"Good," said Simon' father, and he lifted his hand at last. "Well go on inside." Simon ran up the steps, beckoning Claude to follow. Inside, a pregnant woman was cooking a meal, a baby lay in a cot and Tom, Simon's older brother by two years, was pulling faces at the infant. A little redhaired toddler girl of about three shrieked "Simooon!" When she saw her brother come in and stretched out her little fat arms. Simon lifted her up. The baby started crying.