In Seacliff, San Francisco it is well after midnight, and in the Barbour family home, there are two people - Teddy lying in her bed in the darkness, sees again in her mind's eye, the shabby old house in San Rafael which Elwood Giddings bought without consulting her. And down in the master bedroom, another party to that purchase is also wakeful. Henry Barbour hasn't closed his eyes, and turning restlessly, looks at Fanny sound asleep beside him and mutters loud enough to make her stir so that he can talk to her about the house...