Am I being disloyal to my revered grandmother’s memory? No. There’ll never be another like her. The fabled matriarch had not ruled her family with the proverbial rod of iron, but with an influence capable of moulding lives. She had always left the final decision to you. And all her intentions were unarguably good. Not all of her remembered wisdoms, though, had in the long run proved wise.

Marianne eyed Sarah’s nearby tombstone and silently told her, You weren’t quite so perfect as I thought, and it makes you easier to live up to.

After the funeral, while the next of kin were partaking of the ritual mourners’ meal in Ann’s living room, Kate stopped trying to swallow down hard-boiled egg and salt herring, and turned to her brother.

‘I’ve asked Mum to come and live with me in Israel, Howard, and I hope you won’t mind.’

‘Have you discussed it with your husband?’

‘Aryeh told Mum on the phone that he hoped she would now come and get some pleasure from her granddaughters.’

Howard put down the bagel he was trying to eat and managed to smile at his mother. ‘I agree with Aryeh that it’s time you had some pleasure, and if that’s what you want to do, go ahead.’

‘Thank God,’ said Ann, ‘that I’m blessed with wonderful children and the same kind of son-in-law.’

‘You still think I’m wonderful, after what I did to you?’ Howard said wryly. ‘And by the way, Karin sent you her love when I called her.’

‘When you brought her to meet us,’ said Ann, ‘your dad said, “That’s the right girl for our son.”’

‘For once I’m in complete agreement with him.’

Arnold then astonished them all by bursting into tears.

‘Today, I don’t feel in the least like Sir Arnold Klein,’ he said to their further amazement. ‘I’m just a man who’s lost his brother.’ He glanced at a photograph of Harry that stood on the china cabinet. ‘Nobody could have had a better one,’ he told Howard. ‘I wish I’d had the chance to say that to your dad.’

He dried his eyes and added gruffly, ‘If you’d like me to, I’ll stand in for him when you get married.’

‘I’ll hold you to that, Uncle.’ Howard turned to Ann. ‘Have you given Kate your answer, Mum?’

‘Not until I’d made sure you wouldn’t mind. But how better could I spend the years I have left?’

A sentimental interlude followed while Ann and Kate hugged each other and more tears were shed.

Howard too had done his share of weeping today. Only Marianne had remained dry-eyed. The brother she knew had died a long time ago.

Lyn entered with a coffee pot, Laura and Shirley behind her carrying cups and saucers, sugar bowl and milk jug.

‘Couldn’t you find a tray?’ Ann said to them.