‘Mother,’ Ed told her, ‘I’m not having you start all that again. Season’s settling in pretty well, all things considered. It’s a big change to come to Kansas from New York City. A big shock to the system. Season’s going to have to be given time to get used to it.’

‘Well…’ said Mrs Hardesty, disapprovingly, turning her mouth down at the corners.

‘Well nothing, Mother,’ Ed retorted. ‘And as to when she’s going to buy herself any galoshes… she’ll do it when Gucci bring out some galoshes with red-and-green bands round the top.’

‘It’s your loss,’ Mrs Hardesty said. ‘If you want to carry the whole burden of South Burlington yourself… it’s really up to you. I can’t influence you.’

‘No, you can’t,’ said Ed. ‘Now come and have a cocktail before I start getting mad at you. I’ve got enough problems on the farm without getting mad at my mother.’

‘No serious problems, I hope?’ said Mrs Hardesty, as they walked through into the living-room.

‘Moderately serious. Some sort of crop disease. We’re not sure what it is yet.’

Mrs Hardesty frowned. ‘Is it bad? You’re almost ready for harvesting.’

Ed walked around the back of the sofa, clasped Season’s hand, and bent over to kiss her. She was dressed in tight dark blue velvet pants and a cream-coloured silk blouse. Her hair was freshly washed and shining, and she had let it hang loose to her shoulders.

‘How is it?’ she asked.

Ed shrugged. ‘Hard to tell yet. But it’s still spreading. We saw patches of it all over.’

‘Did Dr Benson call yet?’

‘Willard’s trying to get in touch with him now.’

Mrs Hardesty sat down in the velvet-covered armchair by the fireplace, facing the library chair which had once been her husband’s. She sat stiff and erect, raising her head like an inquiring eagle. ‘You’ve sent samples across to Dr Benson?’ she asked. ‘Your father always thought that Dr Benson was a quack.’

‘Perhaps he is,’ said Ed. ‘But he’s our first line of assistance. Jack’s been trying to isolate the blight all night, and he can’t make out what it is.’

‘I could give you Professor Kornbluth’s number,’ said Mrs Hardesty. ‘He did some wonderful work for us on seed dressings.’

‘That’s very kind of you. Mother, but Professor Kornbluth is an expert on the protection of germinating crops, and that’s it. This is a blight of the whole ripened ear.’

‘Has it spread very far?’ asked his mother.

‘Two, maybe two hundred and fifty acres.’

‘Two hundred and fifty acres? And you’re leaving it to Dr Benson? My dear, you can’t do that!’

‘What else do you suggest I do?’

‘Go over his head. Your father would have done. Go straight to the Department of Agriculture.’