‘Bring her in then, if she’s come to see me. I never get any visitors. Or do I have to pass the test first? Are you going to check the bathroom’s not a mess?’

‘Mum. I’m going away for a while.’

‘You know I can’t manage the bathroom. I’ve been waiting for you. Where is the shopping? Is it in the car?’

‘Mum, listen.’

‘All right, all right. You’re going away. Where are you going?’ Her mother’s nails are dirty. It is difficult for her to wash her hands properly: arthritis has turned each finger to a bubbled question mark.

‘To the Netherlands. To Holland.’

‘Oh, Holland. I knew a Dutchman once. He was really short. They’re supposed to be tall, the Dutch, but this one was really, really short. He was completely fixated on me, even though I was far too tall for him. We would’ve looked ridiculous together.’

‘I’m going to Haarlem,’ Claire says. ‘They’ve given me a fellowship there.’

The jammy eyes blink. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what that is.’

Patience brings her case inside, and Claire carries the shopping to the kitchen. As she unpacks, she can hear the charged silence of her mother sizing Patience up.

‘What’s your story? Or do I want to know?’

‘Do you like stories?’ Patience replies.

Claire’s mother snorts. ‘It’s an expression. You’ve never heard that expression before? It means, who are you, why are you here?’

‘Yes, Jacqueline, I’ve heard it before.’

Putting plums in the bowl, Claire flinches. Her mother calls out, ‘You hear that? She thinks we’re on first-name terms already. No Ms Pettifer for you, is there?’

‘I’m sorry. Is that how you’d prefer to be addressed?’

‘I’d prefer that you asked me first. Is that all right?’

‘Yes. And you may call me Patience.’

‘Oh, may I? May I? Claire!’

Her mother is leaning forward hawkishly in the wing chair. Patience stands with her hands by her sides.

‘I don’t want her. Take her away.’

‘I’m not taking her away.’

‘You think I don’t know what she is? I know what she is. She’s rude. She’s got no social sense. Have you heard how she’s speaking to me?’

‘Mum—’

‘It’s not a good start. At the very least they ought to be able to make a good start.’

‘If I may,’ Patience says. ‘Ms Pettifer, I apologise. I should have asked how you would like to be addressed.’

‘That’s a very basic thing, I would have thought. It’s very basic to ask a person how they want to be spoken to.’

‘You are right, of course. I should have been more respectful. I will remember this in future.’

‘All right, all right. Don’t creep. What time is it? Did you bring any of those biscuits?’