"S

everal times a week from tea until dinner, and sometimes during dinner, we made plans for the green-house. I found Betsy - as I now called her - congenial company and she often complimented me - she said I was the most charming man she had ever met. Soon we had designed a pretty and functional green-house on paper. But as I had no experience in architecture or construction, we set about finding someone who did. I say "we" because by this time it was my project as much as Betsy's, although she took financial responsibility.

It gradually occurred to me that Betsy had feelings for me that were stronger than friendship, although she never stated so directly. But she wanted to spend more time with me than was necessary for the project, often insisting I stay for dinner. And some times I would catch her looking at me in a certain way...

I briefly considered a romantic entanglement with her, but she was not my ideal. When I was in my twenties I had my ideal mate in mind - she would be pretty and young. And although I grew older, my ideal stayed the same age - in her mid-twenties. But I'm sure you agree with me, Reverend, that it is God's will for a man to be older than his wife. For didn't God create Eve from Adam's rib, making him the elder? And surely every man deserves a young and pretty wife. While Betsy was well enough for her age, she was a few years older than myself, and this would not do. No, I could not become involved with her romantically.

And so our feelings were at odds, which was not a comfortable situation, although I did not directly tell her the truth. I did not want to withdrawal from the project - I very much wanted to see the green-house through to completion. And so I did not quit the project in spite of Betsy's unrequited feelings.

As the reader has learned, this at least was true - Mrs. Corning's diary revealed that she was in love with Mr. Acton. After we gazed at the ruined green-house, Mr. Actor wrote "Pls join me for tea" and I followed him back to his cottage.

I had time to peruse his library while he prepared the meal - apparently he had no servants. He had many and varied interests, especially theatre and literature. Tea was rather awkward, since communication was only possibly through reading and writing. Eventually Acton brought me a small notebook, and I could see immediately it was written in Mrs. Corning's hand.

(To be continued...)