              ,,*APT] #AI


  ,A ,,LR1 $G$ 9 BLACK1 ANN\NC$ ! "D (
MY MA/]'S RETURN4 ,ISABELLA 0 D1D2 & HE
WROTE 6BID ME GET M\RN+ = 8 DAU<T]1 &
>RANGE A ROOM1 & O!R A3OMMOD,NS1 = 8
Y\?;L NEPHEW4 ,CA!R9E RAN WILD ) JOY AT
! IDEA ( WELCOM+ H] "F BACK2 & 9DULG$
MO/ SANGU9E ANTICIP,NS (! 9NUM]A#
EXCELL;ES ( H] 8R1L0 C\S94 ,! EV5+ ( _!
EXPECT$ >RIVAL CAME4 ,S9CE E>LY MORN+1
%E _H BE5 BUSY ORD]+ H] [N SMALL A6AIRS2
& N[1 ATTIR$ 9 H] NEW BLACK FROCK- POOR
?+6 H] AUNT'S D1? IMPRESS$ H] ) NO
DEF9ITE SORR[- %E OBLIG$ ME1 03/ANT
WORRY+1 6WALK ) H] D[N "? ! GR.DS 6MEET
!M4
  8,L9TON IS J SIX MON?S "Y] ?AN ,I AM10
%E *ATT]$1 Z WE /ROLL$ LEISURELY OV] !
SWELLS & HOLL[S ( MOSSY TURF1 "U %AD[ (!
TREES4 8,H[ DELI<T;L X W 2 6H HM =A
PLAY-FELL[6 ,AUNT ,ISABELLA S5T PAPA A
B1UTI;L LOCK ( 8 HAIR2 X 0 LI<T] ?AN
M9E- M FLAX51 & Q Z F9E4 ,I H X C>E;LLY
PRES]V$ 9 A LL GLASS BOX3 & ,I'VE (T5
?"\ :AT PL1SURE X WD 2 6SEE XS [N]4 ,OH6
,I AM HAPPY- & PAPA1 DE>1 DE> PAPA6 ,-E1
,ELL51 LET U RUN6 -E1 RUN40
  ,%E RAN1 & RETURN$ & RAN AG _M "TS 2F
MY SOB] FOOT/EPS R1*$ ! GATE1 & !N %E
S1T$ H]F ON ! GRASSY BANK 2S ! PA?1 &
TRI$ 6WAIT PATI5TLY2 B T 0 IMPOSSI#3 %E
CDN'T 2 / A M9UTE4
  8,H[ L;G !Y >E60 %E EXCLAIM$4 8,AH1 ,I
SEE "S DU/ ON ! ROAD- !Y >E -+8 ,NO6 ,:5
W !Y 2 "H8 ,MAY WE N G A LL WAY- HALF A
MILE1 ,ELL53 ONLY J HALF A MILE8 ,D SAY
YES3 6T CLUMP ( BIR*ES AT ! TURN60
  ,I REFUS$ /AUN*LY4 ,AT L5G? H] SUSP5SE
0 5D$3 ! TRAVELL+ C>RIAGE ROLL$ 9 SI<T4
,MISS ,CA?Y %RIEK$ & /RET*$ \ H] >MS1 Z
SOON Z %E CAU<T H] "F'S FACE LOOK+ F !
W9D[4 ,HE DESC5D$1 NE>LY Z EAG] Z H]F3
&A 3SID]A# 9T]VAL ELAPS$ ]E !Y _H A ?"\
6SP>E = ANY B !MVS4 ,:ILE !Y EX*ANG$
C>ESSES1 ,I TOOK A PEEP 9 6SEE AF
,L9TON4 ,HE 0 ASLEEP 9 A CORN]1 WRAPP$ 9
A W>M1 FUR-L9$ CLOAK1 Z IF X _H BE5
W9T]4 ,A PALE1 DELICATE1 E6EM9ATE BOY1
:O MI<T H BE5 TAK5 = MY MA/]'S "Y] BRO!R
S /R;G 0 ! RESEMBL.E3 B "! 0 A SICKLY
PEEVI%;S 9 8 ASPECT1 T ,$G> ,L9TON N"E
_H4 ,! LATT] SAW ME LOOK+2 & HAV+ %AK5
H&S1 ADVIS$ ME 6CLOSE ! DOOR1 & L1VE HM
UNDISTURB$2 =! J\RNEY _H FATIGU$ HM4
,CA?Y WD FA9 H TAK5 "O GL.E1 B H] "F
TOLD H] 6-E1 & !Y WALK$ TGR UP ! P>K1
:ILE ,I HA/5$ 2F 6PREP>E ! S]VANTS4
  8,N[ D>L+0 SD ,MR4 ,L9TON1 A4RESS+ 8
DAU<T]1 Z !Y HALT$ AT ! BOTTOM (! FRONT
/EPS2 8YR C\S9 IS N S /R;G OR M]RY Z Y
