Peter slept well , just as as he always did , but as he got out of bed , ready to have a morning shower , he picked up the note that he had crumpled and thrown down onto the floor the night before . He smoothed it out , read its content again , then instead of crumpling it once more , folded it , returned it to its envelope , and slid it into his pack . Just before he did so , he sniffed the heavy scent it held , and shook his head .

Then, dismissing it from his mind , he showered and dressed and made his way to The Wishing Well for his breakfast . He noticed a few selected flowers from the bunch he had given Mrs George tastefully arranged in a small vase by the cash register . He smiled , and thought to himself that Mrs Day had chosen well , and Mrs George was obviously well pleased .

Taking the usual two Goldtops that Ernie had set aside for him to deliver each day to the manor , and a small double cream that Helen had asked him to add for the day, he walked up to the house , enjoying the freshness of the morning .

Helen greeted him and almost immediately sent him off to the garden .

-- I've been up for a while , she had told him .

-- I've put the seed packets at the side of the beds where I want them planted . See if you can get them in before Mrs Day turns up , and give yourself time to get cleaned up too. I found some of the old lady's jams , and I'm going to make some scones , so we can have a reasonable morning tea when she gets here .

-- Scones !!! exclaimed Peter ,

-- Are we setting out to impress then?

-- Not just scones , my lad . I've also found some lovely old table linen , and the most delightful tea set . Minton ! Now out of the way . I'm going to be busy with that and laying out the photographs the way that I want her to come at them .

She smiled happily at him and Peter went out into the kitchen garden to begin . He stood for a moment and admired the way that the mistress of the house had chosen her planting areas .

-- You're one very efficient woman , he said to himself , and set to .

Long before he had finished his task , made easier by their preparations of the previous days , he could smell the wonderful aroma of cooking scones , and when he was ready to get cleaned up , he poked his head into the kitchen , saying ,

-- If they taste as good as they smell , Mrs Day will have to battle with me for the lion's share !

-- All the women of my family have been scone experts , said Helen , somewhat smugly .

-- Now hurry up , it's close to the time she'll be here .

Peter only just got himself ready before there came a knock at the front door . Mrs Day had arrived , and Helen went to meet her .

-- Welcome . You're just in time for elevenses , she said .

Mrs Day had also obviously set out to impress . She was wearing what were doubtless her best clothes including , to Helen's surprise , a hat and gloves .

-- What a pretty dress , said Helen tactfully ,

-- I'm sorry you find me in my workaday outfit , but I've been cooking .

-- I thought , said Mrs Day , with a slight stiffness of manner ,

-- that as this is the first time I have visited here , that I should dress appropriately .

-- I'm flattered . Perhaps you would care to come through to the kitchen and have morning tea with us .

-- Very kind of you , Lady Helen.

-- No no , you mustn't call me Lady Helen , Mrs Day . I haven't bothered to let many people know , but my name is in fact , Helen Johnson . Miss Helen Johnson . I am only distantly related the Nascents . But I'm surprised the Post Office people hadn't picked that up . Now do please come through .

-- Doris must be slipping , thought Mrs Day , and she followed Helen , all the while looking around her at what could be seen on the way.

-- Let's not stand on ceremony , said Helen as she unwrapped the plates of warm scones from the bright linen clothes that covered them.

-- Take off your hat and make yourself comfortable . The jam is some that was here when I arrived . Apparently the Lady was an industrious jam maker . I'v got enough stored away to feed several troops of Boy Scouts . And one or two companies of older ones .

She looked at Peter , who DYB - DYB -ed back at her with a chuckle.

Never one to miss an opportunity , Mrs Day suggested that maybe Helen would care to donate some to the local fete , or even , under the old lady's name , enter some of them in the competition .

-- Excellent idea , said Helen .

-- You must take a small selection back with you , and let me know which ones you think would be most popular .

Peter glanced up from where he was busy adding cream to a scone and jam , thinking ,

-- You are a cunning one , making every post a winner with the old girl .

Mrs Day was flushed with pleasure , and drinking in her chance to build up stories for the Village gossips .

They chatted on about scone cooking and jams and fetes , and all the trivia that went with morning tea. Then Helen said briskly ,

--It's time to get down to business . Would you mind if Peter showed you some to the ground floor rooms , while I cleared up here and got out the photographs ? I'm going to need your help with some identifications.

Torn between an eagerness to see what she could of the house , and to get at the photographs , Mrs Day finally assented to the guided tour .

Peter led her through the rooms that Helen had showed him , and explained that the other wings were locked up .

-- Can't take you upstairs either . Never been up there. It's Helen's private area .

-- I see you call her Helen . It's not usual round here for workers to call their employers by their Christian names .

-- You forget , said Peter.

-- Neither of us come from round here . But I think she should be ready for us by now .