Look at Ham Bigelow, one of the most fascinating men I ever knew — course he couldn’t manage even to keep a luncheon engagement — but he was one of those men determined to destroy himself, which he did — and all those women at his feet! Put a bullet in his mouth. Poor Winnie did try, but you can’t save someone like that. Winnie was an old girlfriend of your father’s actually … I was thinking of your father the other day. You know, I don’t think he ever strayed. Aunt Tizzy seemed amazed by this. But I’m not so sure about your mother.

Ma? It was the most absurd idea Lilian could conceive of.

Aunt Tizzy shrugged, and her glance drifted sideways.

How are the hips today? Lilian said.

Misery.

Is there anything I might — ?

She waved away the question. Tell me more about this young man. What will you do with him?

Why, nothing, Lilian said.

Aunt Tizzy tapped her cigarette and the smoke rose into the pane-crossed sunlight. Outside, the snow dripped, leaving dark streaks down the side of the building. Down the hall a heater clanked, and something rolled by on wobbly wheels. It was bound to happen sometime, Aunt Tizzy said.

What do you mean?

I’ve known you all your life, Lilian Eliot.

Lilian flushed.

I just hope it doesn’t ruin your life, said Aunt Tizzy. It does some peoples,’ you know.

Lilian felt, at that moment, not afraid of ruin. Ruin had an appeal of its own.

I wasn’t planning on seeing him, she said.

You weren’t. Aunt Tizzy nodded.

No, truly. She’d become so confused she wasn’t sure how much of this was a lie.

Go ahead. You might learn something. Aunt Tizzy frowned at a nurse passing by. Unpleasant woman, she said. And how is Gilbert?

He’s spending more time in Washington with Cap. I go down sometimes.

Interesting place, Washington.

It is.

Heard from Arthur?

Oh, not in a while.

Aunt Tizzy nodded as if she had more information. I never could stand Palm Beach, she said.

I worry about him, Lilian said.

Can’t be helped, said Aunt Tizzy. Oh, he’ll be back. At the end. They always come back. Look at me, she laughed and started to cough.

A man shuffled by in slippers. Not always, the man said, half-turning his face. I didn’t.

Lilian looked at Aunt Tizzy.

New here, she whispered, and her eyebrows rose with interest.

When Lilian left, Aunt Tizzy told her to bring the children next time if they wouldn’t be scared to death.