The Scarecrow

When Astra was about seven years old, some other girls were her playmates. Some were her cousins, including the girl who was the heir apparent to the throne. Others were daughters of important people. And those girls would have governesses and personal servants. And that is where Astra remembered seeing Beatrice.

Beatrice seemed old to Astra then, although thinking back, she could not have been older than thirty years. She was a governess to Ariel, one of the daughters of a court favorite. The girls would make up nicknames for the grown-ups, and Beatrice's nickname was "the Scarecrow," because she was thin, her hair was straw-colored, and although she tried to hide them, her clothes had patches. The girls would gripe amongst themselves as to how strict or how boring their governesses were, even exaggerating their characteristics to impress the others. Astra's overall impression of Beatrice from Ariel was that she was more boring than strict, which could be considered a form of praise in that circle.

But Astra especially remembered the last time that she saw Beatrice. She had celebrated her seventh birthday earlier in the week, and was going to visit Ariel. She was admitted to Ariel's apartment, but was asked to wait. Astra got bored, and nobody was around, so she started to go looking around. She opened a door, and heard Beatrice crying. Astra started to walk toward her, and then froze. She did not know why Beatrice was crying. Beatrice looked up. Astra did not know what to do. She became scared and ran away.

Very soon after that, Ariel had another governess. This governess was the strict type, and Ariel missed Beatrice. The girls asked Ariel what had happened. Ariel insisted that she did not know, and that her parents did not even tell her where Beatrice went.

The whole affair unsettled Astra for a couple of weeks, but she gradually pushed it to the back of her mind.

But now, Beatrice stood below her. After all these years, Astra recognized her face, and her straw-colored hair. Beatrice looked a little younger than Astra's mother. How time played tricks with her memory. Beatrice's clothes still had patches, but for traveling, they did not look out of place. And Henry mentioned that his wife was visiting his son, and Astra could see a gold wedding ring on her left hand. Astra realized what was happening. Beatrice was looking for hay to feed the horses before turning in! There apparently was not enough on the ground floor of the barn. (Maybe Henry was supposed to take care of that.) Would Beatrice climb up here to get some hay? And if Beatrice did, what should she, Astra, do?

1. Astra called down.
2. Astra drew back quietly and hoped to hide.

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