"You bet," said Polly.

"Well, what about a nice cup of tea first. I've got some muffins."

As we sat over tea and muffins I heard of the increasing prosperity of the business and how the baby grew more beautiful every day.

At length she was brought down by Eff and I held her in my arms while she gazed at me wonderingly, her little hands curled round my finger and what could have been a smile of contentment on her pinkish face. She had changed a good deal from the day when Lavinia and I had brought her here. She was getting on for nine months old—quite a personage. I had always been distressed by unwanted babies, but this one, at least, thanks to Polly and Eff, was overwhelmed with love.

Fleur had vivid blue eyes and the almost black hair she had been born with had lightened considerably. It was dark brown with tawny lights in it—inherited, no doubt, from Lavinia. She was clearly a contented baby, and that was something to be happy about.

Being with Fleur made me wonder about the other babies who had been born round about the same time. What had happened to Emmeline? Her child would have had a happy home, I was sure. And the poor little girl who had been raped? Surely her family would look after her child. And Agatha? She would know what to do. She was warmhearted and would never desert her child. Mostly I thought of Miriam, who would have to give up hers for the sake of not disturbing her marriage. That seemed the saddest case of all.

But I was delighted to see Fleur here. She would not miss her parents, because she could not have two more devoted people to care for her than Polly and Eff.

The bellows were seized on with joy. "That kitchen fire never did draw like it ought," said Eff.

The bonnet was immediately tried on and Fleur was very interested in the bootees.

"Nice for her afternoon nap," said Polly. "She's starting to toddle now. I reckon she thinks she's done enough shooting round on her hands and knees."

"Don't you think she's a little angel?" said Eff.

I said I did.

"Eff spoils her really," said Polly.

"I like that!" retorted Eff. "Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!"

It was all so comforting, so much what I had expected from them. Polly was still the anchor in my life.

She was uneasy though. I sensed that. When she came to my room that night, after Eff had retired, she talked very seriously to me.

She said, "I've been worried about you, Drusilla. I didn't like to think of you in that foreign place. I didn't know what was happening. Fleur ... she's Lavinia's. I know that now. At first I thought she was yours."

"Oh, Polly!"

"Well, that's why we took her in so prompt. I said to Eff, 'This is my girl and she's in trouble. We're going to help her all we know how and if that means having the baby here, well then we'll have the baby here.' "

"I thought of you immediately. I remember how you and Eff always liked babies."

"We do. But having one of your own is something that has to be thought about."

"You didn't hesitate."

"No ... As I told you, I thought it was yours."

"You've always been wonderful to me, Polly ... always."

"I know now she's that Lavinia's. That saucy baggage. Just like her. Gets into trouble and gets someone else to sort it out for her."

"Lady Harriet took over a big part of my school bills. I was there to be with Lavinia."

"I know. That sort think they own the world and everyone in it. Now there's that Fabian ... or whatever he calls himself."

"Everyone else calls him Fabian. It's his name."

"Sir Fabian, if you please."

"He inherited the title from his father. He's been a sir ever since his father died."

"Silly way of going on ... Little children getting airs. No wonder they grow up thinking they are Lord God Almighty."

"Do you think he does?"

"Clear as daylight."

"That's not always very clear."

"Now you're being clever and I want to talk serious-like. It's about Fleur."

"Oh, Polly, hasn't Lavinia sent you any money?"

"It's not money we're after. What I wanted to say was that Fleur ... well, she is one of them Framlings when all's said and done. She's all right now. Wouldn't know the difference between Buckingham Palace and the rookeries ... as long as we're there to look after her and give her a kiss and a cuddle ... she's all right. But when she grows up a bit, is this place going to be good enough for her?"

"It will be good enough if you and Eff are there. She loves you both. Look how contented she is when you're there."

"Oh, she's a loving little thing. No bones about that. But there'll come a time when she'll have to be told who she is and something done about her education and all that."

"Let's leave it at that, Polly. When I get a chance I'll talk to Lavinia."

