‘It’s yielding to treatment,’ said Phillipa. ‘But it will take a little time.’

Mitzi opened the door again and said:

‘Here are the ladies from Boulders.’

‘’Evening,’ said Miss Hinchcliffe, striding over and taking Miss Blacklock’s hand in her formidable grip. ‘I said to Murgatroyd: “Let’s just drop in at Little Paddocks!” I wanted to ask you how your ducks are laying.’

‘The evenings do draw in so quickly now, don’t they?’ said Miss Murgatroyd to Patrick in a rather fluttery way. ‘Whatlovely chrysanthemums!’

‘Scraggy!’ said Julia.

‘Why can’t you be co-operative?’ murmured Patrick to her in a reproachful aside.

‘You’ve got your central heating on,’ said Miss Hinchcliffe. She said it accusingly. ‘Very early.’

‘The house gets so damp this time of year,’ said Miss Blacklock.

Patrick signalled with his eyebrows: ‘Sherry yet?’ and Miss Blacklock signalled back: ‘Not yet.’

She said to Colonel Easterbrook:

‘Are you getting any bulbs from Holland this year?’

The door again opened and Mrs Swettenham came in rather guiltily, followed by a scowling and uncomfortable Edmund.

‘Here we are!’ said Mrs Swettenham gaily, gazing round her with frank curiosity. Then, feeling suddenly uncomfortable, she went on: ‘I just thought I’d pop in and ask you if by any chance you wanted a kitten, Miss Blacklock? Our cat is just-’

‘About to be brought to bed of the progeny of a ginger tom,’ said Edmund. ‘The result will, I think, be frightful. Don’t say you haven’t been warned!’

‘She’s a very good mouser,’ said Mrs Swettenham hastily. And added: ‘Whatlovely chrysanthemums!’

‘You’ve got your central heating on, haven’t you?’ asked Edmund, with an air of originality.

‘Aren’t people just like gramophone records?’ murmured Julia.