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john shook his head。 he’d heard this a dozen times； this idea the missus clung to； that hester would be ing back。 the whole village knew she would not e back。 the maudsleys’ servant had heard everything。 she professed to have seen it； too； and more besides； and by now it was impossible that there was a single adult in the village who did not know for a fact that the plain…faced governess had been carrying on an adulterous affair with the doctor。
it was inevitable that one day rumors of hester’s “behavior” （a village euphemism for misbehavior） should reach the ears of the missus。 at first she was scandalized。 she refused to entertain the idea that hester—her hester—could have done such a thing。 but when she reported angrily to john what was being said； he only confirmed it。 he had been at the doctor’s that day； he reminded her； collecting the child。 he had heard it directly from the housemaid。 on the very day it occurred。 and besides； why would hester have left so suddenly； without warning； if something out of the ordinary hadn’t occurred？
‘her family；“ the missus stammered； ”an emergency…“
‘where’s the letter； then？ she’d have written； wouldn’t she； if she meant to e back？ she’d have explained。 have you had a letter？“
the missus shook her head。
‘well then；“ finished john； unable to keep the satisfaction from his voice； ”she’s done something that she didn’t ought to； and she won’t be ing back。 she’s gone for good。 take it from me。“
the missus went round and around it in her head。 she didn’t know what to believe。 the world had bee a very confusing place。
gone！
only charlie was unaffected。 there were changes； of course。 the proper meals that under hester’s regime had been placed outside the door at breakfast； lunch and dinner became occasional sandwiches； a cold chop and a tomato； a bowl of congealed scrambled egg； appearing at unpredictable intervals； whenever the missus remembered。 it didn’t make any difference to charlie。 if he felt hungry and it was there； he might eat a mouthful of yesterday’s chop； or a dry end of bread； but if it isn’t there he wouldn’t； and his hunger didn’t bother him。 he had a more powerful hunger to worry about。 it was the essence of his life and something that hester； in her arrival and in her departure； had not changed。
yet change did e for charlie； though it had nothing to do with hester。
from time to time a letter would e to the house； and from time to time someone would open it。 a few days after john…the…dig’s ment about there having been no letter from hester； the missus； finding herself in the hall； noticed a small pile of letters gathering dust on the mat under the letter box。 she opened them。
one from charlie’s banker： was he interested in an investment opportunity… ？
the second was an invoice from the builders for the work done on the roof。
was the third from hester？
no。 the third was from the asylum。 isabelle was dead。
the missus stared at the letter。 dead！ isabelle！ could it be true？ influenza； the letter said。
charlie would have to be told； but the missus quailed at the prospect。 better talk to dig first； she resolved； putting the letters aside。 but later； when john was sitting at his place at the kitchen table and she was topping up his cup with fresh tea； there remained no trace of the letter in her mind。 it had joined those other； increasingly frequent； lost moments； lived and felt but unrecorded and then lost。 nevertheless； a few days later； passing through the hall with a tray of burnt toast and bacon； she mechanically put the letters on the tray with the food； though she had no memory at all of their contents。
and then the days passed and nothing seemed to happen at all； except that the dust got thicker； and the grime accumulated on the windowpanes； and the playing cards crept farther and farther from their box in the drawing room； and it became easier and easier to forget that there had ever been a hester。
it was john…the…dig who realized in the silence of the days that something had happened。
he was an outdoors man and not domesticated。 nevertheless he knew that there es a time when cups cannot be made to do for one more cup of tea without being first washed； and he knew moreover that a plate that has held raw meat cannot be used straight after for cooked。 he saw how things were going with the missus； he was no fool。 so when the pile of dirty plates and cups piled up； he would set to and do the washing up。 it was an odd thing to see him at the sink in his wellington boots and his cap； so clumsy with the cloth and china where he was so adroit with his terra…cotta pots and tender plants。 and it came to his attention that the number of cups and plates was diminishing。 soon there would not be enough。 where was the missing crockery？ he thought instantly of the missus making her haphazard way upstairs with a plate for master charlie。 had he ever seen her return an empty plate to the kitchen？ no。
he went upstairs。 outside the locked door； plates and cups were arranged in a long queue。 the food； untouched by charlie； was providing a fine feast for the flies that buzzed over it； and there was a powerful； unpleasant smell。 how many days had the missus been leaving food here without noticing that the previous day’s was still untouched？ he toted up the number of plates and cups and frowned。 that is when he knew。
he did not knock at the door。 what was the point？ he had to go to his shed for a piece of timber strong enough to use as a battering ram。 the noise of it against the oak； the creaking and smashing as metal hinges tore away from wood； was enough to bring us all； even the missus； to the door。
when the battered door fell open； half broken off its hinges； we could hear buzzing flies； and a terrible stench billowed out； knocking emmeline and the missus back a few steps。 even john put his hand to his mouth and turned a shade whiter。 “stay back；” he ordered as he entered the room。 a few paces behind； i followed him。
we stepped gingerly through the debris of rotting food on the floor if the old nursery； stirring clouds of flies up into the air as we passed。 charlie had been living li