-- Strewth , there's a bit of a firecracker , said Peter as he returned to Helen in the kitchen .

-- No holding back with that one !

-- No , there doesn't seem to be, agreed Helen .

-- Anyway , I don't suppose we'll have to put up with her and any team she brings with her for long . You couldn't find a more inconvenient place for a dig , and I'm damned sure I'm not going to let them take out any of my trees to make great holes up there , whether it's for the sake of history or not .

-- Do you know she thought I might be your butler !

Peter's somewhat aggrieved tone suggested that Ms Croft , despite her looks, had not made a very favourable impression on him .

-- A Jack of all trades I might be , but I am definitely not going to be regarded as a butler .

-- If I got you silver tray , would you serve her scones and tea? Helen asked with a laugh.

-- Not bloody likely ! Then he broke into a grin himself .

-- If you're intending to have her in and out of here for tea , then I think I'll find some jobs outside while she's here. She can wiggle her bum at the coppers up there all she likes . She's not my cup of tea at all.

Helen became serious .

-- I think I'll be having as little to do with the team as possible . In fact , I might put out the word that I don't want them coming near the house at all . I've got too much to do for myself without their distractions . Now how far have you got with those seed beds ?

-- Pretty well finished . Another hour's work will do it .

-- Good , then I'll give you a hand and we'll halve the time . I want the excuse that I'm too busy in the middle of some other important work to carry through that offer of a cup of tea for the woman. Besides if she's any way at all thorough , she's going to be quite a time up there . And don't forget she'll need to go back to the village for lunch . That should put things back a bit .

-- How do you reckon she'd go with Mad Tom ? asked Peter.

-- And it's my guess that that landlord will be hovering over her from the word go . What's the betting he'll try it on with her ?

He paused for a moment , remembering the way Fred had brushed up against Tanya , then added :

-- Now him coming on to her would be worth watching . I have the feeling she'd chew him up and spit out a few bones for the Village dogs .

-- No bets about it from me . Let's go finish the planting in the kitchen garden . Then we can start on the next big job .

-- And what'll that be ?

-- The Library . And that's going to be a pretty massive job. There are probably other places we could do , but I 'd like to work out what I've got in there , clean it up , and get it in order . You reckon you're up to some shelf work and cataloguing ?

-- I can but try , said Peter with mock solemnity .

-- But first , let's get agricultural.

While Helen got herself ready with hat and gloves , Peter went out to begin the garden job again