The Thirteenth Tale

Margaret awakens to light, after weeks and weeks of unremitting gray. When she steps outside she realizes that it is not daylight but bright moonlight. The cat, Shadow, leads her through the garden to the winter garden. Margaret sees a figure huddled on the ground, and believes it is Vida. The figure, once she stands, has the same eyes as Vida, but a scarred face, and Margaret realizes that it is Emmeline. Then Emmeline starts toward Margaret speaking nonsensical words before turning and hurrying away. The cat follows her, and after she leaves, Margaret notices a patch of turned-over soil. That solves the mystery of what Maurice is always tidying. She also hears, as Emmeline leaves, the five-note song that has been plaguing her since she arrived.

When Margaret was young, she learned the phonetic alphabet. She used it to write her dead twin’s name and kept the folded paper near her. Now, Margaret uses the phonetic alphabet to transcribe the sounds that Emmeline spoke to her but is unable to decipher Emmeline’s meaning.

For six months, things continue as usual at Angelfield with just John-the-dig, Emmeline, and Adeline. They close up most of the rooms, and John hires a boy, Ambrose Proctor, to help him with the garden so that he can work on the house.