One day my mother and father was singing together in the forest, great storm blew up out of nowhere. But so passioned was their singing that they did not notice, nor did they stop as the rain began to fall. And when their voices rose for the final phase of the duet, a great bold lightning came out of the sky and struck my father so he ignited up as a torch. To the same moment as my father was struck dead, my mother was struck dumb. She never spoke another word.

• Flora telling aunt Morag how Ada became mute -

The voice you hear, is not my speaking voice. But my mind's voice. I have not spoken since I was six years old. No one knows why. Not even me. My father says it is a dark talent, and the day I have taken into my head stop breathing, will be my last. Today he married me to a man I have not yet met. Soon my daughter and I shall join him in his own country. My husband said my muteness does not bother him. He writes - God loves stoned creatures, so why not he? We are good he has God's patience. For silence affects everyone in the end. The strange thing is I don't think myself silent. That is because of my piano. I shall miss it on the journey.

• Ada's voice