I went on, walking fast across the old workings. There was nobody about. The headland was all white in the moonlight. And the house, which had looked so grim in the storm that first night, was white too. I tried to avoid looking at that little dormer window in the roof. But it seemed to watch me as I went past the front of the house and into the yard.
I reached the kitchen by the scullery door. Kitty was sitting beside the open range, her head bent over a book. The old woman sat opposite her, mending some socks. They looked up as I came in. Kitty jumped to her feet. Her cheeks were red with the heat of the fire. 'What are you doing here?' she asked.
I hesitated. 'I came to see you,' I said.
'Came to see me?' She seemed surprised and her eyes dropped to the book in her hand. She put it down on the table. 'What do you want to see me about?' Her voice had a slight tremor in it.
'I just felt lonely,' I said quickly. 'It's such a lovely night and — and I wanted somebody to talk to,' I added lamely.
'There's Slim and Friar through there, if you want company,' she added. 'But you shouldn't be up here.'
'I don't want to talk to either Slim or Friar,' I told her. 'I want to talk to you.'
She looked down and her fingers turned the leaves of the book she had been reading. 'You shouldn't be up here,' was all she said.
'I know that,' I answered. 'Look — take a stroll down to the headland in a short while, will you? I'll meet you down by the mine.'
She didn't answer. But the old woman looked up from her darning and said, 'There's a nice moon, dearie, and the walk will do 'ee good.'