The Strange Story of the Plush Animal House

Lilah Broadstreet Bentley collected plush animals since she was six years old. Her very first was a small bear she called Paddy. It was her birthday gift from Father for her birthday. Thus began a lifelong collection of plush animals of nearly every imaginable kind.

Often to her parents’ dismay, Lilah traded valuable childhood gifts, a pearl necklace or a very expensive porcelain doll for a raggedy old plush lamb, bunny or bear.

Each Christmas, Lilah couldn’t wait to see if Santa left another plush animal under the ten-foot, candle lit, meticulously decorated tree.

Bernard and Sarah Broadstreet saw to it their only child received another addition to her growing collection, if only so she wouldn’t trade away her other personal effects for all of those worn and tattered ones. Sarah worried about her daughter’s attraction to stuffed animals.

Lilah had a Nanny according to her parents’ wishes. Nanny kept Bernard and Sarah informed of their daughter’s habit of naming each of her animals and speaking to them as if they were live.

Nanny was emphatic that it wasn’t good for a child to be so fond of imaginary pets.

Each day at tea time, Lilah set up her toy china tea set with tiny violets handpainted on the cups and saucers. She placed them carefully on the child’s table and chair set in the playroom.

The playroom was located on the third floor of a three-story, Jacobean style mansion. Nanny’s quarters were just down the hall.

Bernard Broadstreet wasn’t one of the early nineteen hundreds wealthy barons. His place in business was relatively far removed from the types of brokers’ mansions in New York City.

Still, he and Sarah lived in the comfort and style of many of the early 1930s wealthiest residents of New England.

The Broadstreet Mansion, as it was known, wasn’t excessively furnished as many assumed.

Sarah Keeson Broadstreet was raised in the Quaker faith. This meant that her home should be suitably furnished without appearing ostentatious.

After several futile attempts to bear a son and heir for Bernard, Lilah was born in 1935. In some ways, Bernard breathed a sigh of relief that his progeny was female…a misunderstanding on Sarah’s part.

She wrongfully assumed a husband always wants a son. As a result, Bernard spared Lilah no expense from the moment she was able to say, “Father.”  Bernard presented his toddler daughter with her first rocking horse.

Nanny, of course, disapproved.

“Teach her to ride her rocking horse side saddle for now, Nanny. I want my daughter to be an excellent horsewoman as soon as she can ride properly,” Bernard cautioned.

Bernard spent more time with his tiny daughter than Sarah did. Every afternoon, he ascended three flights of stairs to the playroom.

Lilah often occupied herself with some of the toys the Broadstreets’ friends presented to Lilah since her birth. In addition to her father’s gift of a rocking horse, Lilah had one of those painted metal toy tops. She also had several baby dolls, which she mostly ignored.

Nanny read to the little girl every day as soon as tea time was through. Then, Bernard would come to visit in Lilah's second floor Lilah’s nursery and read to her until she fell fast asleep.

Sarah limited her time with Lilah to only one or two hours a day, even as Bernard insisted she spend more time with their child.

“A daughter must follow after her mother, not her father. Sarah, you must spend more time with the child,” Bernard said.

As Lilah’s sixth birthday approached, a large party was planned. Lilah didn’t have many social events that allowed her to meet other children. There were really only the children of Bernard’s business associates for Lilah to socialize with.

There was J. Kenneth Calkin, son of a bank president, Claudia Simon, daughter of Eliot and Lilith Simon, a jeweler, Patrick McGhee, whose father owned several clothier shops and Dorcas Tamblin, whose father was a decorated  and celebrated military hero of World War I. Most of these children were older than Lilah by at least two or three years.

Lilah’s sixth birthday party would be held outdoors in the spring of 1941. Though World War II had already begun, it had little effect on Lilah’s family or their friends. Some actually became wealthier as a result of their business connections to the military.

While Nanny took care of Lilah, maids, Cook and the Broadstreet’s butler, Mr. Carrington all worked to turn the Victorian gazebo into a children’s wonderland. They hung lacy white and pink festoons and garlands of real flowers on the morning of Lilah’s party.

Cook baked a huge six layer cake decorated with tiny pink, butter cream strawberries on each frosted tier. There would be gallons of ice cream in several flavors and sweetened berry punch.

Adult guests would arrive promptly at noon. They would be greeted on the front lawn by Sarah and Bernard and escorted into the large dining room where a buffet of finger sandwiches and petit fours graced the long, spindly legged mahogany buffet table.

Their children were escorted to a smaller dining area in the drawing room where they would be served bowls of rhubarb gratin, water crackers spread with a blend of farmer cheese and pungent, freshly chopped dill.

Large serving dishes were loaded with freshly picked strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Maids hastened from the large dining room buffet for the adults to the drawing room to serve fidgety children.

The men would retire to the drawing room for a well deserved cigar and aged brandy after the children were escorted outdoors by their mothers to the party in the gazebo.

Set in a semi-circle around the gazebo were chairs for the ladies to relax while keeping a firm eye on their children. Nanny, of course, would direct the course of the children’s activities like a military drill sargeant.

Lilah, as guest of honor, sat at the head of the table, her pale blue eyes wide with delight. They were allowed to pull poppers set at each of their places. While they were busy with this, Cook wheeled the huge cake to the base of the gazebo. Mr. Carrington helped her carry it up the three circular steps to the table. She placed the cake directly in front of Lilah.

“Oh my! Oh my!” was all Lilah could say.

Each child’s dessert plate was filled with a slice of cake and their glasses filled with punch.

Nanny gathered the children together for their first game: Charades. Each of the four guests was given a slip of paper with a nursery rhyme character drawn on it. They were to try and mime the first line of the nursery rhyme from which the character came.

Nanny chose Dorcas Tamblin first. Dorcas was to mime the first line of “Old Mother Hubbard.”

Dorcas pretended to be opening a cupboard door and searching for a “bone.” She pretended to find it and handed it to an imaginary dog whose back she patted.

Patrick McGhee was first to guess “Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to get her poor dog a bone.”

“J.K.” Calkin was next. His charade was “Little Boy Blue.” The children roared with laughter when he pretended to be “under the haystack fast asleep.” Lilah guessed the correct answer to this.

After all the children had a turn, Nanny brought out a blindfold and pinned a colorful paper donkey on one of the tall elm trees near the gazebo for the game of “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”

By mid-afternoon, it was time for the children to hand Lilah her presents. Lilah’s parents cautioned her not to open her gifts until the last guest was gone.

As each set of parents came to collect their offspring and headed home, Lilah couldn’t wait until she could open her gifts.

Nanny collected all of the boxes with the pretty bows and ribbons. She led Lilah back into the house and the playroom on the third floor. She placed all of the birthday gifts atop the child’s tea table.

Lilah was dismayed when she opened her gifts that none were plush animals.

"Lilah? There is one more gift for you from Mother and me," Bernard said.

