"Well, goodness me,"said Miss Wetherspoon, as the cat nestled in Alison's arms and stretched its neck to lick her face. "I've never seen her do that with anyone but June. She must like you."

"I'm Alison Metcalfe,"Alison said, laughing as the cat's rough tongue tickled her cheek. "I work with Miss Blacker."

"Ah, you're a teacher at Graystones. I expect that's it. You probably smell like June. Chalk dust and so forth, don't you know."

At this Alison did burst out into ...