William chooses a steep path to lead them back up to Kelburn. Edith doesn't protest, and he supposes she must enjoy as much as he the opportunity to grip hands to steady and pull one another. They stop to check the view across the harbour, in truth, to get their breath back. "When I was a little boy, my sister Kitty used to take me to Hadley Park. It's a bit like this only flat."
Edith smiles at the suggestion.
"What I mean is, at this time of year there were always lots of butterflies, especially Red Admirals – they were my favourites. The monarchs were too big and too slow. The cabbage whites made me think of little ghosts. Kitty used to let me chase them all around the park."
"Did you catch them?"
"No. But you see I wasn't trying to catch them, it was just the fun of following their paths and not the paths that men had made."
"What a sweet little boy you must have been." She touches his cheek. "I think we should have a boy just like you."