Dorcas could not think of anything that could add to her happiness, as Eli came to the end of aria – and then she turned round to see where Hope had got to. In the corner of the barn, Hope was standing on the wooden block to raise the reader into view, carrying her candle so she could see to read. Andy gazed at her as she read the passage, and ‘Oh my goodness!’ whispered Dorcas to herself; ‘glory hallelujah! There goes another one! What a wedding this is going to be!’

Plain folk, die Stille im Lande, are discreet and quiet in their ways. They do not give too much away, and know how to possess themselves in peace. By the same token, they become adept at noticing things, picking up signals, seeing nuances of manner and expression, and understanding what others might miss. Before the Kindred made their way home from the choir practice, finished their conversations . . . .

. . . .said their farewells . . .

There was not one troll in the barn who had not seen what Dorcas had seen. But they didn’t say so.