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lover?” Bennis asked. “I’ve never heard of one.”
    â€œShe was part of Natalie Barney’s set. Natalie had a house with a garden in the back where she used to hold pagan rituals of some sort. Goddess worship. It’s odd to think that all kinds of perfectly respectable young women want to worship the Goddess now.”
    â€œI don’t think it’s anything very serious.”
    Margaret put her demitasse cup down and smoothed theskirt of her dress. “Quite frankly, if it were up to me, I would turn down this request. I know Abigail means well, but I do think she’s encouraging a cultural vogue that could turn out to be very dangerous. It doesn’t do any of us any good when women run off and chuck their responsibilities, all for the sake of becoming artists. In spite of the fashions, Miss Hannaford, I don’t really think any woman has ever been an artist. At least not a great artist, like Michelangelo or Raphael.”
    â€œWell,” Bennis Hannaford said, “of course, you’re entitled to your opinion. But Abigail will be very disappointed.”
    â€œAbigail will not be disappointed,” Margaret said. “The decision is not, as it happens, up to me. It’s up to my daughter. Have you met my daughter?”
    â€œOnce or twice. I saw her picture in
Town and Country.”
    â€œQuite. I was debutante of the year when I came out, too. Not that it’s an official designation. Did you—?”
    â€œAt the Assemblies.”
    â€œOh, yes, of course. I should have known. Your mother was presented at the Assemblies. Kayla is of a different mind about almost everything from me. I think she’s only coming out because she had to postpone college for a year and she has nothing else to do. Kayla is very interested in Abigail’s project, and of course Kayla is the one who owns Julia Anson’s paintings. Kayla is the one who owns everything, including this house. The papers aren’t exaggerating when they say she was Robert’s only heir.”
    â€œI thought that sort of thing could be set aside,” Bennis said. “If you went to court about it and worked it out with a judge.”
    â€œI’m of a generation that does not resort to courtrooms except from necessity, and there is no necessity. I’m not destitute. I’m merely very angry. Does that surprise you?”
    â€œNo,” Bennis said.
    â€œGood.” Margaret stood up. “Kayla’s gone to Waterbury to buy a few things. She’s put you in the front guest room that looks over the porte cochere. I’ve always thought itwas very noisy there, but Kayla likes the view.”
    â€œI’m sure it will be fine.”
    â€œKayla can show you the paintings tomorrow, if you want to see them. Or she can give Abigail a call and arrange a meeting in Philadelphia. She has some papers, too, diaries and address books that belonged to Julia Anson. I’m sure it will all come in for good use when Abigail gets hold of it. From what I’ve seen, however, the diaries are rather explicit.”
    â€œI don’t think Abigail wants to do anything explicit”
    â€œThere will be a publisher out there who does. Did I tell you that one of the reasons that Kayla is so excited about this project is that she thinks she can talk someone into letting her write a book? Kayla is very ambitious. And very bright, I might add. She’s much more like her father than she ever has been like me.”
    â€œOh,” Bennis said.
    â€œI’m going to go to bed now. I’m very tired.”
    â€œOh,” Bennis said again.
    Margaret waited. A woman of her own generation would have made a protest, or looked angry, or given some indication that this sort of behavior was highly irregular. Bennis Hannaford did none of these things. She simply sat where she was, holding a demitasse cup and looking polite.
    Margaret inclined her head, turned away, and went out of