The House behind the Wood is the sixth story from the compilation called MIST and other stories by Richmal Crompton.
Synopsis
Having run out of petrol, a good six miles from the nearest settlement, Monica, husband Frank, and their friend Harold are trying to see if there are any houses close by.
Harold sees a light in a window just behind the woods. All three trundle along a very muddy path tightly enclosed by trees and undergrowth. Having arrived at the cottage, no light can immediately be found, however through a bush they see the lighted window.
The door is eventually answered by a little wizened man, who reluctantly lets them stay the night. Having been showed to a room that they may share, Harold suddenly sees Monica in a new light. This woman that he has known his whole life is now exquisite to him. The caretaker then joins Harold and Frank in getting a few provisions from the car, they take the shortest route along the very muddy path.
Upon their return, it becomes obvious to Harold that Monica now returns his unspoken feelings. It becomes obvious to the caretaker too, who sets Harold up in another room.
In the middle of the night, the caretaker wakes Harold to say "She's in the garden waiting for you, sir.". Harold immediately rushes to meet his love and they run into the woods together, heading for the car. Just minutes later a furious Frank chases them with a stick with a mind to attack Harold, who has waited all evening for an excuse to strangle Frank's "thick red neck". A cackle from the house and a low moan from the road breaks the spell.
Monica has fainted, half in and half out of the car. Frank convinces himself they were all having nightmares and apologies profusely - to which Harold readily agrees. Dawn approaches and a cyclist takes and SOS to the nearest garage for petrol. They then head for the nearest pub before intending to return to collect their things and tip the caretaker of the 'unhealthy' house.
While Monica and Frank go upstairs, Harold hears the tale of this cottage from a maid that used to work there, who now works at the pub. She tells that Mr and Mrs Trammet lived in the house, but Mrs Trammet fell in love with Mr Trammet's cousin, Mr Moxton. The butler would send message between the two, but didn't like Mr Moxton.
When it came time to elope, the butler woke Mr Moxton to let him know that Mrs Trammet was waiting for him in the garden. However, he then told Mr Trammet what was occurring. The reason he told Mr Trammet are unknown, perhaps he didn't like Mr Moxton.
Mr Moxton strangled Mr Trammet to death, but not before receiving such a smash on the head that Mr Moxton died before trial. Mrs Trammet died within the year. The butler became the caretaker, but also died the previous year, of a kind of fit.
The barmaid tells Harold that the night before was the fifth anniversary of this terrible tragedy.
Monica and Frank return, with Monica avoiding Harold's eyes. Harold and Frank go to collect their things and cannot find anyone in the house. When they look at the muddy path, in an attempt to find the caretaker; the caretaker's footprints cannot be seen.
Review
Richmal Crompton has a knack for taking the place we are supposed to feel safest: our home, and turning it against us with various nightmarish scenarios. The House Behind the Wood is no different.
Harold, who has known Monica his whole life and sees nothing in her, is suddenly besotted with her upon entry into this cursed abode. Frank is oblivious, however the all-seeing caretaker is not. While making Harold sleep in another room, he then tells Harold that "She's in the garden waiting for you" (interestingly not mentioning Monica by name, so likely the original words of that fateful night). As the evening progresses, you can really feel Harold's love for Monica being matched by his newfound hatred and eagerness to get rid of Frank.
Fortunately, for our cast of characters, all is well in the end - perhaps even better as Frank and Monica appear more in love than ever.
Perhaps, quite a soft ending to a story that was being set up for a vicious ending. Being told of previous events rather than living them always softens the blow and takes the emergency and vividity out of them.
To read the story, and the rest of the book, buy it from Amazon by clicking the cover below:
