House of Many Ways

things for him."

She swept out of the parlor, leaving Mrs. Baker

to wish that her husband's aunt was not so rich or

so bossy, and to wonder how she was going to

explain to Charmain, let alone to Sam. Sam never

allowed Charmain to do anything that was not

utterly respectable. Nor did Mrs. Baker either,

except when Aunt Sempronia took a hand.

Aunt Sempronia, meanwhile, mounted into her

smart little pony-trap and had her groom drive her

beyond the other side of town where Great-Uncle

William lived.

"I've fixed it all up," she announced, sailing

through the magic ways to where Great-Uncle

William sat glumly writing in his study. "My greatniece

Charmain is coming here tomorrow. She will

see you on your way and look after you when you

come back. In between, she will take care of the

house for you."

"How very kind of her," said Great-Uncle

William. "I take it she is well versed in magic, then?"

"I have no idea," said Aunt Sempronia. "What I

do know is that she never has her nose out of a

book, never does a hand's turn in the house, and is

treated like a sacred object by both her parents. It

will do her good to do something normal for a

change."

"Oh, dear," said Great-Uncle William. "Thank

you for warning me. I shall take precautions, then."

"Do that," said Aunt Sempronia. "And you had

better make sure there is plenty of food in the place.

I've never known a girl who eats so much. And

remains thin as a witch's besom with it. I've never

understood it. I'll bring her here tomorrow before

the elves come, then."

She turned and left. "Thank you," Great-Uncle

William said weakly to her stiff, rustling back.

"Dear, dear," he added, as the front door slammed.

"Ah, well. One has to be grateful to one's relatives,

I suppose."

Charmain, oddly enough, was quite grateful to Aunt

Sempronia too. Not that she was in the least grateful

for being volunteered to look after an old, sick

wizard whom she had never met. "She might have

asked me!" she said, rather often, to her mother.

"I think she knew you would say no, dear," Mrs.

Baker suggested eventually.

"I might have," Charmain said. "Or," she added,