‘It’s going to have babies. And that’s not all,’ said Rory impressively. He paused dramatically to let the full impact of his announcement sink in, and then said: ‘Robbie says when they’re borned I can have one for my very own. I’ve never, ever had an animal of my own.’

‘Oh, Rory.’ Isobel hated having to be a wet blanket. ‘It’s a lovely idea and perhaps we can come and see them, but I really don’t think you’ll be able to take a guinea pig back to Washington with you.’

‘But I don’t live in Washington any more,’ said Rory. ‘I live here now. I live with you. Please say I can have one, Aunt Izzy. Please.’

Isobel realised that it was the first time Rory had voluntarily made mention of where he lived. He seemed to have blanked his previous existence from his mind. Initially she had presumed this was because homesickness might be too painful to bear, but now she had got to know him, she thought otherwise, and her heart sank.

‘I’ll be very good if you let me have one,’ said Rory earnestly, gazing up at her with Giles’s dark eyes. ‘I’ll look after it all by myself. I promise I will. I’ve never had a pet of my own.’

Janet MacDonald came to the rescue. ‘I’m afraid we’ll have to wait to see how many babies Snuffle has first, Rory,’ she said firmly. ‘She may only have one baby and if so, Robbie’s little sister’s been promised that. Unless she has several babies there might not be one to spare. But we’ll certainly let you know when they arrive and you can come and look at them and then we’ll have to see.’ And with that Rory had to be content. He didn’t think Mrs MacDonald was the sort of lady you argued with. He said polite goodbyes and climbed into the car, and Isobel strapped him in.