so you k now",p:84,x:61,y:428,w:265,h:14},
{t:"what’s going on.’",p:84,x:42,y:448,w:95,h:14},
{t:"82",p:85,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"The male officer flipped open a notebook. Dr",p:85,x:61,y:42,w:264,h:14},
{t:"Steven Whittaker, he wrote. ",p:85,x:42,y:62,w:163,h:14},
{t:"‘Address? Telephone",p:85,x:204,y:62,w:121,h:14},
{t:"number?’",p:85,x:42,y:82,w:53,h:14},
{t:"‘What about a statement?’",p:85,x:61,y:105,w:149,h:14},
{t:"‘All in good time. We’ll contact you if we need",p:85,x:61,y:128,w:265,h:14},
{t:"more information. You",p:85,x:42,y:148,w:134,h:14},
{t:"’re not planning to leave",p:85,x:175,y:148,w:152,h:14},
{t:"Buckmayne, are you?’",p:85,x:42,y:168,w:125,h:14},
{t:"‘I’m not planning to leave Dorset, my wife, or",p:85,x:61,y:192,w:264,h:14},
{t:"any routine in my life she’s doing her best to",p:85,x:42,y:212,w:284,h:14},
{t:"disrupt. You hear me?’",p:85,x:42,y:232,w:129,h:14},
{t:"The officers exchanged glances, and the",p:85,x:61,y:255,w:265,h:14},
{t:"notebook was folded away. ",p:85,x:42,y:275,w:165,h:14},
{t:"‘My advice,’ said the",p:85,x:206,y:275,w:119,h:14},
{t:"male officer, ‘is not to attempt to contact you r wife",p:85,x:42,y:295,w:283,h:14},
{t:"or child for the time being. Whether the matter will",p:85,x:42,y:315,w:283,h:14},
{t:"be taken further, I cannot say, but another epi-",p:85,x:42,y:335,w:283,h:14},
{t:"sode like this would not be v iewed favourably,",p:85,x:42,y:355,w:283,h:14},
{t:"especially if the case came to court. You could",p:85,x:42,y:375,w:283,h:14},
{t:"find yourself facing a restraining order.’",p:85,x:42,y:395,w:221,h:14},
{t:"‘Steven,’ said the female officer, ‘just call it a",p:85,x:61,y:418,w:266,h:14},
{t:"day. Get yourself legal representation and follow",p:85,x:42,y:438,w:284,h:14},
{t:"the rules. All right?’",p:85,x:42,y:458,w:110,h:14},
{t:"83",p:86,x:176,y:511,w:14,h:15},
{t:"‘We’ll follow you back’, said her colleague.",p:86,x:61,y:42,w:265,h:14},
{t:"‘Unless you want to be put in handcuffs? Is that",p:86,x:42,y:62,w:283,h:14},
{t:"clear?’",p:86,x:42,y:82,w:37,h:14},
{t:"I watched them in the rear mirror, keeping",p:86,x:61,y:105,w:264,h:14},
{t:"their distance but not falling away until I came to",p:86,x:42,y:125,w:284,h:14},
{t:"a halt outside my small flat in Buckmayne.",p:86,x:42,y:145,w:237,h:14},
{t:"Better to have s tayed with Imogen, I told",p:86,x:61,y:168,w:264,h:14},
{t:"myself as I went in and threw myself into the one",p:86,x:42,y:188,w:284,h:14},
{t:"arm chair. A beer didn’t improve my temper, and I",p:86,x:42,y:208,w:283,h:14},
{t:"was extracting a half pizza from the fridge when",p:86,x:42,y:228,w:283,h:14},
{t:"the pastry broke in my fingers. A large piece fell",p:86,x:42,y:248,w:283,h:14},
{t:"on the floor, the topping sticking to the tiles.",p:86,x:42,y:268,w:283,h:14},
{t:"Perhaps I could get something on the journey out,",p:86,x:42,y:288,w:283,h:14},
{t:"a sandwich at one of the usual eating places, I",p:86,x:42,y:308,w:284,h:14},
{t:"thought, scraping the pizza into the waste-bin.",p:86,x:42,y:328,w:261,h:14},
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