"And there's you."

"What about me?"

"What are you going to do?"

"What do you mean, Polly?"

"You know what I mean. Rector's not well, is he? How long can he go on working? I reckon this Colin Brady will take over. Do you like him?"

"You are not trying to do a little matchmaking, are you, Polly?"

"People have to be serious about these things. I'd like to see you settled, I would. You'd be happy with some little ones. Oh, I know. I've seen you with Fleur. There's some who are natural mothers and you are one of them."

"You are going too fast, Polly."

"Well, you like him, don't you, this Colin Brady?"

"Yes."

"And he's a good man."

"I daresay he is."

"You don't want to let some people pick up when they think they will and like as not drop you when they get a little tired."

"To whom are you referring?"

"That Sir Fabian."

"Oh, there is no question of his picking me up. He just happened to be on the train."

"Some people have a way of making things happen when they want them to."

I thought of what he had said about prodding, and he had certainly contrived the meeting. I felt rather pleased and excited that he had bothered to do so. It ought to have irritated me, but it didn't.

Gradually she wormed the story of Lavinia's betrayal and downfall from me.

"That one had trouble coming to her if ever anyone had. Perhaps this will be a lesson to her. Could be ... though I doubt it. She's got mischief written all over her, that one. She'll be in trouble again sooner or later. And to think that Sir Fabian is our Fleur's uncle and doesn't know it!"

"Of course, he doesn't know there is a Fleur."

"Bit of a shock to him if he did. I'm not surprised that Lavinia went to all them lengths to keep her little secret. I've always been sorry for girls in trouble, but I can't say I'm getting out my sackcloth and ashes for her."

And so we talked, and it was as comforting to me as it used to be in the old days when we sat in the room at the rectory with the churchyard on one side and the village green on the other.

Polly and I had our trips "up West"; I bought some clothes and some gloves for Polly and a scarf for Eff. I had my allowance, which came from the money my mother had left. It was not very much, but at least I was not penniless. I told Polly I was going to send her half of what I had to help with Fleur, but she was indignant. "You'll do no such thing! If you attempt to do that I'll send it right back ... pronto ... and Eff and me 'ull be most put out."

She told me how they loved having the baby. It was important ... particularly to Eff. Eff loved the business, but she often said she'd missed something. She had put up with Him for years and she would have forgiven him all his little ways if he had given her a baby. But it seemed he wasn't any good ... even at that. Polly, too, had been disappointed in that respect.

"But now we've got Fleur," she said, "and if that Lavinia ever wanted her back she wouldn't get her. I'd fight to the death for Fleur ... so would Eff ... and Eff always wins ... always has and always will. Father used to say that."

I often thought of Lavinia and wondered what she was doing and if she ever gave a thought to the child. I doubted it. She had recklessly conceived the child for her own gratification and as casually cast her off without seeming to realize how fortunate she had been to find people to take the burden from her shoulders.

During that week, I would wheel the baby out on the common. I used to sit on a seat and think of everything that had happened over the last two years. Often in my mind I went back to the little town, choosing my pastry and bringing it out on a plate to sit under the sunshade and wait for Charles to bring the coffee. I could recall with vividness the day the so-called Comte had strolled up to us. I could see Lavinia smiling provocatively at the handsome intruder in her secretive manner. I remembered so well that inner satisfaction of hers. I should have guessed that the Comte was false and all he wanted was a brief love affair.

While I was dreaming thus and Fleur was dozing in her pram, I was suddenly aware that someone had sat down on the seat beside me. I turned and with a mingling of exhilaration and consternation I saw that it was Fabian.

"Sir Fabian ..." I stammered.

"Oh please," he said, "not so formal. I'm simply Fabian to my friends."

"What ... what are you doing here?"

"Rejoicing in this happy turn of fortune. How are you faring? You look well. Such a rosy colour in your cheeks. Is that due to the London air or to reunion with your devoted nurse?"