“You overlook the fact that Adam’s father Bruce is the master of Oaks and likely to be so for twenty or thirty years longer—and Bruce’s mother—Adam’s grandmother, is very much mistress of Oaks.”

“I remember her, a crude woman. She must be terribly old by now. Surely she can’t count for anything.”

“I should not like her to hear you say so.”

“And they are all here for your spend-the-day?”

Sarah nodded. “They are.”

“What a lucky thing I came on instead of resting longer in Savannah!” Lauretta exclaimed. “Something must have told me. Oh, how I cried when I saw Aunt Penelope’s house. Strangers living there—how could she let them? I did not dare knock and tell them who I was. To have looked inside would have broken my heart.”

“Well, Lauretta—”

“But that is all past. I shall get to know everyone again at supper! I suppose they are staying for that?”

Sarah hesitated before she answered. “Lauretta, you go too fast. Pause and consider, I beg you.” Lauretta waited, looking quizzically at her sister. “To begin—I ask you to remember that eighteen years ago you—to everyone’s surprise—went away with Bruce’s brother, Edna’s son, Selma’s husband. You cannot—really, you cannot simply appear and expect everyone to say ‘howdy-do’ as if nothing had happened.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you think I’ve done to cause offense to anyone!” Lauretta stood and flounced across the room to a window, feeling that she had lost a little of her advantage in the interview. Looking out, she exclaimed, “There’s a girl walking with a young man! Oh, I know they are the young lovers—Rachel with her husband-to-be who is master-to-be of Oaks!”

Sarah went hastily to join Lauretta as she spoke, knowing her to be quite capable of calling down from the window to whoever was there. She looked out and breathed relief. “That is James Davis and his sister Doreen. Bruce’s younger girl. The elder one married the son of our town’s banker, Mr. Saxon.”

“What a sweet thing for her to have done.” Lauretta said. “It appears to be a clever family my daughter is to join!”

“Lauretta—” Sarah took her by the hand and drew her away from the window, back to a chair. She sat her down firmly on it and stood looking at her for a moment. Shaking her head, she then drew another chair close to Lauretta’s and dropped into it. “You really do beat all!”

“What have I done?” Lauretta wailed, accusing and defensive at the same time.

“You’ve done what you always have done—plunged ahead with no thought of anyone but yourself!”

Lauretta tossed her head. “If I’m not welcome, of course—”