“You should have bought a larger size,” said her mother.
“They only had it in one size and it was too gorgeous to
resist.”
“It cost a bomb, too,” Sam said. “Which reminds me—lend
me a quid, Kate. I want to take Karen to the pictures.”
Kate groaned, but produced the money. “I thought girls
went dutch these days.”
“Not Karen,” he said proudly. “Half the male population of
Greyford is trying to date her. I wouldn’t dare suggest we go
dutch.”
When he had vanished to change into even sloppier jeans,
his mother laughed. “Karen isn’t a girl—she’s a prize. Sam is
delighted to be dating her.”
“I can’t think why,” said Kate. “She’s the most boring girl I
ever met.”
“But she looks like a beauty queen,” said Mrs. Caulfield
with amusement, “and all the other boys are crazy about
her.”
The doorbell rang and Kate jumped up. “That will be
Peter—I’ll go.”
She opened the door and a tall, bearded young man
wandered in, smiling vaguely at her. “Hi!”
She sighed and reached up to kiss him. “Hello, darling.
Had an interesting day?”
He looked almost lively. “Yes—guess what was brought in?
Another urn fragment from the Roman fort at Lower
Greyford. And it fits perfectly! The urn is really taking shape
now. Another few pieces and I’ll have a complete second-
century urn.”
“How fascinating, darling. Like a jigsaw puzzle,” she said,