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dear?"
    "Only long enough to welcome you, dearest Amelia, and persuade you to spend the summer with me in Yorkshire, at Chalfont Castle. I have missed you and dear little Ramses so much; his cousins constantly ask for him—"
    "Ha," I said skeptically.
    Ramses interrupted his speech long enough to give me a long, direct stare; before he could comment, I continued, "I am not certain of Emerson's plans, Evelyn, but I expect he will have to be in London a great deal of the time. I am trying to help him finish the first volume of his History of Ancient Egypt; the Oxford University Press has become quite insistent, and no wonder, since he promised them the manuscript a year ago. Then there is our excavation report to prepare for the printer—"
    "That is what Walter said," Evelyn remarked. "So I have concocted a little scheme I hope will please you. We mean to keep the town house open, so that Radcliffe can stay there instead of at a hotel. But I had hoped you—"
    "Oh, Emerson cannot get on without my help," I said. "Much as I would prefer to rusticate in the tranquillity of the country, and greatly as I enjoy your companionship, my dear, I cannot—I never will— abandon my dear Emerson at such a time. Without my assistance and my little reminders he will never finish that book."
    "Of course." A smile played about the corners of Evelyn's delicate lips. "I understand."
    "Aunt Evelyn." Ramses leaned forward. "Aunt Evelyn, I am in particular need of information, so I beg you will excuse me for interrupting you and Mama—"
    "Ramses, I forbade you to discuss the subject," I said firmly.
    "But, Mama—"
    "You heard me, Ramses."
    "Yes, Mama. But—"
    "Not under any circumstances, Ramses."
    "Now, Amelia, do let the dear child speak," Evelyn said with a smile. "I cannot imagine that he could say anything that would distress me."
    Before I could refute this absurdly naive remark, Ramses took quick advantage. In a rush he cried, "Uncle James is staying at Chalfont House."
    "Ramses, if I have told you once, I have told you a hundred—What was that?"
    "Rose says that he came there with his valet and his luggage, and is staying. I thought you would want to know that, Mama, having observed the decided lack of cordiality with which you and Papa greeted—"
    "Ah. Without admitting the necessity of a prolonged explanation of your reasons for introducing the subject, Ramses, I confess that I am grateful for the information and for the opportunity to discuss its implications without your father's being present. I am afraid he will not be at all pleased."
    "You mustn't blame me, Amelia," Evelyn began, her hands twisting in her lap.
    "My dearest girl! How can I possibly blame you for a weakness so engaging as a kind heart? Knowing James, I am sure he simply moved in, bag and baggage, presuming upon a relationship which is as distant as the affection he purports to feel for me." Across from me I saw Rose nodding like a marionette, her lips primped and her cheeks pink. I gave her a kindly nod. "The question is, what is James up to? For, as Emerson so wisely remarked, he must want something."
    "You are very cynical, Amelia," Evelyn said reproachfully. "Mr. Peabody has been open with me; he regrets the sad estrangement between his family and yours and yearns to restore loving relations—"
    "Restore, bah," I said. "There never were loving relations between me and James, much less James and Emerson. However, you are far too unworldly to recognize a hypocrite when you see one, and too well-bred to treat him as he deserves. Never mind, I will get rid of him— if Emerson has not already done so."
    However, as it turned out, Emerson had not been informed of James's presence in the house, probably because he had talked the whole time without allowing Walter or James to get a word in. Indeed I was somewhat relieved to see James descend from the cab (with what huffings and puffings I will not attempt to describe), for Emerson was perfectly capable of throwing