It wasn't precisely true. Bernard chose the gift, had it gift wrapped, all unbeknownst to Sarah whom Bernard knew would disapprove if she saw what the box contained. 

He stood in the doorway with a very large box. Lilah ran to him.

"I am sure you will like our gift as much as you like all the others," Bernard said.

 When his wife walked into the playroom, to avoid Sarah's consternation, Bernard said,
"Lilah, save the biggest box for last."

"Yes, Father."

Sarah shot a quick and very stern glance toward her husband. She would deal with this out of ear shot of the servants and Lilah.

“Nanny, make sure Lilah opens each gift carefully and when she’s done, writes “thank you” notes to each of her guests,” Sarah Broadstreet said sternly.

Lilah was quite proficient in penmanship for a six year old. Still, there was nothing she liked less than writing thank you notes.

On rainy days in the playroom, Lilah set out her collection of plush animals and played “pretend” the whole day. Well…except for the time spent with Mrs. Walsh, her tutor and Mr. Loiseaux, her French teacher. 

Two days a week, Lilah was required to take part in ballet and social dance classes at Miss Whitley’s dance school in the town of Keaton.

As Lilah grew into her preteens, her parents rebuked her for continuing her fancy with her stuffed animals. By the age of eleven, Lilah had a book case intended for books. Instead, the shelves were full of plush animals.

There were six bears in varying sizes, twin lambs, at least four puppies, two cats and even a few more exotic plush animals like a lion, leopard and a fierce looking tiger.

Lilah gave all of these plush animals formal names like Samuel, Roland, Mica, Jessica, Katy, Andrew and Carrington, a large stuffed bear given to her by her parents.

She named her bear Carrington after the Broadstreets' butler, Ian Carrington. Nanny warned Lilah not to make that known to Mr. Carrington, as he would not be pleased at all.

“Lilah, Mr. Carrington would be very upset to know you named your plush bear after him,” Nanny said.

Nanny was born Susan Ramington Stewart, an unusually tall woman Lilah considered “old” due to her austere appearance. Nanny always wore a navy serge dress with a starched white collar and always a cameo in the center.

Her long salt and pepper hair, worn on the top of her head like a crown was pulled so tightly into a chignon that it gave Lilah a headache just looking at it.

Bernard Broadstreet would have preferred his daughter attend Miss Landsmere’s School for girls. But, he was unwilling to deal with his wife over the matter. After all, he had insisted she be responsible for Sarah, hadn’t he?

Sarah was still displeased about Bernard's gift to Lilah of yet another plush animal. He had no desire to get into another of Sarah's reprimands.

Lilah never attended a public or private school. Instead, a professor who earned his additional income tutoring was hired to provide Lilah’s formal education. Lilah really liked John Sydmore. His lessons were interesting and she was a willing student.

He introduced her to many new subjects like world history and English literature. After collecting plush animals, Lilah discovered her next favorite preoccupation was reading.

Now and then, Mr. Sydmore brought Lilah a few modern children’s books he thought she might like. He was so right. Lilah loved the stories of Fern Robbins, the teen detective and Mary Alice Frost, the adventurer. Lilah gobbled up these books nearly as quickly as Mr. Sydmore could purchase them.

It was at this point that Mr. Sydmore encouraged Lilah to write her own stories. He recognized that the child had quite an imagination whenever she introduced one of her plush animals to him.

Once, he nearly sat on Carrington bear accidentally.

“Mr. Sydmore! Take Care! Carrington is sitting on that chair just now. He’s taking a little sun today. Bears need to be in the sun before they hibernate, you know,” Lilah said.

Mr. Sydmore was amazed at how intensely the girl felt about her “toys.”

“Oh, they aren’t toys Mr. Sydmore. They are my one and true friends,” Lilah said.

Mr. Sydmore saw the side of Lilah he hadn’t before. She had become heavily invested in fantasy due to her isolated life. When he mentioned this to Sarah Broadstreet, she agreed Lilah was growing too old to have such a whimsical mind regarding those “toys” in her room.

It wasn’t long after that Sarah began a crusade to rid the girl’s room of every one of those plush animals. Sarah asked Nanny to remove one each week and insisted Lilah should not have any more plush animals added to her collection. At first, Lilah didn’t mind.

She already had more than two dozen and had run out of space in her room. She placed them in every possible free space available. Until the day she discovered Carrington was missing.

Nanny removed Carrington as she was ordered to do by Sarah. She explained this to Lilah who, for the first time in her life, cried inconsolably.

“Lilah, you are too old now for such toys,” Sarah said.

“Mother, Carrington is not a toy! He is my friend. He protects me at night from ghosts,” Lilah said

“Lilah, this house has no ghosts. You know it doesn’t.”

“No, I don’t know that. What did Nanny do to Carrington?” Lilah yelled angrily.

“I asked her to remove him. You have more than two dozen plush animals in that room. That is far too many. Even Mr. Sydmore thinks you need to be more sensible about them,” Sarah said.

“Mr. Sydmore almost squashed Carrington. He nearly sat on him during lessons,” Lilah wailed.

Bernard Broadstreet heard the commotion as he made his way up the stairs. He poked his head into Lilah’s room.

“What is all the commotion about?”

“Papa, Nanny stole Carrington from my room. He’s gone,” Lilah said.

“Now Lilah, I’m sure Nanny did no such thing. You must have misplaced him,” Bernard said.

"No, Papa. I would never misplace Carrington. He protects me at night," Lilah said.

Bernard glanced toward Sarah and Nanny. He avoided too much doting on his little girl. 

"What if we make a bargain?" Bernard asked.

"What is a bargain?" Lilah asked in response.

"It's where I make a suggestion and you follow it and then, I will give you a reward," Bernard said.

"Mr. Broadstreet! Well! Really!" Nanny said, clearly outraged.

"Bernard, look around the child's room. She has no space remaining for books. When Professor Sydmore brings Lilah more study books, where will she keep them?" 

"My dear, there is plenty of room left for her study books," Bernard said. 

Sarah knew Bernard was overriding her wishes just as he had always done.

"Lilah? Your papa would like you to choose several of your plush animals to give to poor children who who no toys. You are a very fortunate young lady to have more of these than you need," Bernard said.

Lilah's pale blue eyes looked pleadingly into her father's. She defiantly refused to glance at her mother or Nanny. 

"If you choose some of your plush animals to give to the poor children who have no toys, I will take you to the amusement park and you and I can ride on the carousel. Would you like that?" Bernard asked.

He knew he should not glance toward his wife or Nanny. He was certain of their disapproval. Instead, he focused his attention on Lilah, who was smiling broadly. 

"Well, my dear little girl? Is that a deal?" Bernard asked.

"I suppose so. But, which of my friends shall I choose?" Lilah asked.

"My dear girl, that is entirely up to you. Think of it as giving your "friends" a new adventure and a new home," Bernard said.

Later after Lilah was asleep, it was inevitable Sarah would take her husband to task for pandering to Lilah's fantasies. 

"Bernard, do you really think it's a good idea to allow Lilah such latitude of fantasy about her plush toys?" 

"I can't see the harm in it. No. As a matter of fact, I should think you'd be thrilled that I got Lilah to agree to give some of those toys away. Now, I want no more discussion of this," Bernard said.

For the next few days, the little girl tearfully parted with one of her plush puppies and a cat and three of her bears. 

"Don't worry, Carrington, I won't force you away!" Lilah said.

She placed all of her plush animals to be removed on her small tea table. When Nanny came in with a box, she threw all of them roughly into it. 

"Nanny! Please! Do be careful! You might injure them!" Lilah said.

Nanny glared at the little girl and hurried out of the room.

"This is all she decided to give to the poor?" Sarah asked.

"Yes. I am sorry to say. This is all. Shall I tell her to add more?" Nanny asked.

"No. Not just yet. We may have to do this by small measures," Sarah said.

Lilah came to hate Nanny and her relationship with her mother suffered greatly. 

Lilah Broadstreet never got over her love of plush animals even when she was sent away to a girls boarding school at age ten. Lilah hated Miss Parmentier's School for girls. She didn't understand why she couldn't just be taught at home as she'd been by Mr. Sydmore. 

She cried herself to sleep for weeks when Sarah said she was to finish her education at Miss Parmentier's School, one of the best in New England. 

Lilah kept to herself. She packed Carrington in a hidden part of her trunk, along with her twin lambs whenever she left her room at the boarding school. 

"Don't worry, Carrington and Lambies, you'll be safe in the trunk," Lilah said.

"Who are you talking to?" Esther Millworth, her roommate, asked.

"Oh, no one. I was just looking for something in my trunk," Lilah said.

"You have a lot of stuff in there don't you?" Esther said.

"Not really so very much. Just mostly my clothes," Lilah said.

"No! Let's see what else you have in there," Esther said, pushing past Lilah hard.

"What's this?" Esther asked upon discovering Lilah's twin lambs.

Esther held the two plush toys by their ears. 

"Stop! You'll hurt them...I mean you'll break them!" Lilah said.

Esther laughed and laughed a Lilah. She wasted no time whispering to the rest of the girls at Miss Parmentier's School about her strange "roomie." Her fetish for plush animals would be Lilah's undoing for the rest of her years at the school. 

Her instructors viewed Lilah as a "loner" who avoided contact with the other groups of girls. When the school held its last semester coed dance with boys from Estay Military School, a few miles away, Lilah didn't want to attend. She knew she must or be chastised by her teachers. 

So, she spent most of the afternoon dance sitting on the sidelines. Only once, a boy named Charles Bentley came over to ask her to dance. Her first reaction was to say "No." 

Charles Bentley seemed a nice enough boy. But, twelve year old Lilah was painfully shy and unable to make conversation last for more than a sentence or two, beyond telling him her name. 

"Lilah, would you like to be pen pals?" Charles asked.

"I suppose that would be alright," Lilah said.

"Boys at Estay are encouraged to have pen pals. The school masters haven't said pen pals couldn't be girls," Charles said. 

"Well, I do have my studies. I spend most of my time studying; but, I suppose I could write to you during our free time on Sunday," Lilah said.

Lilah didn't keep her part of the bargain to be Charles Bentley's pen pal. At least, not for the first two letters he wrote to her. Whenever her roommate, Esther, was out of sight, Lilah discussed Charles with Carrington and the twin "Lambies."

"I really do not want to write to him, Carrington," Lilah said.

Carrington was the size of a year old toddler and had large brown, shoe button eyes and wore a red bolero style jacket decorated with gold braiding. On his head, he had a tricornered hat of black felt.  The red bolero began to fade, as had the black hat. 

The other significant feature of Carrington Bear was his exposed claws. Each claw extended about an inch from his paws. They were quite sturdy and once, tore a slight hole in Lilah's dress when she attempted to pick him up. 

"Lambies, Charles has already written twice. If Mistress Reagan finds out I have not responded, I am sure she will be displeased," Lilah said to her twin plush lambs. 

The twins were no less faded than Carrington's jacket. They had been a pure white color that now was more ecru than white. They too had large shoe button eyes and nubby coiled wool texture, mimicking the wool seen on baby lambs. 

Lilah kept Carrington and Lambies hidden from Esther in a hidden section of the trunk she used to place her study books. She figured if she placed books atop the trunk, Esther wouldn't be snooping in side it. 

Lilah finally decided, more out of impulse than planning, to respond to Charles' letters, which by now numbered half a dozen. She made the excuse that her studies kept her too busy to write. 

Bernard and Sarah Broadstreet were pleased with all of the things Miss Parmentier's School had taught their daughter. Lilah was proficient in art, literature and the French language. She was also an honor student for her grades in English Literature and mathematics. Her grades in history and geography were unremarkable.

As the time neared for graduation, Lilah was filled with anticipation of returning to the Broadstreet mansion. 

She mused over the fact that Nanny would no longer be needed and Cook was still in charge of the Broadstreet kitchen. 

Now, a well bred young lady of New England society, Lilah was thrilled when a new frock was sent by her mother for graduation day. Until she opened the box and saw the color of the frock: that sickly lavender Lilah so hated.

"Looks like your parents expect you to wear that to our graduation ceremony," Esther said, mockingly.

"I won't wear it!" 

"I'm afraid you'll have no choice. Our school uniforms would be totally inappropriate," Esther hissed. 

As soon as Esther left the room, Lilah removed Carrington and Lambies from their hideaway in the trunk.

"Oh Carrington! What am I going to do? This dress is so ugly! Mother knows I hate lavender," Lilah told the plush bear.

Lilah flung the dress on her bed and sobbed. She clung to Carrington tightly. 

"I know. I know. But what can I do?" Lilah responded in her plush bear's ear.

She stared on the dress on the bed. It was as if Carrington gave her an idea.

"Good idea Carrington! I'll put a flower corsage on the shoulder and the dress will look prettier," Lilah said.

Lilah Broadstreet marched down the aisle with thirty other graduates of Miss Parmentier's School. She saw her parents sitting nearest the outside aisle. She glanced toward them briefly, flowers she picked from beneath the girls' dorm building and fashioned into a floral corsage of wild violets and lily of the valley, pinned to her dress. The scent of the lilies of the valley was overpowering and made Lilah feel dizzy.

"My but isn't our Lilah beautiful?" Bernard Bentley told his wife.

Sarah didn't respond. In truth, Sarah had always been envious of her husband's dotage of their daughter. It always seemed to Sarah that Bernard was just too willing to overlook his lax disciplinary attitude.

"Sarah, have we received a response from that French Finishing School?"

"Shhh...the graduation ceremony is about to begin, Father," Sarah said.

Bernard rolled his eyes. He specifically intended Lilah to attend a European finishing school. He wanted Lilah to have all the graces a well brought up daughter of his should have. Only a European finishing school could provide that.

