Subj: Can We Change That Which Is? Part 1
Date: 6/10/99 11:01:10 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mysterious Millicent

Can We Change That Which Is?

"What is this? What's going on?" the man said as he looked about him. He stood in a large room that was filled with small side-horse structures on which were placed large pieces of plywood. On top of the plywood were cans filled with plaster and brushes. The floor was wood bare with no carpet and there were no drapes at the windows. The walls were also bare, save a few markings made in chalk to mark measurements. There was absolutely no furniture, and the ceiling too, was bare, with no light fixtures. There was a fairly large table in the center on which he saw rolled sheets of paper. He walked over to the table and unrolled the paper finding what appeared to be page after page of blueprints of a large structure, and smaller papers which were apparently the blueprints of smaller rooms within the mansion.

Rolling up the papers and placing them back on the table, the man looked again towards the windows. "This can't be! Something is very wrong here!"

"May I help you?" a voice came from behind him. The man turned around and saw another man standing in the doorway to the large room, dressed in clothing that dated back in time. Of which century he was not sure, but certainly out of place.

"Who are you?" the man said to the stranger who stood at the doorway with another set of rolled papers in his arms.

"I am Jeremiah Collins. And you sir?" The man at the doorway said in a kind, but stern voice. He too, found the other man's clothing strange, no jacket, no vest, only a thin shirt of some kind that encircled his neck and pants.

"I.....I ....." feigning weakness, the man began to weave a bit as tho to pass out.

"Are you ill?" Jeremiah asked. "Come. Let me help you."

The man allowed Jeremiah to help led him to another room where there was a bit of furniture. Sitting down on the sofa, the man began to rub his forhead as if confused and unsure. Jeremiah left the room for a moment and returned with a canter of sherry. He poured a bit into a very large goblet and handed it to the man, who took it gratefully and drank it down in one gulp.

"Now, can you speak? Can you tell me who you are, sir?" Jeremiah repeated once again.

Gaining his composure and feeling a bit more sure of himself the man replied, " I have no idea where I am." He returned the goblet to Jeremiah and stood up. "I am lost or something. But where I am is not right." The man was still very confused but he knew until he could be sure this man was to be trusted and exactly in what time he was, he would have to appear be some what amnesiac.He knew indeed who he was, Quentin Collins And he also knew that he could not tell this man his name. For if he told this Jeremiah that he too was a Collins he would play hell trying to explain just HOW he was an unknown Collins. He had been there, and done that scene with Barnabas! And he remembered how much trouble he had accepting that a total
stranger who seemed to know "things" that he shouldn't could be a distant cousin no one had ever heard of. No he would not go that route.

Jeremiah looked at him with a puzzled look. "You talk very much like someone else that I met just a few weeks ago."

Quentin, ignoring what was said, looked at Jeremiah and said, "This house, what is it called?"

Jeremiah again looked at Quentin with a puzzled and confused expression. "When it is completed, it will be the new Collinwood, sir."

Quentin formed the words 'no' on his lips but no sound came out. {I have traveled back in time. I do not know by whose hand this happened but I must find out what year this is.} "I am sorry, sir. But can you tell me what year this is?"

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow. This man did indeed remind him of the young governess that had arrived three weeks ago. He still was not sure about her, she said the strangest things just like this man did. { Perhaps they are brother and sister who were traveling together and both came upon some kind of tragic accident} "It is the year of our Lord 1795."

{So I HAVE come back in time. And this man is a descendant of mine! I must be cautious, so I don't give myself away! } "I'm sorry I asked that" Quentin said quickly "You see I had an accident while riding my horse and must have hit my head. I wandered for hours when I suddenly found myself here in this house. I was confused and didn't know for sure where I was. Forgive me sir"

Jeremiah too was being cautious. He was also intrigued to find out if this man knew the new governess. If so, perhaps he could explain many things she could not. "I understand. But tell me, do you know of a woman named Victoria Winters?"

Quentin stared at Jeremiah. He had heard that name many times at Collinwood. She used to be the governess for David. He remembered Roger telling him of a time when they held a seance to find out the identity of a young girl whom David repeatedly stated he played with. Something happened during the seance and Miss Winters had disappeared for a few minutes and then suddenly returned. She was never the same after that, and constantly talked of the past. Of this particular time in fact. {This might work to my advantage. If Victoria Winters is indeed here, she might be able to cover for me. She undoubltly would be able to help him, if he could gain her confidence. And with his knowledge of Roger, Elizabeth and Barnabas, she would most certainly believe him!} Quentin broke into a smile and a look of recognition. "Yes, I do indeed. She is a good friend of mine. I haven't seen her for a long time. She is here?

Jeremiah looked at Quentin for a few moments before he answered. Perhaps this man would be able to explain some of Miss Winter's odd behaviour. " Yes, she works for the family, governess to my neice Sarah. But she arrived under strange circumstances, much as you sir. She says things that I don't understand, and she seems to know things she shouldn't know."

Quentin knew now he must be very cautious. He nodded and said, "Yes Victoria sometimes says things even I don't understand. But she is harmless I can assure you. A wonderful woman and very caring." {At least, that is what Elizabeth and Carolyn had said about her}.

Jeremiah now smiled. "Yes, she is kind and treats Sarah as if she were her own sister. {Perhaps if I take this man to Miss Winters, I can find out where both of them come from and then I can understand how best to help them} Come, sir. I will take you to Collinwood and you can talk with her......."

Quentin quickly stopped Jeremiah and said, "No!" he in a stern voice, so that Jeremiah's face fell to one of a frown. Then Quentin smiled and said softer, "I mean, I don't want to intrude into your family. Would it be possible for me to talk with her here? Alone?"

Jeremiah replied, "You ask a great deal sir. You still have not told he your name, and where you come from. You might be threat to my family."

Quentin thought quickly. Then he remembered a name he once used when he really did have anmesia. "My name is Quentin Douglas. And I assure you, I am no danger to your family. I simply want to find out how I got here and why. And I would like to see Victoria. She and I are old friends and have much to talk about. I know I'm asking you to accept a total stranger, but I assure you sir, I only wish to talk to Victoria, and then I will be on my way."

Jeremiah thought for a few minutes. His curiousity getting the best of him, he suddenly threw caution to the wind and said, "Very well, sir. I will help you. But you must stay in this room. This is private property and if anyone finds you here, tell them you are working for me at the shipyard. Do you understand?"

Quentin nodded, grateful that this gentleman was indeed an understanding soul and this would be a gesture he would not forget and would definately repay, somehow.

Quentin nodded and Jeremiah left the room and out the front door. When the door shut, Quentin walked around the room. {I only hope that this Miss Winters will come to meet with me. I can't be sure that she will take the chance. But I have to find out why I am here and she is my only means of convincing THIS Collins family I mean no harm! And if memory serves, people still believed in witches. I might be taken for one if I am not careful} Quentin walked over to the window and looked out. {How can one person get into as much trouble as I do?) He chuckled to himself.

"Hello." a young child's voice broke through his thoughts.

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