(An evocative story of a young girl thrust into a dark and sinister adult world. Natsuko, of English-Japanese parentage living in Japan with her older brother and parents, faces the loss of her fragile mother, who is sent back to England for treatment after a breakdown. She is confronted by an arrogant and manipulative new maid, who wins over her father and brother as a surrogate wife and mother. As Hiroko's influence grows, Natsuko retreats into mounting isolation, confusion, fear and anger, resulting in a dramatic conclusion to this emotionally charged story. First published in 1979, this is Meira Chand's mesmerising, stylish debut, now in an updated edition for a new generation of readers.