Sarah had other ideas. She wanted to be rid of Lilah as soon as possible. She'd have no spinster daughter hanging onto the Broadstreet fortune or what little remained of it now that Bernard was winding down his business transactions and thinking already of retirement.

Sarah had plans for Lilah to marry the first well off young man as soon as it could be arranged.

Sarah was shocked when the graduates from Estay military school were invited to attend the graduation garden reception. She was even more shocked that a young man approached Lilah. 

"Well Miss Broadstreet, we are both off to our adult futures," Charles Bentley said.

"Mr. Bentley, I should thank you for your pen pal letters. I doubt we shall see each other again in the near future. Where are you off to after graduation?" Lilah asked.

"My father has secured a place at university in England. Not the famous Eton or Cambridge, of course, but nonetheless prestigious. I will be studying law for the next while. What will you do now that you have graduated?" 

"I believe mother and father have their plans for me. They have not discussed them with me yet. I am glad for you that you'll be studying law. It's a wonderful career for your future," Lilah said.

"Lilah? Like you, I am quite the shy person. In fact, I am hesitant to say so, but my pen pal letters to you were the first bold thing I have ever done," Charles said.

Lilah was beginning to realize just how much she liked Charles Bentley, though she would never dare admit it to him.

"Lilah? I would hope we can remain pen pals," Charles said.

Lilah gave only the barest nod. Charles was left feeling unsure of Lilah's intentions. 

Bernard and Sarah saw the attention showered by Charles Bentley on their daughter and hastened to her side.

"Who is that young man, Lilah?" her father asked.

"He is a pen pal. The girls at Miss Parmentier's and boys at Estay were given the task of writing to a pen pal as part of our English studies. Charles Bentley was...is...my pen pal. We've decided to continue to stay in touch while he finishes law school," Lilah said.

So it was that Charles and Lilah continued to share their daily lives. Charles Bentley interned for a former judge well known to Bernard Broadstreet and most in the Symington region of New England. 

When Bernard mentioned this to Sarah, Sarah hastened to suggest they meet the young man with whom Lilah was "preoccupied." 

"Now Sarah, we don't know Lilah is precisely "preoccupied," do we?" Bernard said, reproachfully.

Sarah was always able to dismiss these masculine reproaches. Like her daughter, Sarah had been her father's favorite, even though she had two brothers.

"Lilah dear, I would like to speak with you about your friend, Charles Bentley," Sarah said, at the first opportune moment.

"Oh Mother! Charles is more an "acquaintance" than a friend. As you know, we've never really met except with writing paper and pen," Lilah said.

That wasn't quite true. Lilah had begun to feel a deeper need for privacy from her mother and her father. 

"I realize that dear. But, you will be going to a finishing school in France soon and I should like to meet Charles. After all, he is quite the ambitious young man, isn't he?"

Lilah smirked. She sensed her mother was up to some deceptive strategy Lilah was sure she had no wish to be part of.

"Mother, I have only an address for him," Lilah said.

"That's quite sufficient to send a dinner invitation. Besides, your father would love to meet him."

"Father said he wants to meet my pen pal, Charles?"

"Why yes. In fact, he said that this very evening," Sarah said, fudging the truth a little.

Sarah knew her daughter would never displease her father whom the girl adored.

"I will even post the invitation for you," Sarah said, obligingly.

Now, Lilah was sure her mother had some plot or other she was embarking upon.

"I'll write the invitation. But, don't be shocked if he declines. He is quite busy now that he has joined that law firm."

Lilah presented the invitation to her mother who promptly handed it to the Broadstreets' newly hired manservant, Cosgrove.

"Now Cosgrove, be sure this is posted before noon today," Sarah said.

Lilah was glad to be finished with Miss Parmentier's School. She didn't really even mind that she would be sent to "La Corsienne," a top finishing school for young women in Paris.

"Mother, what is the point of inviting Charles for dinner when I am soon to be abroad?" Lilah asked.

"It never hurts to complete your European education and return home to at least one suitor," Sarah said.

"Suitor? But Mother!" Lilah wailed.

"I know dear. He isn't really a suitor...yet. But, you really are not the social butterfly your father and I would have hoped for. All of your childhood friends are young adults like you and off on their own careers or married," Sarah said.

"Mother, the children who attended my party were not "my" friends. You wrote the invitations and most of them were children of Father's business associates," Lilah said.

Sarah wasn't paying any attention. Instead, she was busy making a list of the wardrobe Lilah would need to meet Charles.

"Now, let's see. You'll need an afternoon dress for the initial introduction of Charles to Father and me. Then, you'll need a dinner frock. Oh and yes, a frock for walking with Charles in the garden," Sarah said.

Lilah was exasperated. This "wardrobe" would mean hours with a seamstress, being stuck with dressmaker's pins and several days of trying on frocks to make sure they met Sarah's ideas of "proper fashion."

Charles Bentley was to arrive in less than two weeks. Lilah was sick with annoyance and frustration every day until the big dinner event arrived.

Charles drove up in a relatively new vehicle. Cosgrove directed him to park his "auto" at the arc at the front of the Broadstreet mansion. Obviously, at Sarah's behest, Lilah knew. She watched from her upstairs bedroom window as Charles, dressed in formal attire, followed Cosgrove into the mansion's red slate flagstone foyer.

Charles was stunned by the size of the massive chandelier over his head. Obviously, the Broadstreets were "nouveau riche" as Charles was taught by his mother, Clea Defoe Bentley, a blue nosed Knickerbocker New England debutante of the 1920s.

Charles' father, Adrian Bentley, was a typical man of the day: autocratic, indifferent to women and most always in attendance at his exclusive men's club.

Charles, all six feet and three inches of him, preferred keeping women at a distance as per his father's example. After all, Clea Defoe Bentley found many things to occupy herself during his father's absences and made the perfect image of the wife of a prominent investment manager. With a son who practiced law, Adrian Bentley felt the extra advantage of having legal issues resolved in his favor.

It didn't escape Charles' or Clea's notice that the Broadstreet's were "well placed" in Symington society.

"Mother, you realize, don't you Lilah Broadstreet is to attend "La Corsienne" in Paris?" Charles said.

"Of course. All well born young daughters must attend a European finishing school. That's to your advantage," Clea said.

"Why do I feel as if I am in rehearsal for a future wedding?" Charles said.

"Well son, Lilah will be gone long enough for you to "sow your bachelor oats."

"Mother! If Father heard you say that, he definitely would chastise both of us," Charles said, grinning.

"What harm can be done meeting your school pen pal after so many years?"

"What if Lilah is an ugly, toad of a girl? I can't make my apologies and leave before the duck soiree is served," Charles said.

"Oh Charles! Honestly. I am sure the Broadstreets can afford more than duck. Besides, you can imagine the great pains Mrs. Broadstreet is going through to make Lilah look as pleasing to you as possible."

Charles grunted and let out a slight groan.

"It's only one evening out of your young life. If she isn't what you hope for, you can always put her off," Clea said.

