Read Online The Lost Years by E.V. Thompson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: E.V. Thompson
Tags: General Fiction
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nineteenth birthday meant that he had not seriously considered the matter since mentioning it to her.
Maude had, however, announced her intention of returning to London with her two daughters in the very near future. Morwenna was a trained nurse and casualties from the front in France would soon be filling the hospitals of the capital. Her skills would be urgently needed.
It was intended that Arabella too should follow in the footsteps of her famous ancestor. She was eager to commence her training, but Perys was of the opinion that the younger of the two Tremayne girls would never achieve the calm efficiency of her sister.
Once Maude was gone from Heligan, Perys knew he would need to reach an early decision about his own plans. He could not remain at Heligan for very much longer unless he was able to earn money to support himself. There was also the increasing pressure of watching local young men going off to war. Perys felt he too should be playing a part in the increasingly fierce conflict raging in Europe.
Heligan had already lost a number of its work force. Three reservists had left in the first week of the war. The same number had since enlisted, joining many men from Mevagissey and other surrounding villages.
Because of the sudden dearth of workers, Perys spent a week helping to gather in the wheat on Heligan Home Farm. He followed it by helping out the Brays on Tregassick Farm.
He was working in one of the Tregassick fields, wielding a pitchfork and loading sheaves of corn on to a farmcart, when he heard a sound that was alien to the Cornish countryside. It was the steady drone of a petrol engine.
At first, Perys thought it must be a motor-car. This in itself was unusual enough to attract attention, but as the sound grew louder it became apparent this was no motor vehicle.
Suddenly, Annie cried excitedly, ‘Look. Up there in the sky.’
Following the direction of her pointed finger Perys saw something approaching, high above the ground. It was an aeroplane.
Throwing down his pitchfork, he cried, ‘It’s Rupert! I’d given up all hope that he would really come.’
He had no need to explain in any more detail. He had already told Annie of Rupert’s intention to fly to Cornwall and visit Heligan.
‘I must go, Annie. I’m sorry . . .’
‘How do you know where he’s going to come down?’ she asked.
‘There’s only one field flat and clear enough for him to land in. It’s just the other side of Heligan. I want to be there to meet him.’
Wasting no more time in conversation, Perys sprinted off. There was a deep, wooded valley between him and the field in question, but a track climbed the hill on the far side of the valley, skirting the field.
The run would test his fitness to the limit, but he was determined to be the first to greet Rupert when the aeroplane landed.
It was a close thing. Had the pilot not made two passes over the field to ensure there were no hidden hazards, Perys would not have achieved his aim. As it was, although his chest was heaving alarmingly as he fought to regain his breath, he reached the field in time to see the aeroplane float to the ground, its engine coughing noisily.
It bounced twice before coming to a halt, then turned slowly and trundled across the grass towards the nearest point to Heligan, which happened to be the gate where Perys was standing.
Stopping short of the gate, the aeroplane’s engine noise increased momentarily before ceasing altogether. The propeller cut through the air in silence for a moment or two, then came to a spasmodic halt.
The aeroplane had two open cockpits, but only the rear one was occupied. The pilot unfastened a safety belt and pushed his goggles up to his forehead before extricating himself and climbing stiffly from the aeroplane to the ground.
As he did so, one of the Heligan gamekeepers appeared behind Perys, a double-barrelled shotgun carried in the crook of his arm. He looked uncertainly from Perys to the airman and Perys
Maude had, however, announced her intention of returning to London with her two daughters in the very near future. Morwenna was a trained nurse and casualties from the front in France would soon be filling the hospitals of the capital. Her skills would be urgently needed.
It was intended that Arabella too should follow in the footsteps of her famous ancestor. She was eager to commence her training, but Perys was of the opinion that the younger of the two Tremayne girls would never achieve the calm efficiency of her sister.
Once Maude was gone from Heligan, Perys knew he would need to reach an early decision about his own plans. He could not remain at Heligan for very much longer unless he was able to earn money to support himself. There was also the increasing pressure of watching local young men going off to war. Perys felt he too should be playing a part in the increasingly fierce conflict raging in Europe.
Heligan had already lost a number of its work force. Three reservists had left in the first week of the war. The same number had since enlisted, joining many men from Mevagissey and other surrounding villages.
Because of the sudden dearth of workers, Perys spent a week helping to gather in the wheat on Heligan Home Farm. He followed it by helping out the Brays on Tregassick Farm.
He was working in one of the Tregassick fields, wielding a pitchfork and loading sheaves of corn on to a farmcart, when he heard a sound that was alien to the Cornish countryside. It was the steady drone of a petrol engine.
At first, Perys thought it must be a motor-car. This in itself was unusual enough to attract attention, but as the sound grew louder it became apparent this was no motor vehicle.
Suddenly, Annie cried excitedly, ‘Look. Up there in the sky.’
Following the direction of her pointed finger Perys saw something approaching, high above the ground. It was an aeroplane.
Throwing down his pitchfork, he cried, ‘It’s Rupert! I’d given up all hope that he would really come.’
He had no need to explain in any more detail. He had already told Annie of Rupert’s intention to fly to Cornwall and visit Heligan.
‘I must go, Annie. I’m sorry . . .’
‘How do you know where he’s going to come down?’ she asked.
‘There’s only one field flat and clear enough for him to land in. It’s just the other side of Heligan. I want to be there to meet him.’
Wasting no more time in conversation, Perys sprinted off. There was a deep, wooded valley between him and the field in question, but a track climbed the hill on the far side of the valley, skirting the field.
The run would test his fitness to the limit, but he was determined to be the first to greet Rupert when the aeroplane landed.
It was a close thing. Had the pilot not made two passes over the field to ensure there were no hidden hazards, Perys would not have achieved his aim. As it was, although his chest was heaving alarmingly as he fought to regain his breath, he reached the field in time to see the aeroplane float to the ground, its engine coughing noisily.
It bounced twice before coming to a halt, then turned slowly and trundled across the grass towards the nearest point to Heligan, which happened to be the gate where Perys was standing.
Stopping short of the gate, the aeroplane’s engine noise increased momentarily before ceasing altogether. The propeller cut through the air in silence for a moment or two, then came to a spasmodic halt.
The aeroplane had two open cockpits, but only the rear one was occupied. The pilot unfastened a safety belt and pushed his goggles up to his forehead before extricating himself and climbing stiffly from the aeroplane to the ground.
As he did so, one of the Heligan gamekeepers appeared behind Perys, a double-barrelled shotgun carried in the crook of his arm. He looked uncertainly from Perys to the airman and Perys
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