In fact, more often than not they try to give her treats they ‘think’ she would enjoy or expect her to react as they ‘think’ children should, not really seeing or appreciating her for what she is. I felt for her as well, for Maria has a sensitive nature and also rather profound and interesting thoughts, and quite a lot to her that her parents don’t seem to see or even care about. I took to Maria right from the start and could connect with her, particularly her shyness and hesitation in interacting with not only those her age but also older people like Mrs Shand (Maria has so many questions but she dare not ask). But the mystery from the past still occupies her mind and leads her wonder what Harriet’s story really was? The two soon become friends, and Maria finds herself opening up more with the Lucas children, joining in games and doing things she didn’t think she would (and also finding that she can make friends). One of the Lucas children is Martin who is about Maria’s age and has some interests in common-fossils and also birds and plants-but in terms of personality is quite the contrast. Meanwhile, Maria also finds that in the hotel next door are staying a big family-two sets of cousins, the Lucases-whom they had noticed on the drive down. But alongside, Maria also begins to hear sounds of things that aren’t there-a dog barking and crying, a swing creaking-are these also her imagination or is she a little fey with a connection to the past? Some inscriptions in books in the house, and a visit to their landlady Mrs Shand, on which she sees a sampler from the past made by ‘Harriet’, lead her to wonder about the little girl who lived in the house a hundred years before herself.

Maria thus is left to entertain herself, which she does, collecting fossils from the beach and using the books in the house (and at the library) to identify and label them, spending hours in the lovely old Ilex tree in the garden, and having imaginary conversations with the cat who always ‘replies’ sarcastically, and voices Maria’s fears and apprehensions.

At Lyme too, Maria’s parents prefer to stay quietly indoors much of the time so while there are walks and visits to the beach, they are happier when they don’t have to take them.

A stitch in time lively novel