"I don't think we have much in common, save our being the only children of upper class families. She always wrote she was a very quiet girl who preferred non-social events. You know how lawyers are expected to attend numerous social functions, Mother," Charles said.

On the evening of the dinner, Charles deliberately overdressed slightly "just in case" Lilah was not to his liking. He decided to take his new "roadster" which punctuated his status as a Bentley.

Upon entering Broadstreet Mansion, Charles handed his long cloak to Cosgrove and was led into a large drawing room. He glanced around furtively and saw the furnishings were quite understated, elegant and adequate.

"Mr. and Mrs. Broadstreet will be down in just a moment. Will you have a pre-dinner cocktail?," Cosgrove asked.

"Yes. That would be fine. An apertiff is you please with a splash of soda and a twist," Charles replied.

Cosgrove disappeared while Charles sat before a roaring fire. He rose the minute Bernard and Sarah entered the room.

"Mr. and Mrs. Broadstreet, I presume?"

"Charles Bentley! Welcome to Broadstreet Mansion. Lilah will be down in just a few moments," Bernard said.

Bernard and Sarah knew Lilah was having "jitters" and was fighting a bout of slight nausea as she always had whenever she worked herself into a lather.

Thus, Lilah wasn't exactly the picture of self-confidence as she descended the stairs and entered the drawing room, just as Cosgrove was offering before dinner drinks to her parents and Charles.

Charles' eyes immediately went to Lilah as hers did to him and Bernard and Sarah kept their eyes on both looking for some sense of acceptance by Charles Bentley.

They were less concerned about Lilah's acceptance because they knew if Charles liked what he saw, he and Lilah were sure to have a "future" together.

"Mr. Bentley, this, of course, is our daughter, Lilah, your pen pal," Bernard said.

The Broadstreets knew Charles was smitten. There was a long pregnant pause before he extended his hand to Lilah.

"Lilah, at last...we meet again!" Charles said.

Lilah's jitters seemed to fade before her parents eyes.

"Charles, I am so glad to meet you again...as you say...finally," Lilah said, properly gracious.

Charles Bentley remained in contact with Lilah nearly from their first meeting at Miss Parmentier's dance. Lilah was thrilled her former "pen pal" was so attentive.

After each meeting with Charles, Lilah gave a full report to her bear, Carrington whose honored place was in her bed beside her every night.

"Oh Carrington, it is so wonderfu! I think I am falling in love with Charles. He is so attentive and kind and he always brings me pretty flowers. Just you wait. I think Charles just might propose marriage. Don't worry. I'll make sure Charles takes good care of you too," Lilah said.

"Sarah, she's at it again. She's in her room chattering away at those plush animals of hers," Bernard said.

"Not to worry, dear. I am sure when she and Charles marry, all of those plush animals will be in the trash. I certainly will make sure they are as soon as she and Charles settle in after their honeymoon," Sarah said.

"You know how she acts around those things. She's been like that since she was a child," Bernard said.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Bernard! She's a grown woman now. Charles will not like sharing his bed with a veritable plush animal menagerie. She'll come to her senses. I guarantee it."

A wedding followed their meeting in 1955. Not once did Lilah mention to Charles she intended to take all of her "animals" with her. In fact, Lilah never mentioned them to him at all.

It wasn't until Lilah took Carrington out of her luggage on their honeymoon Charles first saw Lilah's fetish for plush animals.

"My dear, is there some sentimental attachment to your bear?" Charles asked.

"No. My bear has a name...it's Carrington. He doesn't like it when people just refer to him as a "bear."

"That is what he is," Charles replied.

Lilah shrugged and plopped Carrington on the bed.

"Uh, Lilah...You don't mean for "Carrington" to share our bed do you?"

"Of course, I do! I would never allow Carrington to sleep all night on a cold, hard floor."

"But Lilah!..."

Needless to say, the Bentley wedding night and the rest of their marriage was never "consummated," even when Charles mentioned to his new father-in-law that Lilah seemed not to know "her duty" as his wife.

"I'm sure she will come around," Bernard whispered, out of the range of Sarah and Lilah in the drawing room.

"Mr. Broadstreet, there is one other thing about Lilah I find strange...She refuses to get rid of those plush animals she has collected. There must be two dozen of them. She's already added several she says she "adopted" while on our honeymoon," Charles said, beseechingly.

"If I were you, son? I'd take a firmer hand with Lilah. She's far past the need for imaginary friends now she has a husband to look after," Bernard advised.

"That's just it. I've tried to help her understand her duty as a wife is to fill her husband's needs and keep a well organized home. I've fully staffed our home and she has more than enough free time for socializing with wives of my associates. She says she feels awkward in a crowd. No amount of pleading or enticing her with jewelry or new frocks seem to change her mind."

Bernard listened intently to Charles' complaints about his daughter. He felt somewhat responsible for ever introducing one of those plush animals into Lilah's life. He reminded himself not to mention this conversation to Sarah. She would hasten to say, "I told you so."

"I will speak with Lilah if you feel that it will help," Bernard said.

"Thank you. I know she does speak highly of you, Mr. Broadstreet," Charles said.

"That's nice to know. I confess I have had a more amiable relationship with my daughter than my wife," Bernard said.

"I'm sure you understand then the importance of having a wife who is actively involved in society then," Charles said, emphatically.

Bernard Broadstreet knew he didn't want his only child returning to her childhood home any time too soon. The truth was his business, while quite financially stable, occupied most of his thoughts. He really didn't plan on having Lilah ruin her marriage over something as childish as ridding herself of plush animals.

As Sarah and Bernard sat down to dinner, Bernard waited for the right moment to mention his conversation with Charles.

"My dear, has Lilah mentioned attending any of Charles' society functions of late?"

"Not that I can recall. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that Charles seems to be somewhat ruffled that Lilah doesn't associate with any of his business partners' wives. In that kind of profession, it is crucial the wives become acquainted, as you well know."

"Lilah has never really been a socialite, Bernard. You know that."

"That's because Lilah never had to be. Now, it is imperative to Charles' career she engage with his associates wives or at least make some attempt to socialize."

"Are you saying it's my fault Lilah is reclusive?"

"Of course not. We both know Lilah never put much store in socializing with her school chums. Why she even mentioned how much she disliked Esther Millworth at Miss Parmentier's School," Bernard said.

"You know why she disliked Esther. It's because she cluttered their dormitory room with those plush animals. Bernard, I hope Charles' isn't having that problem with Lilah now that they are married!" Sarah said.

"I don't pry into their personal marriage affairs. Nor would I. After all, Marriage is between man and wife only."

"So what were you and Charles discussing so covertly in the corner of the drawing room when last they visited?" 

"Just as I said...Charles needs his wife to be more social."

Bernard knew that further discussion with Sarah about Lilah would only evoke a negative response and possibly even, a gossipy retaliation at the local women's beauty spa that could cost him plenty. 

