It hardly seemed possible that one frail ten-year-old cousin, just arrived in England from Africa, could disrupt the long-established pattern of the closely knit Tower family.
Jo and Oliver were the only ones among the numerous cousins to recognize an aura of mystery connected with the recently orphaned Emily. Old rivalries began to appear among the cousins where none had existed before. There were unexpected complications concerning the festival during which a collection of antique cars, usually kept in the family automobile works, was to be displayed for the first time. And no longer was it certain who would be elected as chief, or High Tower, when next the informal organization of cousins met at a Towering, the name such meetings were known by. When at last the Towering was held, however, it was thanks to Emily that a tragic catastrophe had been avoided and the family solicitor remained unbroken.
It hardly seemed possible that one frail ten-year-old cousin, just arrived in England from Africa, could disrupt the long-established pattern of the closely knit Tower family.
Jo and Oliver were the only ones among the numerous cousins to recognize an aura of mystery connected with the recently orphaned Emily. Old rivalries began to appear among the cousins where none had existed before. There were unexpected complications concerning the festival during which a collection of antique cars, usually kept in the family automobile works, was to be displayed for the first time. And no longer was it certain who would be elected as chief, or High Tower, when next the informal organization of cousins met at a Towering, the name such meetings were known by. When at last the Towering was held, however, it was thanks to Emily that a tragic catastrophe had been avoided and the family solicitor remained unbroken.