Did he fall off the face of the earth?   Did he leave Collinsport in a huff to return to Martinque and tend to his plantation, leaving his own daughter behind?

Also amazing is that no mention is made by any of the other characters of Andre DuPres or his unexplainable absence during these events that followed.  It's hard to imagine that Aunt Natalie wouldn't be vocal about the absence or whereabouts of her niece's father.

Barnabas dying, Josette and her aunt Natalie ... making plans to return to Martinque,

MSCbryk, there was a "Clay Julia" doll available on eBay a few years ago.  A friend of mine bought one and loves it.  It's by somebody who goes by the moniker of "ClayGuy," I think.  It sort of made me think of what would have been the result had Grayson Hall done a role in that old 1965 Rankin/Bass film, Mad Monster Bash (if ANYONE out there remembers that--it's the one with Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller--endearing in a somewhat naff way).

I personally don't collect such things, but I believe the Clay Julia figurine was quite reasonably priced.

A friend actually had the impudence to turn to me the other day and say, "Darling, you've gone quite Republican."

I've been going a bit nuts making icons lately. It's too much fun!

Next time around, if we run out of Z DS references, I want to use Zardoz.  I just like thinking about that giant floating head.   Plus it's fun to say.  Try it.