Follow a Stranger

thing in life was archaeology.

At least the little incident cleared her conscience. It was

obvious that Peter was not suffering at all. He seemed

perfectly normal.

The next weekend she went to the Lake District, with

one of the other teachers, to do some hill walking. The

weather was splendid, warm without being humid, and

never too hot.

The weekend was very pleasant, and, congratulating

themselves, the two decided to do it again sometime. They

met a party of fellow enthusiasts on the hills on the Sunday

and spent the day with them. All in all, Kate came home

feeling very much better.

But her mother looked up as she came into the kitchen,

still smiling, and said, “Mr. Lillitos was here yesterday,

Kate!”

Kate froze, her eyes for a second out of control, the pain

flashing into them before she had time to force a smile.

Mrs. Caulfield straightened. “Kate!” Her eyes filled with

concern. “My dear girl, whatever is it?” She frowned.

“Something he did while you were there? Kate, he didn’t

hurt you in any way, did he?”

Kate laughed, artificially. “Of course not, Mother. What

an imagination you’ve got!”

“Kate, don’t pretend with me,” her mother said, stricken.

Kate sighed. “I’m sorry, but please, don’t let’s discuss it.

What did M ... did he want?”

“He wanted to see you,” said her mother, watching her

uneasily. “He seemed angry when I told him you were away

climbing. Wanted to know who you were with—I thought it