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Come to Manderley
W
e came to Manderley early in May. It was the best time of
year, before the heat of summer. When we left London, it
was raining hard. I remember Maxim saying, 'This is London rain.
The sun will be shining for you when we come to Manderley.'
He was right. Long before we reached Manderley, there was
blue sky over our heads. I was glad to see the sun. I welcomed it
as a sign of happiness.
'Feeling better?' said Maxim, looking at me. I smiled at him
and took his hand. It was so easy for Maxim. He was going back
to his own home. But for me, everything was new and strange. I
was going to Manderley for the first time. And I was going there
as the second wife of Maxim de Winter.
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'Only two more miles,' said Maxim at last. 'Can you see those
trees on the hill in front of us? Manderley is in the valley beyond
those trees.'
I tried to smile but suddenly I felt lonely and afraid. I was like
a child on her first day at school.
Turning a corner, we came to a crossroads and the beginning
of a high wall.
'Here we are,' Maxim said. 'Manderley at last.' I could hear
the excitement in his voice.
The road turned again. On the left, were two high iron gates
and beside them a small lodge
1
. The gates were wide open for us.
People were looking out of the windows of the lodge. They were
looking at me. I sat back in my seat. I wanted to hide from their
curious eyes.
'You mustn't mind if people stare at you,' Maxim said. 'They
are all very interested in you. Don't worry. Be yourself
2
and
everyone at Manderley will love you. Mrs Danvers looks after the
house. She's been housekeeper here for years. Leave everything to
her. She may be rather strange at first, but don't worry about that.
She will soon get used to you.'
We were going along the drive now that led up to the
house. The drive turned and twisted like a snake. The tall
trees met over our heads. Only a little sunlight came through
their thick branches. Everything was very quiet. On and on we
went. Then suddenly the trees came to an end. The sun shone
again. Beautiful high bushes covered with bright red flowers stood
on either side of us.
We were not far from the house now. The drive widened. We
turned the last corner and there was Manderley. The old house
was perfect. It was built in a small hollow and its grey stones
glowed in the sunlight. Smooth green lawns surrounded the
house. Beyond the lawns were gardens and beyond the gardens,
the sea.
Maxim drove up to the wide stone steps and stopped the car in
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front of them. At the top of the steps, a big door stood wide open.
I saw that the hall beyond was full of people. I could see their faces,
all turned towards us. I was suddenly shy and afraid again. 'What's
the matter?' I said. 'Who are all those people?'
'I'm sorry,' Maxim said. 'This must be Mrs Danvers' idea.
Everyone who works at Manderley is here. Don't look so fright-
ened. You won't have to say anything. I'll do it all.'
An old man with a kind face came down the steps.
'Well, here we are, Frith,' said Maxim. 'Everyone well?'
'Yes, thank you, sir,' said Frith. 'We are all very glad to see
you at home again. We hope you are well. And Madam too, of
course.'
'Yes, we are both well, thank you, Frith. But we're tired
from the drive and we want our tea. I didn't expect all these
people.'
'Mrs Danvers' orders, sir,' said Frith.
'I thought so,' Maxim said. 'Come on,' he said to me. 'It won't
take long and then you can have your tea in peace.'
We went together up the wide stone steps. Inside the open
door, the servants stood in two lines. A tall, thin woman dressed
in black came towards us. Her pale, thin face was hard. There was
no welcome in her dark eyes. The hand she placed in mine was
cold and heavy, like something dead.
'This is Mrs Danvers, our housekeeper,' said Maxim. The
woman began to speak in a cold, lifeless voice. I remember
nothing of what she said. I suppose she was welcoming me to
Manderley. As I thanked her, Mrs Danvers looked at me with
her hard, dark eyes. I dropped my gloves on the floor and Mrs
Danvers picked them up with a twisted little smile on her lips. She
could see that I was awkward and shy, and a little afraid of my new
life at Manderley.
Maxim noticed nothing. He thanked Mrs Danvers quickly
and took me into the library for tea. We were alone at last.
A dog ran up from the fireside to greet us. He went first to
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