Old Madam Barker understood at once and smiled. “Where else could he go? He went to find his wife of course!”

Aunt Julia did not quite believe it. “Would he?”

“Goodness, you!” Old Madam Barker looked at Aunt Julia with a hopeless expression. “Why hasn’t any of my cleverness rubbed off on you after you’ve been by my side all these years?”

Aunt Julia was silent.

Old Madam Barker went into the kitchen and muttered to herself, “If Tim and Sammy have a child, who’s going to ...