Early Wednesday morning . The gold metallic ' Wild Child ' voiturette arrives in the courtyard with a crunch of gears , a scattering of gravel and a honk of its asthmatic horn . Madame Bay has finally returned from visiting her sister in Paris. The visit has not been a success . '' I don't know why I do it . I really don't know ". Further details are not, yet, forthcoming.
Bob and Sophie look on in stunned silence as this larger than life figure swathed in lilac chiffon, orange velvet turban , paisley housecoat and pendulous earrings advances towards them . '' Oh you little darlings. Which one of you is Soffeee and which is Bhib ? " .
After a moments hesitation Sophie advances towards the apparition . Bob , however, takes an executive decision and rushes to the safety of his private spot under the library table. A '' what manner of beast is that ? " look visible on his face. There he remains until Madame Bay quietly goes to the kitchen and returns with a pack of McVitie's wholemeal digestive biscuits. Thereafter Bhib and Madame Bay become quickly reconciled.
Later in the day, after a visit to the cafe under the arcades and two more curly bits from the end of a croissant, we weigh them. Bob now ten kilos. Sophie 8.8. To say they have healthy appetites would be an understatement.
