It seemed odd, coming back to Romney, Dan and I, after we left Mr. Purcell’s office. He and Dr. Birdsong had disappeared into the Fountain bar. I think Dan would have liked to go with them, and I’m not sure I wouldn’t myself. But it wouldn’t have looked well, and in Port Tobacco that’s still important.
The State Roads Commission, I noticed, had put the glass pebbles back in the sign at the entrance to the cedar-lined drive. Mara was alone in the sitting room when we came in. I think we both expected to see Alan there, but he wasn’t. I saw Dan go to the window and look out. Natalie Lane, in her white-rimmed sun glasses, was sitting under the mimosa tree, and so, not much to my surprise, was Mr. Fellowes Dunthorne, in his. Dan cleared his throat, came over to Mara, sat down beside her, twin
