Follow a Stranger

Peter ran the local museum and, in his own spare time,

was an ardent archaeologist. Kate had known him all her

life.

Her father had died five years earlier, leaving his wife

with four children to bring up. Kate’s salary was the only

family income for the present, since her younger brother,

Sam, was studying art at the local art school, and her twin

brothers, Harry and John, were only eleven.

That evening she told her mother about Pallas Lillitos

while they washed up after supper.

Sam listened idly, sitting astride a chair, eating a bag of

peanuts.

“She sounds a real frost,” he remarked, “spoilt and

conceited.”

“Didn’t you have enough supper?” Kate countered. “You

eat as if you never expected to see another meal!”

He grinned, wrinkling his freckled nose at her. Sam had

red hair, big ears and an inexhaustible passion for food. Only

his blue eyes were any reminder of the fact that they were

brother and sister.

“You’re just jealous because I don’t have to diet to keep my

figure.”

She threw the tea-towel at him. “How true, you

abominable boy!”

Mrs. Caulfield smiled, her gaze resting on Kate’s trim

waist. “You don’t need to diet either, Kate.”

Kate put her hands on either side of her waist, sighing. “I

do if I want to wear my new dress for the spring dance at the

Tennis Club. I need to lose an inch off my waist, or the dress

will burst at the seams.”