They’re taught to analyse and make informed decisions.’
‘But is that right? Surely the Villagers should also be taught to analyse and make decisions.’
‘It’s a matter of intelligence. We’re a closed community and our gene pool is relatively small. The Villagers are practical, hardworking and physical, and they’re the lifeblood of the community. But they’re not generally intelligent in the cerebral sense. They accept their position in Stonewylde society because they don’t question anything and don’t want the responsibilities they know the Hallfolk’s lifestyles bring.’
‘But surely there must be some intelligent Villagers? You make them sound like a bunch of half-witted peasants!’
Magus threw back his head and roared with laughter at this. He rose from the armchair and stretched, smiling down at her, his dark eyes dancing with amusement.
‘I’m so pleased you’ve come to Stonewylde, Miranda. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. I think your arrival will shake us all up a bit.’
She felt herself going pink at this, watching him covertly as he moved over to the window to observe the boy in the back garden.
‘How’s Yul been doing? Turned up every evening, I trust? Working hard?’
‘Yes, very hard indeed. He even carried on when it was pouring with rain.’
‘And so he should. Rain never hurt anyone. And neither did hard labour.’
‘May we offer him a drink or something to eat? He’s quite thin and Sylvie and I feel a little sorry for him.’
Magus turned to her, his eyes hard, and Miranda felt a prickle of shock.
‘Absolutely not! He’s not thin, just fit and wiry. And he’s here as a punishment, not to be fed and watered. If I think you’re molly-coddling him then I’ll find him something far more unpleasant to do. As it is I’m beginning to think I’ve let him off too lightly.’
Miranda stood up and joined Magus at the window, peering out at the boy in the garden. Sweat ran down his grimy face as he put all his energy into digging the heavy soil. He straightened, his back obviously aching, and pushed the damp hair from his eyes leaving a great streak of mud across his face. Then he glanced across at the window and saw the two adults watching him. With almost ludicrous alacrity he took up the spade and set to again. Magus smiled and sat down, accepting another cup of coffee.
‘It’s all a question of multiple intelligences, to return to your question. Many of the Villagers are very creative and have great physical and motor intelligence. Not so many are academically gifted. That’s why we gear their Village School and curriculum to their needs. But we regularly screen every child. If any Villager shows real potential they’re moved up to the Hall School, and eventually will live there and become one of the Hallfolk.’
‘Well that sounds a little fairer,’ said Miranda. ‘I’m not criticising but I really hate to see anyone kept down because of a social thing. I saw too much of that in London – kids never standing a chance in life because they were born in the wrong place. Stonewylde does seem very feudal. You know: the lord of the manor and his privileged family living in luxury while the unwashed villeins do all the hard labour. But I can see perhaps it’s not quite as simple as that.’
Magus sighed impatiently.
‘No it’s not, and as you settle in you’ll see the logic and fairness of life in the community. Believe me, Miranda, the Villagers lead very full and happy lives. They’re certainly not exploited, which is what you’re implying.’
‘No, I’m—’
‘You’re mistakenly equating hard physical work with a poor, unfulfilled life. But it’s not like that! I sometimes wish my life was as rich and uncomplicated as the Villagers’.’
He stood up again, brimming with a restless energy that prevented him from relaxing for any length of time. Miranda could almost feel the crackle in the air around him.
‘I’m sorry if
‘But is that right? Surely the Villagers should also be taught to analyse and make decisions.’
‘It’s a matter of intelligence. We’re a closed community and our gene pool is relatively small. The Villagers are practical, hardworking and physical, and they’re the lifeblood of the community. But they’re not generally intelligent in the cerebral sense. They accept their position in Stonewylde society because they don’t question anything and don’t want the responsibilities they know the Hallfolk’s lifestyles bring.’
‘But surely there must be some intelligent Villagers? You make them sound like a bunch of half-witted peasants!’
Magus threw back his head and roared with laughter at this. He rose from the armchair and stretched, smiling down at her, his dark eyes dancing with amusement.
‘I’m so pleased you’ve come to Stonewylde, Miranda. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better. I think your arrival will shake us all up a bit.’
She felt herself going pink at this, watching him covertly as he moved over to the window to observe the boy in the back garden.
‘How’s Yul been doing? Turned up every evening, I trust? Working hard?’
‘Yes, very hard indeed. He even carried on when it was pouring with rain.’
‘And so he should. Rain never hurt anyone. And neither did hard labour.’
‘May we offer him a drink or something to eat? He’s quite thin and Sylvie and I feel a little sorry for him.’
Magus turned to her, his eyes hard, and Miranda felt a prickle of shock.
‘Absolutely not! He’s not thin, just fit and wiry. And he’s here as a punishment, not to be fed and watered. If I think you’re molly-coddling him then I’ll find him something far more unpleasant to do. As it is I’m beginning to think I’ve let him off too lightly.’
Miranda stood up and joined Magus at the window, peering out at the boy in the garden. Sweat ran down his grimy face as he put all his energy into digging the heavy soil. He straightened, his back obviously aching, and pushed the damp hair from his eyes leaving a great streak of mud across his face. Then he glanced across at the window and saw the two adults watching him. With almost ludicrous alacrity he took up the spade and set to again. Magus smiled and sat down, accepting another cup of coffee.
‘It’s all a question of multiple intelligences, to return to your question. Many of the Villagers are very creative and have great physical and motor intelligence. Not so many are academically gifted. That’s why we gear their Village School and curriculum to their needs. But we regularly screen every child. If any Villager shows real potential they’re moved up to the Hall School, and eventually will live there and become one of the Hallfolk.’
‘Well that sounds a little fairer,’ said Miranda. ‘I’m not criticising but I really hate to see anyone kept down because of a social thing. I saw too much of that in London – kids never standing a chance in life because they were born in the wrong place. Stonewylde does seem very feudal. You know: the lord of the manor and his privileged family living in luxury while the unwashed villeins do all the hard labour. But I can see perhaps it’s not quite as simple as that.’
Magus sighed impatiently.
‘No it’s not, and as you settle in you’ll see the logic and fairness of life in the community. Believe me, Miranda, the Villagers lead very full and happy lives. They’re certainly not exploited, which is what you’re implying.’
‘No, I’m—’
‘You’re mistakenly equating hard physical work with a poor, unfulfilled life. But it’s not like that! I sometimes wish my life was as rich and uncomplicated as the Villagers’.’
He stood up again, brimming with a restless energy that prevented him from relaxing for any length of time. Miranda could almost feel the crackle in the air around him.
‘I’m sorry if
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