Bernard decided to speak with Lilah the following morning. When he arrived at his office, he closed the door tightly and sat down at his desk. It was piled neatly with the morning's mail. 

Miss Brockenbath, his secretary was annoyingly efficient. He pushed the pile of envelopes aside and reach for the telephone.

The phone at the Bentley home rang twice before a male voice answered it.

"Bentley estate, Rolf Corvisair at your service," the voice said.

Ugh! Charles has a butler? Bernard thought.

"Uh, yes. This is Bernard Broadstreet. I would like to speak to my daughter, Lilah," Bernard said, stiffly.

"Yes sir. I'll tell her you called," Corvisair said.

"Is she not available right now?"

There was a long pause before Bernard received a response.

"Mrs. Bentley doesn't wish to be disturbed, sir."

"I'm her father. I need to speak to her."

"Is it an emergency, sir?" 

"Not that I am required to answer your too familiar question, but...no. It is not an emergency," Bernard said, growing angry.

"Is Lilah at home or not?" Bernard demanded.

"Yes, sir. Mrs. Bentley is present. However, she is attending to a delivery. May I have her return your call?"

Bernard was furious at the brazen attitude of a household servant. Not to be put off, he responded,

"Fine, I will hold until she is free."

Corvisair knew a delivery of several boxes of those plush animals was delivered and Mrs. Bentley was creating space in the guest room for them. 

By Corvisair's count, Mrs. Bentley already owned more than forty of them in every color, shape and size, not to mention "breed." 

Corvisair learned not to focus attention on Mrs. Bentley's odd "hobby." He did as she asked when she requested Mr. Bentley not be made aware of her purchases or the now entirely cluttered guest room Lilah kept locked.

"I will tell Mrs. Bentley you wish to hold," Corvisair said.

He hurried to the guest room where he knew Mrs. Bentley would be arranging "her friends." 

"Mrs. Bentley, your father is holding on the line," Corvisair said.

"Alright Corvey. I'll be there in just a moment. I'll take the call in my boudoir."

"Yes, M'am."

She left the guest room, locked the door and headed to her bedroom.

"Father? How nice to hear from you! It's been over a month since we visited Broadstreet mansion," Lilah said.

"Lilah, You know I'm not one to invite your mother and I to dinner. I need to speak with you. Now that you and Charles are settled in to your new home, perhaps you wouldn't mind giving your mother and I the grand tour of the place...you know...to see how you and Charles are furnishing it," Bernard said.

He knew he was faking the real reason for inviting himself and his wife.

"Oh Father! I would so love to have you and Mother for dinner. Let me check with Charles to see what his schedule is like. I'll ring back when I can give you a date," Lilah said.

Bernard waited for a return call that very day. He assumed Lilah would call Charles at his law firm and ring back as soon as she had cleared the dinner invitation with Charles. Lilah never called. Not that day, nor even for two weeks after. 

He decided to call Lilah again. He hoped he wouldn't need to go through the same telephone "dance" with Corvisair again.

"Mr. Broadstreet?"

"Yes. I would like to speak with my daughter, if you please."

"Yes sir."

Bernard was not usually an impatient man; but, there was something quite irritating about Corvisair's tone. He would mention that to Lilah...if ever she bothered to answer the phone.

He heard a slight muttering sound in the phone's ear piece and assumed it was Corvisair. 

"Father? How nice of you to call. I was just after phoning  you about dinner. It's hard to nail Charles down on dinner dates with guests. He is so busy these days," Lilah said.

"Well, what did you and Charles decide?" Bernard asked.

"Charles feels a quiet, intimate family dinner would be best. Can you and Mother make it this evening?" 

"Lilah, I've waited two weeks for you to return my call. Now, you expect Mother and I to drop everything and have dinner tonight? I'm not sure what Mother has planned. I will return your call. Don't expect us to be there this evening on such short notice. You know that isn't how you were raised, dear girl," Bernard said.

Bernard decided to call Sarah first. Then, instead of Lilah and having to deal with Corvisair again, he decided to call Charles' office.

"Charles? I phoned Lilah a few minutes ago about having dinner with you. Lilah seems to think we have nothing else on our calendar's and wants us to come to dinner tonight. Is this appropriate with you?" 

"Lilah is up to her old tricks again, Mr. Broadstreet. She knew you and Mrs. Broadstreet couldn't possibly accept a dinner invitation on such short notice. I'm glad you phoned me. Have you given Lilah your RSVP yet?"

"No."

"Well, don't. I would much rather you catch Lilah off guard. You'll see why when you arrive tonight." 

"It will mean shifting around my and Sarah's schedules for this evening. Can you hold on for a moment? I just want to check my calendar."

"Certainly, sir." 

It wasn't more than two minutes before Bernard returned to Charles on the phone. 

"I did have a dinner appointment for this evening. Fortunately, it was with gentlemen friends at our club. I'll cancel. I'll need to call my wife," Bernard said.

The phone call ended with Charles Bentley satisfied that, for once, Lilah's plots and schemes would go awry. 

Charles phoned Cook to advise her that the Broadstreets would be dinner guests. 

"But sir. Mrs. Bentley was not planning for dinner guests," cook said.

"Yes. I know that. I want you to say nothing whatever to Mrs. Bentley. Her parents and I have a surprise for her. Will you keep our little secret?" 

"Why, certainly, Sir. Is there anything special you would like me to serve?"

"I believe Mr. Broadstreet enjoys your version of roasted squab and Mrs. Broadstreet would love your strawberry sweet tarts with creme fraiche." 

With that, Charles Bentley's plans were completed.

 When Charles arrived home, Lilah was where he expected her to be. 

"Has Mrs. Bentley dressed for dinner, Corvisair?"

"I am not certain, Sir. She has not been down from the guest room all day."

"What can she be doing there all day?"

"Sir knows Mrs. Bentley's whimsy for her plush animals," Corvisair said. 

"Yes. I do," Charles responded sarcastically. 

"Is there anything else, Sir wishes?" 

"Yes. I wish to change into my smoking jacket for dinner."

Charles didn't know why; but, he wasn't sure he could trust Corvisair who seemed to always come to Lilah's defense, albeit with a less than determined approach. He reminded himself to address this with a threat of sacking of Corvisair couldn't be less biased toward Lilah.

The Broadstreets arrived punctually as Bernard and Charles discussed. 

"Charles! What on earth is ALL of this?" Bernard said, upon seeing the downstairs littered with Lilah's plush animals.

"THIS is what I wanted you to see," Charles responded.

"Charles, this is excessive to say the least. Why do you allow it?"

"Sir, you know better than I that disposing of these toys doesn't do a whit of good. She goes right back out and buys more. Come to the library with me. I'll show you how much she spends on these things," Charles said.

Sarah Broadstreet felt nauseated by the sight of hundreds of plush animals all over the place. She wondered if Lilah was being defiant because of that episode when she ordered Lilah's nanny to remove Carrington. 