>E1 & HE HAS LO/ 8 "M1 REMEMB]1 A V %ORT
"T S9CE2 "!=E1 DON'T EXPECT HM 6PLAY &
RUN AB ) Y DIRECTLY4 ,& DON'T H>ASS HM
M* 0TALK+3 LET HM 2 QUIET ? EV5+1 AT
L1/1 W Y80
  8,YES1 YES1 PAPA10 ANSW]$ ,CA!R9E3 8B
,I D WANT 6SEE HM2 & HE HASN'T ONCE
LOOK$ \40
  ,! C>RIAGE /OPP$2 &! SLEEP] 2+ R\S$1 0
LIFT$ 6! GR.D 0HIS UNCLE4
  8,? IS YR C\S9 ,CA?Y1 ,L9TON10 HE SD1
PUTT+ _! LL H&S TGR4 8,%E'S FOND ( Y
ALR2 & M9D Y DON'T GRIEVE H] 0CRY+ TN4
,TRY 6BE *E];L N[2 ! TRAVELL+ IS AT AN
5D1 & Y H NO?+ 6D B RE/ & AMUSE YRF Z Y
PL1SE40
  8,LET ME G 6B$1 !N10 ANSW]$ ! BOY1
%R9K+ F ,CA!R9E'S SALUTE2 & HE PUT UP 8
F+]S 6REMOVE 9CIPI5T TE>S4
  8,-E1 -E1 "!'S A GD *10 ,I :ISP]$1
L1D+ HM IN4 8,Y'LL MAKE H] WEEP TOO- SEE
H[ SORRY %E IS = Y60
  ,I D N "K :E!R X 0 SORR[ = HM1 B 8
C\S9 PUT ON Z SAD A C.T5.E Z HMF1 &
RETURN$ 6H] "F4 ,ALL ?REE 5T]$1 & M.T$
6! LIBR>Y1 ": TEA 0 LAID R1DY4 ,I
PROCE$$ 6REMOVE ,L9TON'S CAP & MANTLE1 &
PLAC$ HM ON A *AIR 0! TA#2 B HE 0 NO
SOON] S1T$ ?AN HE 2GAN 6CRY AFRE%4 ,MY
MA/] 5QUIR$ :AT 0 ! MATT]4
  8,I C'T SIT ON A *AIR10 SO2$ ! BOY4
  8,G 6! S(A1 !N1 & ,ELL5 % BR+ Y "S
TEA10 ANSW]$ 8 UNCLE PATI5TLY4
  ,HE _H BE5 GRTLY TRI$ DUR+ ! J\RNEY1
,I FELT 3V9C$1 0HIS FRET;L AIL+ *>GE4
,L9TON SL[LY TRAIL$ HMF (F1 & LAY D[N4
,CA?Y C>RI$ A FOOT/OOL & H] CUP 6HIS
SIDE4 ,AT F/ %E SAT SIL5T2 B T CD N LA/3
%E _H RESOLV$ 6MAKE A PET ( H] LL C\S91
Z %E WD H HM 6BE2 & %E -M;ED /ROK+ 8
CURLS1 & KISS+ 8 *EEK1 & (F]+ HM TEA 9
H] SAUC]1 L A BABY4 ,? PL1S$ HM1 = HE 0
N M* BETT]3 HE DRI$ 8 EYES1 & LI<T5$ 96A
FA9T SMILE4
  8,OH1 HE'LL D V WELL10 SD ! MA/] 6ME1
AF WAT*+ !M A M9UTE4 8,V WELL1 IF WE C
KEEP HM1 ,ELL54 ,! -PANY (A * ( 8 [N AGE
W 9/IL NEW _S 96HM SOON1 & 0WI%+ = /R5G?
HE'LL GA9 X40
  8,AY1 IF WE C KEEP HM60 ,I MUS$ 6MYF2
& SORE MISGIV+S CAME OV] ME T "! 0 SLI<T
HOPE ( T4 ,& !N1 ,I ?"\1 H["E W T W1KL+
LIVE AT ,WU!R+ ,HEI<TS8 ,2T 8 "F &
,H>ETON1 :AT PLAYMATES & 9/RUCTORS !Y'LL
BE4 ,\R D\BTS 7 PRES5TLY DECID$- EV5
E>LI] ?AN ,I EXPECT$4 ,I _H J TAK5 ! *N
UP/AIRS1 AF TEA 0 F9I%$1 & SE5 ,L9TON
ASLEEP- HE WD N SU6] ME 6L1VE HM TILL T
0 ! CASE- ,I _H -E D[N1 & 0 /&+ 0! TA# 9
! HALL1 LI<T+ A B$ROOM C&LE = ,MR4 ,$G>1
:5 A MAID /EPP$ \ (! KIT*5 & 9=M$ ME T
,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF'S S]VANT ,JOSEPH 0 AT !
