When my bell rang after dinnertime one Tuesday, I was surprised to find Aunt Dee at the door. ''He's here! He's here!'' she sang out.

''Who?''

''Raphael, of course! Eight pounds six ounces. Isn't it wonderful?''

''Wonderful,'' I agreed as I ushered her into the dining room and offered her a cup of tea. ''And your daughter really named him Raphael?''

''Well, his whole name is Charles Raphael,'' Aunt Dee admitted. ''But of course I will call him Raphael.''

''So, congratulations, Grandma,'' I said.

''Not grandma; nanna,'' she corrected me. ''Grandmas are old. Nannas are young and vital, like me. He can call his other grandmother grandma.''

''When will you see the baby?'' I asked.

''I'm flying tomorrow. I already have my ticket,'' she declared.

''Flying? I thought you would never get on a plane.''

''This is an emergency. I can't let the baby think his Nanna is a voice on the phone, can I?''

''How long will you stay?''

''Two weeks. After that he will be old enough to come and visit me. I can't wait to take him to the circus.''

''It will be several years before he's old enough to enjoy the circus,'' I objected.

''Not this baby! This baby is precocious. And, speaking of that, I have to make a phone call.''

She reached for the phone and punched in a series of numbers. ''Hello, Tessie?'' she inquired. ''Tessie, this is Dee. Listen: Raphael has arrived, so tell your daughter that her Jennifer is spoken for. So what if he is a little younger than she is? He's smarter. Oh, is that so? Well, he's not marrying you, luckily. All right, if that's how you feel, forget it. You'll be sorry when he hangs up his shingle and marries Yetta's granddaughter, the blonde with the blue eyes. Her father is a lawyer. I'll invite you to the wedding.''

And she probably will.