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as a child. I even played for the county – not that you’d want to know about that.’
    â€˜But it’s Miss Richardson’s room,’ said Clementine. She was wondering why Aunt Violet was talking about cricket.
    â€˜Jolly good. That will give the silly old bat a reason to get outside for a while. That room smells like old socks and mustard after having her holed up for the entire week. I need to get some newspaper, a dustpan and broom and a garbage bag. And I’d best check if any of the glass has fallen out here too.’
    Clementine ran along the hedge under the window and pointed at a large shard resting on top.
    â€˜Come away from that, Clementine,’ Aunt Violet called. ‘I’ll do the cleaning up. Why don’t you find Lavender and Pharaoh and bring them inside. I’ll pop in and get what I need.’
    Clementine watched Aunt Violet stride through the kitchen door. She had thoughther great-aunt would be really mad but she wasn’t. Clementine wondered if something had happened to her, but she had no idea what it was.

‘Right. Now to inspect the damage in the Rose Room,’ said Aunt Violet as she wrapped up the shards of glass she’d found in the garden and put the bundle in the bin.
    â€˜May I come and help you?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜No, you need to run along and get changed,’ Aunt Violet said.
    â€˜Why?’ Clementine asked.
    â€˜Remember we’re having that ghastly dinnerwith the guests?’ Aunt Violet reminded her. ‘Off you go.’
    â€˜I wonder what I should wear,’ Clementine said. She rushed up the back stairs and almost bumped into her mother.
    â€˜Oh hello, darling,’ said Lady Clarissa. ‘I’m so sorry I didn’t get to see Ana and Basil but I was busy showing Mr and Mrs Morley to their room.’
    â€˜It’s all right, Mummy. Aunt Violet saw Ana and she said that she would telephone you on Sunday to see if I can go and play.’
    Aunt Violet bustled up behind Clementine. She was carrying an armful of newspaper and a dustpan and broom.
    â€˜Hello Aunt Violet,’ said Clarissa. She eyed the goods in her hands. ‘What are you doing with that?’
    Clementine waited for her great-aunt to dob her in.
    The old woman jutted her chin and said, ‘Nothing for you to worry about at all.’
    Lady Clarissa shook her head. ‘What’s got into you?’

    â€˜Can’t a person indulge their passion for cleaning once in a while?’
    â€˜Aunt Violet, since when have you had a passion for cleaning?’ Lady Clarissa asked, frowning.
    â€˜Well, now might be the one and only time you see it, so if I were you I’d keep quiet and get out of my way,’ Aunt Violet announced and walked past.
    â€˜Don’t let me stop you,’ Clarissa called after her. ‘Remember, dinner’s at seven.’
    â€˜Quite right,’ said Aunt Violet. ‘Set an extra place at the table.’
    â€˜An extra place?’ asked Lady Clarissa.
    â€˜Yes, Miss Richardson will be joining us.’
    â€˜I don’t think so,’ Lady Clarissa said slowly. ‘I asked her this morning and she said that she was perfectly happy to have dinner in her room, as usual.’
    â€˜Well, I’m telling you she’s having dinner downstairs whether she likes it or not.’ Aunt Violet turned and disappeared along the hallway.
    â€˜Do you know what that was all about?’ Lady Clarissa asked Clementine.
    The child nodded and was about to tell her mother what had happened to the window when her great-aunt’s sharp voice sounded from the end of the corridor. ‘Clementine, run along and get dressed. You’d better make sure that Pharaoh and Lavender have had their dinner too.’
    â€˜Sorry, Mummy, I’ve got to go.’ Clementine inched past her mother and made a dash for the top floor.
    â€˜I’ve put out a couple of dresses for you to