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are more interesting ways of living one's life.'
    Clowance's attention was drawn away by the man on her other side, and for a while no more was said between them. Then he said: 'Your father is a Member of Parliament, Mrs Carrington?'
    'Was. He resigned last year.'
    'But still, I believe, a man of affairs.'
    'I don't know how you would define a man of affairs. He has certainly led an adventurous life.'
    'I should like to meet him sometime.'
    After a moment she said: 'You spoke of more interesting professions.'
    'Er . . . You mean for myself? Well, I have an intense interest in archaeology. Cornwall is full of prehistoric remains. My father has a small property near Penzance. It is at present unoccupied and I thought I might be able to persuade him to rent it to me for a year or two.'
    At the door as she left Harriet patted her arm. 'I see you found much in common with my young Mr Prideaux.'
    Clowance said: 'Harriet, you are a monster.'
    'Why ever? It is time you found somebody else.'
    'Heaven forfend that I should look kindly on Mr Prideaux!'
    'He is not at all a disagreeable fellow. He grows on one.'
    'I don't think he would grow on me, dear Harriet.'
    'He's unmarried. He appears to be clean-living and house-trained. He is a cousin of the influential PrideauxBrune family. My brother, who knows his father, sends a good report of him. I do not find him unattractive.'
    Clowance kissed her hostess. 'Chacun a son gout.' 'Don't you like those long limbs?'
    'I am not taken by his arrogance. I am not taken by his condescension. And those glasses. Sorry, my dear. Your intentions, I'm sure, were strictly honourable.'
    'So would his be, I've no doubt, if given the chance. Will you come again next week?'
    'Will he be there?'
    'I can't guarantee that he will not be.'
    'I'll think on it. But thank you. You're so kind.'
    'And you are a horrible girl. I don't know why I bother . . . Seriously, I think good comes of this sort of meeting. It is a challenge, abrasive or seductive. When you get home you will no doubt think of him.'
    'Possibly.'
    'It's good to have someone new to think about -- if not with loving thoughts, then with irritation.'
    The next morning Valentine Warleggan called to see her. It was a great surprise. She had been about to leave for the little office in the Strand at Falmouth where she conducted most of her business affairs, and Valentine, almost as lean and bony as Philip Prideaux, raised his eyebrows when he saw the case of papers she was carrying. He kissed her.
    'You are on your way out, Cousin? I am come at the wrong moment.'
    'The right moment,' said Clowance, 'else I could have missed you. Pray come in.'
    They went in, and she explained her mission to meet Sid Bunt sometime in the forenoon, the Lady Clowance having berthed last night. Valentine answered questions about Selina's wellbeing. She thought: perhaps it is because his eyes are just a little too close together that he is less than good-looking. Yet many women found him irresistible. He said: 'You're sure your business with Bunt can wait an hour? It is in a sense a little business that I have come to see you on, cousin. Or it might be. It concerns a certain vessel called - or potentially called - the Lady Carrington.'
    'It is still on the stocks,' said Clowance.
    'I gather so.'
    'And a long way from being finished. At least, finished in the way Stephen wanted it finished. The hull is complete, and the cabin and bulwarks, though the cabin is just a shell. Stephen had ordered Canadian red pine for the masts and yards - he said it was the best - they had come before he died, but I don't think they have ever been raised. Whether Bennett's still have them or whether they've been used for some other vessel I don't know.'
    'Did you pay for them?'
    'I - I think so. I haven't had the will to go down to the yard myself. I'll ask Bunt to go, if you want to know.'
    'I'm sure if you paid for them they will still be there. The Bennetts are Quakers.'
    Clowance stared out at