How it opens
Raynham Abbey sat in its valley with the river looping below, and kept its silence the way a man keeps a wound.
Your father's letter had sent you there for the summer, to be companion to the baronet's son.
Sir Austin FeverelYou are Thompson's son. Good. Your father believes in paper, and paper keeps what men forget.
Sir Austin FeverelMy son has had no companion but the tenants' boys. You will do him more good than they can.
Choose
Thank you, sir. Richard and I fished the same stream at school.
My father said the Raynham papers are all in order, sir.
I shall try to be a good companion to him, sir.