mentioned her “I was just going to the door to see if I could see the post coming,” I said “But do you know, I’m feeling a little dizzy I think I’ll go to bed.” “You do that, Miss Elizabeth You don’t want to go anywhere.” It is rare that I feel Bessy’s caution is sound William Buckland arrived two days later Margaret and Louise had gone to deliver the Christmas baskets to various deserving persons, but I was still ill enough to stay behind Louise had looked envious as they left; such visits were tedious for her—as they were for me Only Margaret enjoyed social calls It seemed I had only just allowed my eyes to close when Bessy came in to announce that a gentleman had arrived to see me I sat up, rubbed my face and smoothed my hair William Buckland bounded in “Miss Philpot!” he cried “Don’t get up— you look so comfortable there by the fire I didn’t mean to disturb you I can come back.” He looked about him with every intention of remaining, however, and I got to my feet and gave him my hand “Mr Buckland, what a pleasure to see you It has been such a long time.” I waved at the chair opposite “Please sit and tell me all of your news Bessy, some tea for Mr Buckland, please Have you just come from Oxford?” “I arrived a few hours ago.” William Buckland sat “Thankfully the term has just ended, and I was able to set out almost as soon as I received Mary’s letter.” He jumped up again—he was never good at sitting for long—and paced up and down His forehead was growing larger as his hairline receded, and it gleamed in the firelight “It really is remarkable, isn’t it? Bless Mary, she has found the most spectacular specimen! We have now incontrovertible evidence of another new creature without having to guess at its anatomy as we did before How many more ancient animals might we find?” Mr Buckland picked up a sea urchin from the mantelpiece “You are very quiet, Miss Philpot,” he said as he examined it “What do you think? Is it not magnificent?” “I have not seen the specimen,” I confessed “I’ve only read about it— though there is little enough in the newspaper account.” Mr Buckland stared at me “What? You’ve not been to see it? Why ever not? I’ve just come like lightning all the way from Oxford, and yet you can simply stroll down the hill Would you like to go now? I am going back again and can accompany you.” He set down the sea urchin and held out his elbow for me to take I sighed It had been impossible to get Mr Buckland to understand that