pine-tree on the point and are reasonably neighbourly. Call ‘em Nip and Tuck. And I have a demure little tame owl. Name, Leander. I brought him up from a baby and he lives over on the mainland and chuckles to himself o’nights. And bats — it’s a great place for bats at night. Scared of bats?”

“No; I like them.”

“So do I. Nice, queer, uncanny, mysterious creatures. Coming from nowhere — going nowhere. Swoop! Banjo likes ‘em, too. Eats ‘em. I have a canoe and a disappearing propeller boat. Went to the Port in it today to get my license. Quieter than Lady Jane.”

“I thought you hadn’t gone at all — that you had changed your mind,” admitted Valancy.