But she kept an eye on the clock so that they were away in good time for him to take her to the Kramer Amtsstuben.

He parked the car by St Michael's church and crossed the road with her, to lead her down a narrow alley to the old merchants' houses, lining a small cobbled street, and looking, she supposed, exactly as they must have looked centuries ago.

They had been expertly restored and although they were shops or cafes now, their charm was still very evident.

Alethea went from side to side and back again, trying to see everything at once, mindful that Sarre had very little time to spare.

When he looked at his watch she hurried back to him.

"I'm sorry, Alethea, but if I'm to drop you off at the shops, we must go.

' Well, ten minutes with him had been better than nothing at all, she mused beside him in the car once more, although she was out of it again in no time at all.

"Remember to take a taxi back to the hotel," cautioned Sarre, changing gear, 'and if you're short of money, there's some in the top drawer of the chest in my room.

' He had gone, easing the big car into the morning traffic, disappearing far too quickly from her view.

Alethea shook off the feeling of being lost without him and took herself to the nearest store, where she whiled away an hour before finding her way to the pavilion by the Binnenalster and drinking a cup of very expensive coffee.

She went back to the shops after that, to buy presents for the children, and her grandmother, Mrs Bustle and lastly for the staff in Groningen, an exercise which kept her busy until lunch time, when she obediently took a taxi back to the hotel, had her lunch and then went for a walk by the lake.

The afternoon was as brilliantly fine as the morning had been.

She walked the considerable length of the lake, keeping to the narrow

path running round its edge, and then turned to hurry back, afraid that Sarre might have got back early after all.

He hadn't, of course; she was ready, dressed in the grey-patterned

crepe, when he got back, to knock on her door and ask her if she had enjoyed her day.

She told him yes, very, and how had his gone?

"Very satisfactory.

' He strolled across to the bed and sat down on it.

"Everything just as it should be, provided there are no complications.

I hope it will be a hundred per cent success.

' "And the foot?

' "Now that was tricky.

' He went into some detail as to the operation and she listened with

her usual careful attention.

When he had finished, she said: "You must be tired--do you want a drink before you change?

' "Thoughtful girl.

Yes--ask them to send up a whisky, will you?

What about you?

' He got to his feet and stretched hugely.

"What a heavenly evening.

Shall we dine later and go for a stroll first?

' She hadn't had any tea and she was starving, but that didn't

matter.

"T'll wait on the balcony," she told him, "I'm not a bit hungry.

' There were plenty of people about, strolling along the paths beside the lake, exercising the dog, playing ball with their children, or just walking and talking as they were.

Sarre tucked her hand into his arm and explained the difficulties he had had, getting the shattered shoulder into alignment, and she listened happily.

The conversation wasn't romantic, but at least they were together and he was talking to her as though he were enjoying it.

It more than made up for her lonely day.

The next day followed more or less the same pattern and the one after it, and she did a little more shopping and a good deal of exploring, the highlight of each day being their evening walk together.

And on the last day Sarre went with her in the morning, declaring that he need not go to the hospital until lunch time and then only briefly, and he could make a final call on their way home.

And since he obviously expected her to go shopping, she hastily invented a list of presents to buy and as the morning was as beautiful as its predecessors, they walked to the Monckeberg Stra.s.se, stopping on the way to drink their coffee in the pavilion by the Binnenalster and then strolling along by the enticing shop windows.

It was in a small, expensive shop that Alethea saw a musical box, a dainty little dancing lady, exquisitely dressed in eighteenth century costume, and when she remarked on its charm, Sarre took her inside, where they listened to its silvery, tinkling tune before he bought it for her.

It was wildly expensive, even for a rich man, and she protested faintly as they left the shop, only to hear his placid: "But I haven't bought you a present since we married, my dear.

' She thanked him again and then said, because there was a look on his face she didn't quite understand: "T bought chocolates for the children, but I saw a game of Monopoly, do you suppose they'd like that?

' They bought that too, and more sweets for Mrs McCrea, who had a sweet tooth, and cigars for Al, who rather fancied the best brands.

"T'll collect the children's present as we go," Sarre told her, and would say no more than that.

Alethea ate her lunch alone, for Sarre was due at the hospital at one o'clock and intended to eat there, but he was back after an hour or two and they were ready to leave by mid-aftemoon.

She got into the Jaguar after a last look at the quiet water; it had been a lovely few days.

True, she hadn't seen very much of Sarre, but when they had been together, she had loved every second of it.

They didn't speak much as he drove through the city, but as he stopped before the hospital he leaned over to open her door.

"T should like you to come in with me," he told her.

The hospital was impressive inside as well as out.

They crossed the crowded entrance hall, making their way through the visitors waiting for admission to the wards, and took a lift to the third floor.

It was quiet here, a quietness explained by Sarre.

"The administrative block," he told her.

"The various meeting rooms are here as well as the offices.

' He opened a door and ushered her in to a large apartment, furnished with a long table and chairs, and half filled with people.

"Some of my colleagues wished to meet you," said Sarre, and she began a round of handshaking and trivial conversation, interrupted at last by Sarre declaring that if they were to reach home that evening, they would have to leave, so Alethea went round shaking hands once more and only as they reached the door saw that he had a basket with a lid in one hand.

Sarre saw her looking at it.

"The children's present," he told her blandly as they got into the lift.

It wasn't until they were in the car that he opened the lid and lifted out a very small Siamese kitten.

It curled up at once on Alethea's lap and she stroked it gently with a finger tip.

"It's adorable.

Will Nero mind?

' "T don't imagine so, he'll have something to play with.

They've been asking for a kitten, it's about the only animal they

haven't got.

' The journey back was far too quick for Alethea.

In no time at all they were on the outskirts ofGroningenand she began

to worry about the children and Nanny.

Supposing they didn't like the presents she had brought them?

Supposing Nanny refused the big box of sweets she had brought back for

her?

"Why are you so nervous?

' Sarre's voice sounded searching.

The?

Nervous?

I expect I'm excited," she answered brightly.

"It was a lovely few days, Sarre, thank you for taking me.

' They had stopped before the house and he turned to her, about to

speak, but the door opened and the children spilled out on to the

pavement, laughing and calling to them.

Alethea wondered what he had been going to say while she waited quietly until their first raptures over the kitten had died away.

In the hall they stood for a few minutes while Mrs McCrea bustled up to greet them and AI went to fetch the luggage.

"What shall we call him?