August 29, 1918

Downton Abbey

The next morning when Matthew came downstairs at just past 6:00 am he found Sybil and Mary waiting for him.

"Good Morning Matthew" said Sybil.

"Happy Birthday Matthew" said Mary with a smile.

"And many more" added Sybil.

"Thank you to the both of you" he responded. Looking at Mary he said "I didn't know you were an early riser."

"I am not usually but I thought I would guide you back from the hospital".

"I would appreciate that." he smiled at her.

Sybil again got the feeling she was no longer in the room with the two of them. On purpose she broke the spell. "Come into the breakfast room. Mrs. Patmore left some scones and jam for us and I have made a pot of tea. Then we must get going. We want to get that wound cleaned up and dressed in plenty time for you to get back here and have a big breakfast. I understand Father has a busy day planned for you."

The sun was just coming up as the three of them walked to the hospital. They did not speak. Sybil wondered if her presence was inhibiting them. She noticed that Matthew was very alert. "Is there something wrong?" she asked him.

He seemed to come out of a trance. "When you're doing your turn in the trenches the hour each side of dawn is the worst. You're up a hour before. Full kit on. You're either going to attack or going to be attacked. You haven't eaten because you don't want to be gut shot with a full stomach. If you're attacking there is at least a melody that pulls you along, getting ready, checking your kit, saying a last prayer, then the whistle blows and over you go. Waiting for an attack is worst. You don't even know for sure if they are coming. So you strain every sense you have seeking them out. Can you see them against the pink line of the predawn? Can you hear the careless clink of a canteen against a rifle? Can you smell the stink of dirty, fearful men coming?" Matthew could see the two sisters were horrified. "Anyway that is why I am alert. I have received most of my wounds in the period an hour each side of dawn and that's when most of my friends have been killed."

They walked on in silence.

-0-

As Sybil was finishing changing Matthew's dressing after he had showered she suggested "You had better not do anything too strenuous as it might pop your stitches." She was looking at Mary as she said this. "You would be surprised what activities require the assistance of your abdominal muscles".

Matthew smiled at her "I will be careful".

Behind him Mary mouthed the words 'me too' and stuck her tongue out at Sybil.

As she watched them leave, Mary arm in arm with Matthew, Sybil thought she could not remember when the last time was that Mary had seemed so young and carefree. If it was an insincere act to capture Matthew and the meal ticket he represented then she was a very good actress indeed.

-0-

When they were about half way back to the Great House Mary said something to Matthew which had been bothering her since the previous afternoon. She meant to say it in a friendly way, just a little hint to make things go more smoothly, no big deal. Unfortunately she had not completely recalibrated her manner so what she meant to say in her new smiling persona came out in her old tight lipped clipped manner. "Do not speak to me in front of the servants like you did yesterday". Matthew started like an old horse feeling the whip for the first time in years and Mary knew she had made a mistake.

Matthew dropped her arm and stepped away from her. She could see his eyes tighten and a frown start to form. Thunder and lightening coming she thought and braced herself. But it did not come. She saw him regain control of himself and then he dropped his head and gave her a woebegone look, like Isis gave you if you corrected her. Then he took his hat off, bowed and backed up three paces away from her keeping his head down.

"Yes your ladyship, Matthew won't do it again, Matthew will be good, don't beat Matthew your ladyship"he mumbled.

He was mocking her! She stamped her foot and shook her finger at him. "Do not mock me" she spat out "You have a position and you had better learn how to properly perform it!"

He was now at least fifteen feet from her. He was stamping his right foot while waving his right forefinger and saying in a high pitched sing song voice "Don't mock me knave! Don't mock me knave!" over and over again.

She put her fists on her hips and glared at him. It did not make him quit. She harrumphed and spun around, heading down the path. After about a hundred yards, when she turned and looked back, he was nowhere to be seen.

-0-

Robert and Cora looked up when Mary entered the dining room alone.

"Where is Matthew?" asked her father.

"I do not know"

Both her parents could hear the unspoken 'and I do not care'. They raised their eyes at each other.

Finally Robert asked "I thought you were guiding him back?"

"Apparently I did not do that good a job"

Ten minutes later Matthew showed up.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I got lost" he apologized.

"I thought Mary was guiding ..."

"Her ladyship was, and I must say that she is an excellent guide but I am a wretched follower" Matthew continued. "Her ladyship of course knows the proper path to follow and has no doubt followed it thousands of time. To me this is all new and so while she strode on, thinking that I was in my proper place behind her, I was lollygoggling and sightseeing. Say, do you have mockingbirds in Yorkshire? I thought I heard one."

"No, I do not think we do" said Robert.

Mary glared at Matthew but he ignored her. "I really must apologize to Lady Mary about how I wasted her time this morning. But there will be no need for her to lose her beauty sleep tomorrow. I have blazed a trail back, it may not be the proper path, but it will do."

"Are you sure Captain Crawley?" said Mary "I am sure that Lord Grantham would not want for you to take a wrong turn and end up in Scotland".

"Your ladyship's concern for my welfare is too kind but Cousin Robert doesn't have to worry. As soon as I saw men wearing kilts I would turn round and come back".

"There is also the Barghest. It preys on lone travellers in the dark." Mary warned.

"A what?" asked Matthew.

"A monstrous black dog" Robert answered. "A legendary black dog" he emphasized.

"Legendary only because those who have met it have not lived to tell about it" Mary pointed out.

"But a dog all the same?" asked Matthew.

"Yes"

"Then there is no problem. Dogs love me. Little children too." He smiled at Mary. "If I meet this fierce black dog I bet I can turn it into a lapdog inside of an hour."

"But Father do you want him to take the chance?" Mary appealed.

Robert was taken aback to be dragged into this strange conversation. "I ...I"

He was rescued by Cora. "Perhaps someone should walk with Cousin Matthew just in case. He has no idea what is after him here in the wilds of Yorkshire. Perhaps Edith can walk with him. He will be safe with her."

"No Mother, that would not be fair to poor Edith. The poor dear really does need her beauty sleep. I had better do it. I am up anyway." Mary volunteered. "That is, if Cousin Matthew has not objection" and she smiled at Matthew.

"Certainly not, if Cousin Mary dos not mind taking on a slow and obstinate learner." Matthew then turned to Robert. "When will we be leaving?"

"In about fifteen minutes."

Matthew stood up. "If you will excuse me I think I will check on Patricia before I leave." and he left the room.

Mary stood up. "I shall be going as well" and she left.

Robert looked at Cora. "What just happened here?" he said bewildered.

Cora patted his hand. "They had a lovers' quarrel and then they made up."

"Has Matthew made a choice already?" Robert was still puzzled.

"No, but Mary has"