When she entered the library with Bernard and Charles, she knew something had gone very wrong with her daughter's mind over the years. 

Charles drew his accounts book out of the library desk and handed it to his father-in-law. 

"As you can see, Sir, Lilah spends uncontrollably on these things. Lately, she's been buying imported plush animals she finds in London or Paris catalogues. I can tell you the cost is becoming alarming to my accountants," Charles said.

"You must put a stop to this, Charles. This is not healthy. No hobbyist has ever been this obsessed with a collection that I know of. And I can tell you, I have several friends who are avid orchid collectors. But, even they are cautious about spending on the most exotic species," Bernard said.

Charles shifted his gaze from Bernard to Sarah. Sarah knew Bernard expected her to say something.

"Bernard, this is appalling. Charles, I agree with my husband. This has to stop. Why, it's not much better than someone who becomes addicted to alcohol. It's as if Lilah can't stop herself. What do you plan to do?"
 
"I can't take being in this house much longer. I am thinking of moving into my gentleman's club room until Lilah sees reason," Charles said.

"That's understandable. But, what about Lilah?" Sarah asked.

"Well of course, I will provide for her. But, on a more frugal basis. If I am living in this house, that's harder to do. The impact of a separation just might make her wake up," Charles said.

Bernard shook his head in agreement. Sarah was not so convinced. 

Corvisair walked into the room to announce dinner. 

"Have you announced dinner to Mrs. Bentley?" Charles asked.

"Yes. She said she will take dinner in the guest room."

"No. She won't. Please tell her I wish to speak with her and she must come down for dinner," Charles said.

Lilah was none too pleased at Charles interrupting her time with her plush animals. 

"I'll eat quickly, friends," she told the gaggle of plush animals around her. 

She hurriedly pulled together a dinner dress and shoes for her constantly bare feet. She descended the stairs to hear several voices.

"Corvey, has Charles brought guests?" she asked, as Corvisair descended the stairs ahead of her. 

"Yes. Mrs. Bentley."

"Who are they?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Broadstreet, Madam."

Lilah could barely contain her anger. If there was one thing she knew she didn't want, it was for her parents to come for dinner before she had time to hide all of the plush animals all over the downstairs. 

Charles did this deliberately. I'll get even with him for this.

Corvisair announced Mrs. Charles Bentley with all the pomp of royalty. 


"Lilah, my dear. How are you? We decided to have one of Cook's splendid meals here. I hope you are not angry," Bernard said.

"Charles, I told you I didn't feel up to having dinner guests," Lilah said angrily.

"Not even your own parents, Lilah?" Sarah asked.

"Mother, Charles did this to be spiteful. He hates my friends and he only invited you to try to dissuade me from keeping them. Just like you and Nanny did with Carrington!"

Corvisair pulled out the antique pine violin back chair for Lilah. 

"Dinner will be served in a moment," Corvisair said.

The silence at the long marble topped dining table was deafening. 

"Well? Say something. I know what you are thinking, you know," Lilah said.

"Lilah, you are much too old now to indulge your whims for these plush animals. You barely leave the house or entertain. I need a wife who participates in a social life," Charles said.

"What are you saying, Charles?" 

"Your mother and father know this is not healthy. I cannot invite business associates to my own home without creating gossip about my wife's obsession with toy animals," Charles said.

Tears rolled down Lilah's cheeks. 

"Lilah, you know Charles is right," Bernard said.

"So, he is going to leave me? All alone? Well, I won't be alone. I have all of my "friends" to keep me company. Go off on your own Charles. I don't care. I refuse to betray my friends for you," Lilah said. 

Charles loved Lilah. But, he knew his wife's mental state was unstable. He continued to pay the bills to keep Lilah in the style to which she was accustomed. Unknown to her though, he cut off all of her lines of credit so she could no longer charge the cost of those damned plush animals. 

Lilah even refused to leave the Bentley mansion when Charles invited her to celebrate their fifth anniversary at a very exclusive restaurant. He knew something strange happened when Cook answered the phone call he placed to Lilah. 

"Cook? Why are you answering phones?" Charles asked.

"Sir, Corvisair has gone mysteriously missing." 

"Missing? What do you mean "mysteriously missing?" 

"I heard him and Mrs. Bentley arguing upstairs. It was quite loud. Corvisair told Mrs. Bentley he needed to be paid. Mrs. Bentley has not paid the household servants. She owes me for a month's wages," Cook said.

"That's not possible. I specifically gave Mrs. Bentley money to pay all of you. I am so sorry, Cook. Come to my office and I will make sure you are paid directly," Charles said.

"Might I come tomorrow, Sir? There are several things I wish to discuss with you," Cook said.

"Certainly. I will make sure my secretary leaves an appointment open for you at ten in the morning," Charles replied.

Charles was not prepared for what Cook was about to tell him. 

"Let's start at the beginning. Where is Corvisair?"

"I cannot be sure. I went to the rear door to allow the grocer in to bring our supplies. I didn't hear Corvisair leave."

"But, you said you heard an argument with Mrs. Bentley?" 

"Yes. Sir. Corvisair was demanding he be paid or he threatened to tell you Mrs. Bentley was buying more plush animals with the money you sent for our wages," Cook said.

Arrabella Wharton, alias Cook, had been hired five years earlier on the express recommendation of Charles' mother, Clea. True to his mother's recommendations, Cook was likely a 14K gold addition to any upscale household. But now, it was clear Cook was feeling abused.

"How did Corvisair know Mrs. Bentley was using the money I sent her for household wages to buy plush animals?" 

"Corvisair always made a point of having his ears wide open. He heard your conversation with Mrs. Bentley's parents about leaving and continuing to take care of household expenses. Mr. Bentley, Sir, there is barely any free space in the entire mansion now that isn't overloaded with plush animals. I believe Mrs. Bentley intends to give me the sack soon too so she can fill up the kitchen shelves with more of those stuffed animals."

"What do you mean give you the sack "too?" 

"I shouldn't like to be disloyal to you sir. But, when Mrs. Bentley stopped paying our wages, the cleaning maids and my kitchen maid left. For over a month now, it's been only Corvisair and I remaining. And now, Corvisair is gone too," Cook said.

Charles was astounded. Lilah's obsession was clearly out of control. He wondered if he should call in a professional. 

"Sir, I am sorry to say I am tendering my resignation also. There really is little for me to do anyway. Mrs. Bentley barely eats formal meals. She wanders into the kitchen and picks at whatever she can eat in hand quickly and heads back upstairs," Cook said.

"I understand Cook. I shouldn't want to burden you further. Please ask my bookkeeper to pay you what you are owed. I will mail a letter of recommendation. Leave a forwarding address at my secretary's desk." 

When Cook left his office, Charles felt sick to his stomach. What had gone so wrong? He called Bernard Broadstreet forthwith. 

"Mr. Broadstreet? It's Charles. I must speak with you and Mrs. Broadstreet tonight. It's urgent." 

"Charles, is it...Lilah? Is it a medical emergency?" Bernard asked.

