He exchanged an affectionate glance with his daughter. It was the look of comrades who knew themselves to be two against the world. Lee wondered how Daniel and Phoebe came to be alone, and what had happened to the woman who was no longer part of his life. Instinctively she suppressed her curiosity.

She finished the roll of film and said, 'Let's bring Phoebe into some of the pictures, just for fun.' Phoebe bounded eagerly in front of the camera. Lee squinted through the lens at her and drew a deep, disbelieving breath. This girl was a natural.

She took some shots of them together, then said, 'I've a few frames left. Why don't I finish the film on Phoebe alone?'

Lee switched on the cassette player and disco music filled the studio. Phoebe began to sway with instinctive grace. With her colouring and her languorous movements she resembled a tigress, and Lee clicked away ecstatically.

'Fine, that's it!' she called at last.

Mark and Sonya had come into the studio while she was working. Phoebe hurried over, full of excited chatter about her afternoon, and Sonya introduced her to Mark.

Lee turned to Daniel. 'About that insurance…'

'Forget it. The fault was mine in the first place.'

'But-'

'Lee, please don't refuse me this,' he said seriously. 'Call it my thank-you for your kindness to Phoebe. She'll remember today all her life.'

It would have been churlish to refuse when he put it like that. 'All right,' she said. "Thank you.'

He followed her into her office and shut the door behind them. 'I'll remember today too,' he said, 'as the day we really met. I want very badly to see you again.'