Follow a Stranger

law lives in America and only visits us occasionally.” He

spread his hands in an expressive gesture. “So Pallas is

very lonely when she is at home.”

“Surely you have some young friends?” she asked,

surprised.

He shook his head. “I am a very busy man. My friends are

all business acquaintances.”

“Doesn’t Pallas have any friends of her own?” She was not

aware of the shocked disbelief of her own voice, but he looked

hard at her.

“You find that strange? Yes, it is, I suppose. When she was

small she used to play with the island children, but most of

the girls in her age group are married now, or will be soon.

Our girls mature early.”

“No wonder Pallas feels cut off,” Kate said slowly. “She’s

sent away to school while the girls she grew up with are

regarded as adult women! When she first came to Cheddall

she looked so sad—a young girl dressed like a middle-aged

woman, very quiet and aloof. She was marooned on an island

at a time when she should have been having fun with people

of her own age.”

“She had her music,” he protested.

“Which you don’t take seriously!”

He met her eyes. “She told you that?” And when Kate

nodded, he said, “She was wrong, but that can wait. First, I

want to know if you really like my sister, or if you are only

sorry for her.”

“I like her,” Kate said. “I’m sorry for her, too, but there’s

something appealing about her. She’s so ... eager. She wants

to be happy. It’s touching.”