Chapter 12
MOST OF THE next day, Johanna sat in the kitchen because an icy wind had come up and there was not enough wood to heat the entire house. Father stayed in the library where, thanks to the high ceiling, it was much colder despite the fire. He said, “You young people should talk amongst yourselves.”
Johanna told him not to be silly and join them, but he said that he expected a visit from Auguste LaFontaine and that the LaFontaines should not find out about his houseguests.
Which was true.
But the LaFontaine cousin stayed away, probably because of the weather. Father took his tea in the library. Roald had moved a chair from the cold formal sitting room into the kitchen, where it had stood in the corner for many years. It was a strange thing, made from some kind of twig, much thi
