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"That’s right I re this bit oflooks at his frowning countenance I cleared the dishes, and ashed and dried side by side, Beethoven’s 13th winding down behind us He walked in to the living room and switched it off as I put the last dish in the cupboard He moved to the piano and lifted the lid over the keys

"I haven’t heard you play for so long, Josie Will you play for ers ran over the piano keys

"I don’t know You never did sing reement at Burraston’s Pond

"Hmm That’s true We had a deal Okay…I’ll tell you the Irish La first"

I waited, looking at him

"You have to promise you won’t run away"

Saht, and looked down at me "I don’t want the poem to ht scare you and ht make you fall in love with estion was ludicrous

"So I can’t run away but it’s okay if I fall in love with you?"

"That depends," he retorted smoothly

"On what?"

"On whether you run away"

"You’re speaking in riddles"

He shrugged "Do we have a deal?"

"Deal" I held out my hand, but my heart lurched a little in my chest

Samuel closed his eyes for a minute, as if to pull the words from some recess in his an to recite softly:

Oh, a wan cloud was drawn o’er the di dawn

As to Josie’s side I returned at last,

And the heart in , how loud and fast!