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.”