As she went in through the back door Helen stripped off her heavy gardening gloves and tossed them into an old half barrel that stood there.

-- Put the kettle on , Peter , after you've washed up. I have to nip upstairs .

Peter signified his assent with grunted okay , and moved to the sink to clean up his hands and then fill the kettle. By the time he had done so , Helen had returned , carrying a large cardboard box. Peter looked at her inquiringly but she shook her head and said:

-- Tea first .

She proceeded to make a strong brew .

Peter went to where he had left a small package and took out a half of a pack of biscuits.

-- I got these yesterday , he said.

-- I've been using them to bribe top line coffee out of Jane .

-- Jane ?

-- The craft shop owner. Like me , she has a thing for chocolate biscuits.We form a mutual Hob Nob Society .

-- What's she like ?

Peter broke into a broad grin.

-- That's funny . You know , that's exactly what she asked about you.

-- Oh yes ? There was touch of frost in the voice.

-- And just what did you tell her ?

-- Listen , said Peter .

-- You're my boss , right ?

And he emphasised the word boss.

-- I don't give away too many personal details in casual talk . Some about me but especially none about my employer. But you do have to recognise that the village is curious about you . And to my reckoning , it doesn't matter what I tell them , really. If I didn't give them some answers , they'd be making up a whole series of wild stories as to just why I was keeping my mouth shut. I'll just give people enough of the truth , because I'm damned if I'm going to lie about things , enough truth anyway to keep them happy and at the same time leave you your privacy .

-- What a principled young man you are !

-- I do my best ! he said huffily .

-- All right , all right ! I 'm not calling you a blabbermouth. Perhaps it's just as well the lot down there should get a reasonable idea of what I'm about , so I don't mind what you say , as long as you keep that forelock tugged .

-- Give over on the forelock ! exclaimed Peter.

-- And I don't think you need worry about what I've told anyone.

Helen looked at him appraisingly.

-- You know , I don't really think I do have to , she said.

-- Drink your tea , and then have a look at these .

She started to deal a whole lot of photographs out in a fan shape on the table.

-- I found these in the old lady's room .

She waited expectantly as Peter looked them over cursorily .

-- See anyone you know ?

Peter now picked up each photograph in turn and looked at it carefully.

-- Who's this young bloke with all the different girls ?

-- That , said Helen definitively , is the son of the old lady. I haven't worked it out in detail , but according to what I've been told he was apparently a distant cousin . Very distant. Even more distant now since he died . Drugs apparently . Now tell me -- does he remind you of anyone ?

-- No , said Peter .

-- Not even of yourself ?

-- Me ? Peter was incredulous .

-- He looks to be about my age -- he's got the same sort of hair , but crikey , you wouldn't mistake me for him in a month of Sundays .

-- Turn the photo over , said Helen . Do you recognise the woman, now ?

-- Good god , said Peter as he read the name on the back -- Jean Johnson.

-- Not the same name but it must be a young Mrs Day -- Jean Day.

-- I think my good cousin was a bit of a Casanova. If you look at the other photos , you'll find him there with rather a lot of the women of the village -- much older now of course . And he must have been an amateur photographer who developed his own shots , because you'll find a few pictures of young women in somewhat compromising positions and states of undress .

-- Dirty young bugger , said Peter . Who's this ?

And he turned over a rather revealing picture to read the name .

-- Doris . Doris who , I wonder ?

-- Present postmistress , was the laconic answer.

-- Not such a tempting female now ! She must have put it about a bit then. though ! But crikey , if you're ever really short of cash you could always sell these.

-- No way , said Helen sharply .

-- The past is the past and I don't intend to resurrect it . Oh well , with one exception perhaps . Remember , he was part of my family and I don't want his reputation made any worse than it already is .

-- Who's the exception ? asked Peter .

Silently , Helen handed over Mrs Day's letter .

-- I got this from Mrs Day .

Peter read the letter, looked at Helen , and read it again , more carefully. Finally he looked up from it and said :

-- And did you think this might be true ? Is that the reason for the cold shoulder yesterday and the questions today ?

-- Only partly , said Helen .

-- You see , I've had a visit from my solicitors and they're confident that I am the sole heir. Not only is the old lady's will sound , but they had a firm of investigators trace every possible link to her , and I 'm the nearest anyway . You couldn't even have been adopted so there was no chance of your challenging me . I just wanted to think a bit more about you and your being here. Make a complete judgement .

-- Yes, well I had to produce birth certificates and all that to prove I was patrial , said Peter somewhat belligerently .

-- I'd have found out anything dodgy then. So what are you going to do ? Am I fired ?

-- Don't be silly , said Helen .

-- Let me tell you what we , and I said we , will do.