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watch； and again it was in school hours。 the boy did not see me； for i was hidden by the trees。 i watched him for a moment or two； he was not working at all but sprawled across the lawn； engrossed in something on the grass； right under his nose。 he wore the same floppy hat as before。 i stepped toward him meaning to get his name and give him a lecture on the importance of education； but on seeing me he leaped to his feet； clamped his hat to his head with one hand and sprinted away faster than i have seen anyone move before。 his alarm is proof enough of his guilt。 the boy knew perfectly well he should be at school。 as he ran off he appeared to have a book in his hand。
i went to john and told him just what i thought。 i told him i would not allow children to work for him in school hours； that it was wrong to upset their education just for the few pence they earn； and that if the parents did not accept that； i would go and see them myself。 i told him if it was so necessary to have further hands working on the garden that i would see mr。 angelfield and employ a man。 i had already made this offer to get extra staff； both for the garden and the house； but john and mrs。 dunne were both so against the idea i thought it better to wait until i was more acquainted with the running of things here。
john’s response was to shake his head and deny all knowledge of the child。 when i impressed upon him the evidence of my own eyes； he said it must be a village child just e wandering in； that it happened sometimes； that he was not responsible for all the village truants who happened to be in the garden。 i told him then that i had seen the child before； the day i arrived； and that the child was clearly working。 he was tight…lipped； only repeated that he had no knowledge of a child； that anyone could weed his garden who wanted to； that there was no such child。
i told john； with a little anger that i cannot regret； that i intended to speak to the schoolmistress about it； and that i would go directly to the parents and sort the matter out with them。 he simply waved his hand； as if to say it was nothing to do with him and i might do as i liked （and i certainly shall）。 i am sure he knows who the boy is； and i am shocked at his refusal to help me in my duty toward him。 it seems out of character for him to be obstructive； but then i suppose he began his own apprenticeship as a child and thought it never did him any harm。 these attitudes are slow to die out in rural areas。
i was engrossed in the diary。 the barriers to legibility forced me to read slowly； puzzling out the difficulties； using all my experience； knowledge and imagination to flesh out the ghost words； yet the obstacles seemed not to impede me。 on the contrary； the faded margins； the eligibilities； the blurred words seemed to pulse with meaning； vividly alive。
while i was reading in this absorbed fashion； in another part of my mind entirely a decision was forming。 when the train drew in at the station where i was to descend for my connection； i found my mind made up。 i was not going home after all。 i was going to angelfield。
the local line train to banbury was too crowded with christmas travelers to sit； and i never read standing up。 with every jolt of the train； every jostle and stumble of my fellow passengers； i felt the rectangle of hester’s diary against my chest。 i had read only half of it。 the rest could wait。
what happened to you； hester； i thought。 where on earth did you go？
．co
DEMOLISHING THE PAST
？小｜说网
the windows showed me his kitchen was empty； and when i walked back to the front of the cottage and knocked on the door； there ‘as no answer。
might he have gone away？ it was a time of year when people did go away。 but they went to their families； surely； and so aurelius； having no family； would stay here。 belatedly the reason for aurelius’s absence occurred to me： he would be out delivering cakes for christmas parties。 where else would a caterer be； just before christmas？ i would have to e back later。 i put the card i had bought through the mail slot and set off through the woods toward angelfield house。
it was cold； cold enough for snow。 beneath my feet the ground was frost…hard and above the sky was dangerously white。 i walked briskly。 with my scarf wrapped around my face as high as my nose； i soon warmed up。
at the clearing； i stopped。 in the distance； at the site； there was unusual activity。 i frowned。 what was going on？ my camera was around neck； beneath my coat； the cold crept in as i undid my buttons。 using my long lens； i watched。 there was a police car on the drive； builders’ vehicles and machinery were all stationary； and the builders were standing in a loose cluster。 they must have stopped working a little while ago； for they were slapping their hands together and stamping their feet to keep warm。 their hats were on the ground or else slung by the strap from their elbows。 one man offered a pack of cigarettes。 from time to time one of them addressed a ment to the others； but there was no conversation。 i tried to make out the expression on their unsmiling faces。 bored？ worried？ curious？ they stood turned away from the site； facing the woods and my lens； but from time to time one or another cast a glance over his shoulder to the scene behind them。
behind the group of men； a white tent had been erected to cover part of the site。 the house was gone； but judging from the coach house； the gravel approach； the church； i guessed the tent was where the library had been。 beside it； one of their colleagues and a man i took to be their boss were in conversation with another pair of men。 these were dressed one in a suit and overcoat； the other in a police uniform。 it was the boss who was speaking； rapidly and with explanatory nods and shakes of the head； but when the man in the overcoat asked a question； it was the builder he addressed it to； and when he answered； all three men watched him intently。
he seemed unaware of the cold。 he spoke in short sentences； in his long and frequent pauses the others did not speak； but watched him with intense patience。 at one point he raised a finger in the direction of the machine and mimed its j