e, astonision, as t  my reason.

    ‘It’s just t I t you said you’d put ttle on.“

    ‘Oove. I used to “—urned ea from a t very nice, is it? No sting very badly?“

    ‘Only a bit.“

    ‘Good girl. Quite a tumble t ea—lemon and sugar all right? No milk, I’m afraid. No fridge.“

    ‘Lemon will be lovely.“

    ‘Rig’s make you comfortable. topped, so tea outdoors?“  to t t of tc. ited, to get to my feet.

    ‘Don’t move!“

    t danced back to do myself being raised into tside.  me sides I had admired an hour earlier.

    ‘You  tea!“ and  back into tairs and disappeared into trance of third room.

    ‘Comfy?“

    I nodded.

    ‘Marvelous.“   us introduce ourselves. My name is Love. Aurelius Alp me expectantly.

    ‘Margaret Lea.“

    ‘Margaret.“ e splendid. No.“

    Bet icky slice of cake, cut generously. I bit into it. It  cake for a cold day: spiced  but . tranger strained tea into dainty cook a blue velvet pouc pocket,  ed A in tylized angel ornamenting took it, stirred my tea and passed it back to him.

    e and drank, my  sat on t, ed kittenis girte in silence, neatly and ration. c, too, anxious t I se the food.

    ‘t was lovely,“ I said. ”hink?“

    ts  ten feet, and to converse rical air, as t o tock-still, regarded us curiously. Unblinking, alert, nostrils tcted it, it made no attempt to run but decided, on trary, not to be afraid.

    My companion  and folded it into four. “You liked it to me by Mrs. Love. I’ve bee