Obviously not.

There's a time and a place, and this is neither. I offered a kind smile, vacuous and gentle, as Anna introduced Lena, the youngest daughter of the family. Anna's peer, as it were. "And this is Mister Kari, a traveler who's staying my family's barn."

"Seem rather close." Lena said with a curtsy, "I'm surprised your dad let it happen. He's nearly as bad as my dear meddler."

"Well, he's a very hard worker." Anna smiled, hugging my arm. She let go and reached into the picnic basket. "Want some jam, Lena?"

"I shouldn't." Lena held up her hands. "Daddy doesn't like us eating outside home. Bet he's watching right now. He's been worse ever since that fella seduced Marian."

"Should I leave the two of you be?" I pitched my voice a little higher and injected a hint of airheadedness. "I'd hate to cause any trouble to my Anna's friend."

"That's fine, traveler." Lena smiled kindly, a far more natural expression on her face. "I'm the one bothering you two on your picnic. Pleasure to meet you."

A sudden movement caught my eye, Anna pulling something from the basket and fumbling it. It tumbled down into the grass, spilling a sweet-smelling liquid, and I suppressed a smile. I counted the seconds, one and then two, and at the same moment Lena leaned down to grab the wine bottle I lunged as if to stop it spilling more. I grabbed it, Lena hesitated, and I lifted it up with too much ****. A spout of wine flew up and splashed Lena's chest and face.

I apologized profusely and Anna mimicked the performance. I stood, casting my eyes about for her father and caught sight of a lumbering form lurking around the doorway of their house. He seemed to be looking around, and felt it was only a matter of time before he came to check us out. I counted the seconds, waiting for the tell-tale sign of a trance.

The father caught sight of our commotion and started towards us with purpose in his step, and at the very same moment Lena's eyes glazed over. "Lena, you will feel a compulsion to sneak out of your house tonight, and go to a hidden place. Wait there for an hour."

"Wait for an hour. . ." She repeated dazed.

I began to feel some panic welling up as the Father came even closer. "Snap out of the trance!"

To my relief her eyes began to flicker and I wove back into my apologies for the wine. She glanced back towards her home and froze as she saw her father approaching. "I should probably head that off. Wanna make your escape while I'm doing that?"