'Mother never really blamed you, you know,' she said, in a new voice.

 

I remained silent.

 

'She always used to say to me how it was then-fault, hers and Father's, for not

bringing you up correctly. She used to tell me how much more careful they'd been

with me, and that's why I was so good.'

 

She looked up and the mischievous grin had returned to her face.

 

'Poor Mother,' she said.

 

'Yes. Poor Mother.'

 

'Are you going back to California?'

 

'I don't know. I'll have to see.'

 

'What happened to - to her? To Vicki?'

 

'That's all finished with,' I said. 'There's nothing much left for me now in

California.'

 

'Do you think I ought to go there?'