"No. Sir. Not yet. I don't think. Can we meet for dinner so we can talk this over? I think we will have relative privacy at Honore's. I know the owner. He is a client of mine and can offer us a very private table," Charles said.

Lilah was aware that Cook was not happy with her nor any of the other servants. Why were they all so frightened of Lilah's "friends?"

Lilah also knew Cook, Charles and her parents would be even less happy if they knew what happened to Corvisair. Lilah convinced herself it was an accident. She told herself she had to protect Carrington from Corvisair. 

 When the Broadstreets joined Charles Bentley for dinner, Charles told Bernard and Lilah everything Cook had said. The Broadstreets went totally silent and both wore a look of horror on their faces. 

"Charles, you should never have left Lilah alone," Sarah said.

"So this is my fault?" Charles said.

"Sarah, it couldn't have been worse if Charles stayed and threw out all of Lilah's plush animals. If, as Cook says, Lilah had the entire mansion totally littered with these things, it explains why the servants were frightened and left. That Cook remains is amazing," Bernard said.

"Cook tendered her resignation this very afternoon, Bernard. Now there is no one left in Bentley mansion but Lilah." 

"I don't think Lilah is capable of hurting herself. Think about it. In her mind, she knows there would be no one to care for those plush animals," Sarah put in.

"I am open to any suggestions the both of you can offer," Charles said.

"We all three know Lilah will never agree to professional help. She doesn't think there is anything wrong with such an obsession," Bernard said.

"I am concerned about Corvisair. Why did he just disappear? Cook said Lilah and Corvisair argued so loudly she heard them in the kitchen," Charles said.

"Didn't Cook see or hear him leave?" Sarah asked.

"Cook said she had to answer the rear door of the kitchen because the grocery supplies were delivered. But, Lilah and Corvisair were on the second floor in the guest room at the end of the hall. Perhaps, she didn't hear Corvisair leave from the front door," Charles said.

Bernard, Sarah and Charles all tried phoning Lilah more than a half dozen times over a two week period. Bernard and Sarah were worried. Lilah never had to take care of herself without household staff help. 

Charles knew Lilah would make an excuse to avoid allowing him to enter his own home. He decided to wait until Lilah went to sleep and try to gain entrance through the rear kitchen door. Cook had left the keys to that door at his office the day she tendered her resignation. 

When he tried to push the door to the kitchen open, something was on the opposite side of the door that was heavy enough to prevent him from entering. Charles pushed harder. Finally, the door budged a few inches and he was able to flip on the light switch with one hand while pushing hard with the other to open the door a little wider. 

He was sorry he did. There lay Corvisair slumped against the door, his eyes nearly gouged out of his sockets and a huge six inch wound from ear to ear beneath his chin. It appeared Corvisair tried to escape out the door but was prevented from doing so. 

Lilah lay sleep in her bedroom while Charles took in the full shocking scene. The kitchen as Cook said was littered with plush animals everywhere. He walked through the kitchen door to a hall that was barely passable by child, much less a grown man like himself. 

My God! What on earth has Lilah done? The must be over three hundred of these things. 

The rest of the rooms downstairs in Bentley mansion were not much better. Charle wondered how on earth Lilah had managed to acquire such a monstrosity. Then, he remembered she had used the wages of the household staff. Any money he sent she spent on more of these horrible plush animals. 

He made his way to the stairs. He had to speak to Lilah. It was nearly impossible to find room for his feet on the stairs. Midpoint, he tripped and fell backward, tumbling to the bottom of the stairs. 

Lilah was shaken out of her sleep by the noise. 

"Corvisair? Is that you? I told you to get out! You tried to hurt Carrington. I punished you! Now leave or I'll set Carrington on you again!" Lilah shrieked.

 Charles had never before heard that shrill voice from Lilah. 


She got out of bed, put on her robe and slippers and removed Carrington from her bed.

"Carrington, Corvisair is back. He's going to try to hurt you again. You know what you have to do," Lilah said. 

She carried the bear to the top landing of the stairs. She flipped on the light. 

"Corvisair? Is that you?"

"No. It's me, Lilah. Charles."

"What do you want, Charles? I'm not dressed for company. It's late."

"Lilah, I must speak to you, my dear. You need help."

"You've come to give me money for my friends?" Lilah said, slowly descending the stairs.

"No. I want to get you some help. How did Corvisair end up dead?" Charles asked. 

"He tried to hurt Carrington. Carrington protected himself." 

"Lilah, a man is dead. Carrington cannot do such a thing and you know it," Charles said, standing up slowly.

"I tell you Corvisair tried to hurt Carrington. You and my parents never believe me. You hate my friends. I know you hate them," Lilah said.

Charles looked at his once pretty wife and saw that she had stopped taking care of herself. Her hair was matted and she was fairly emaciated. In her white robe, she almost looked like a ghost. 

Charles wasn't afraid of his own wife. That was a mistake. Lilah moved closer and closer on the stairs as Charles stepped backward toward the bottom slowly and carefully. 

Lilah held Carrington at the bear's waist. 

"Lilah, what are you going to do?" Charles asked.

"I" am not going to do anything. But, Carrington will. Isn't that so Carrington?" Lilah said in a child's voice. 

Charles thought he might try to disarm Lilah by grabbing Carrington out of her hands. Then, he saw the bloodied claws that must have ended Corvisair's life. 

"Lilah, what have YOU done? You've killed a man. You'll go to jail."

"No, I won't and neither will Carrington. Because...you won't be able to tell anyone," Lilah said, hissing each word.

Lilah moved closer and closer to Charles while she flipped Carrington's bear claws at Charles face. Charles refused to be cowed by a plush animal and a wife who had lost her mind. 

Lilah was nearly face to face with Charles now and swished a single bear claw at his cheek. It began to bleed. Charles waited for the ideal moment to reach out and grab hard at Carrington's paws.

He wrestled Lilah to the ground and tossed the plush bear across the room. 

"I'll get you for this Charles Bentley. You hurt Carrington. I'll get you." 

Charles restrained his mad wife by her wrists as she tried to bite at his hands. He dug his fingernails into her wrists until she fainted from the pain. Then, he removed his belt and tied her hands behind her back. 

"This is Charles Bentley. Please send the police. There has been a murder here in Bentley Mansion." Charles said. 

When Lilah came to from her faint, the police were standing over her. She flailed her hands wildly until she was placed in a straight jacket and removed to a psychiatric facility in Bedmont. 

The papers went wild reporting on the strange story of the Plush Animal House. Nearly one thousand plush animals were removed over a period of two days from Bentley Mansion. 

Lilah Broadstreet Bentley sat mute in a chair in her private room. Every few hours a nurse came in to administer Lilah's medications. Nurse Hadley marched into Lilah's room with a small plush bear on her medication tray, a gift from one of the other patients at Bedmont Psychiatric Hospital.

"Are you Carrington's son?" Lilah asked the small bear.