DOOR1 & WI%$ 6SP1K )! MA/]4
  8,I % ASK HM :AT HE WANTS F/10 ,I SD1
9 3SID]A#
TREPID,N4 8,A V UNLIKELY H\R 6BE TR\BL+
P1 &! 9/ANT !Y H RETURN$ F A L;G J\RNEY4
,I DON'T ?9K ! MA/] C SEE HM40
  ,JOSEPH _H FULL ADV.ED "? ! KIT*5 Z ,I
UTT]$ ^! ^WS1 & N[ PRES5T$ HMF 9 ! HALL4
,HE 0 DONN$ 9 8 ,SUN"D G>;TS1 ) 8 MO/
SANCTIMONI\S & S\RE/ FACE1 &1 HOLD+ 8
HAT 9 "O H& & 8 /ICK 9 ! O!R1 HE PROCE$$
6CL1N 8 %OES ON ! MAT4
  8,GD EV5+1 ,JOSEPH10 ,I SD COLDLY4
8,:AT BUSI;S BR+S Y "H TN80
  8,X'S ,MAI/] ,L9TON ,I MUN SPAKE TO10
HE ANSW]$1 WAV+ ME 4DA9;LLY ASIDE4
  8,MR4 ,L9TON IS GO+ 6B$2 UN.S Y H "S?+
"PICUL> 6SAY1 ,I'M SURE HE WON'T HE> X
N[10 ,I 3T9U$4 8,Y _H BETT] SIT D[N 9
"!1 & 5TRU/ YR MESSAGE 6ME40
  8,: IS 8 RAHM80 PURSU$ ! FELL[1
SURVEY+ ! RANGE ( CLOS$ DOORS4
  ,I P]CVD HE 0 B5T ON REFUS+ MY M$I,N1
S V RELUCTANTLY ,I W5T UP 6! LIBR>Y1 &
ANN\NC$ ! UNS1SONA# VISITOR1 ADVIS+ T HE
%D 2 4MISS$ TILL NEXT "D4 ,MR4 ,L9TON _H
N "T 6EMP[] ME 6D S1 = ,JOSEPH M.T$
CLOSE AT MY HEELS1 & PU%+ 96! A"P;T1
PLANT$ HMF AT ! F> SIDE (! TA#1 ) 8 TWO
FI/S CLAPP$ ON ! H1D ( 8 /ICK1 & 2GAN 9
AN ELEVAT$ T"O1 Z IF ANTICIPAT+
OPPOSI;N3
  8,HA!CLIFF HAS S5T ME = 8 LAD1 & ,I
MUNN'T G BACK ,8B\T HM40
  ,$G> ,L9TON 0 SIL5T A M9UTE2 AN
EXPRES.N ( EXCE$+ SORR[ OV]CA/ 8
F1TURES3 HE WD H PITI$ ! * ON 8 [N A3.T2
B1 RECALL+ ,ISABELLA'S HOPES & FE>S1 &
ANXI\S WI%ES = H] SON1 & H] -M5D,NS ( HM
6HIS C>E1 HE GRIEV$ BITT]LY AT !
PROSPECT ( YIELD+ HM UP1 & SE>*$ 9 8
HE>T H[ X MI<T 2 AVOID$4 ,NO PLAN (F]$
XF3 ! V EXHIBI;N ( ANY DESIRE 6KEEP HM
WD H R5D]$ ! CLAIMANT M P]EMPTORY3 "! 0
NO?+ LEFT B 6RESIGN HM4 ,H["E1 HE 0 N
GO+ 6R\SE HM F 8 SLEEP4
  8,TELL ,MR4 ,H1?CLIFF10 HE ANSW]$
CALMLY1 8T 8 SON % -E 6,WU!R+ ,HEI<TS
TM4 ,HE IS 9 B$1 & TOO TIR$ 6G ! 4T.E
N[4 ,Y MAY AL TELL HM T ! "M ( ,L9TON
DESIR$ HM 6REMA9 "U MY GU>DIAN%IP2 &1 AT
PRES5T1 8 H1L? IS V PREC>I\S40
  8,NOA60 SD ,JOSEPH1 GIV+ A ?UD ) 8
PROP ON ! FLOOR1 & ASSUM+ AN
AU?ORITATIVE AIR2 8NAO6 T M1NS NAU<T4
,HA!CLIFF MAKS NOA'C.T ;O0' T' "M1 NOR
YE NOR!R2 B HE'LL HEY 8 LAD2 UND ,I MUN
TAK HM- SOA N[ YE KNAW60
  8,Y % N TN60 ANSW]$ ,L9TON DECISIVELY4
8,WALK D[N/AIRS AT ONCE1 & REP1T 6YR
MA/] :AT ,I H SD4 ,ELL51 %[ HM D[N4 ,G-0
  ,&1 AID+ ! 9DIGNANT ELD] )A LIFT 0!
>M1 HE RID ! ROOM ( HM1 & CLOS$ ! DOOR4
  8,V>RAH WEELL60 %\T$ ,JOSEPH1 Z HE
SL[LY DREW (F4 8,TO-MORN1 HE'S -E
HISSELN1 & ?RU/ HM \1 IF YE D>R60










