Part 2 (1/2)

'Never you two mind about Malaya,' Cook said firmly, 'quite enough to be able to buy a bit of india-rubber, no need asking where it comes from. Is this Mr and Mrs Simpson taking the rooms, Petrova ?'

Petrova looked surprised.

'That's what they've come for. They wouldn't come if they didn't want them, would they ?'

'Ah!' Clara put her iron to her face to feel how hot it was. 'There's a lot come to look at rooms, but do they take them ?'

'Don't they never take them ?' Posy inquired.

'One in a million,' said Cook. 'That's my experience.'

The Simpsons seemed to be the one in a million; they said they would be on leave for six months, or perhaps longer, and they would move into the Cromwell Road the next Monday. Garnie told Petrova that she considered she had done the letting, and she would take her to the motor show as a reward.

The next tenant was a Miss Theo Dane. She was an instructress of dancing at 'The Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training.' She was little and pretty, and wanted a room on the ground floor so that she would not disturb anybody when she was practising. The children stared at her over the stairs when she moved in.

'I thought she would wear shoes like the ones your mother left you,' Pauline whispered to Posy.

Posy thought of the tiny pale pink satin ballet shoes upstairs.

'Not when it's raining,' she suggested.

'Look!' Petrova, who was in the middle, dug an elbow into each of them. 'What's that red box?'

She spoke louder than she knew. Theo Dane looked up and smiled.

'It's a big gramophone. Perhaps you'll come down and hear it when I've arranged my things. Will you ?'

Pauline skipped down the stairs.

'Can we come after tea?'

'That'll be very nice.'

Petrova followed Pauline.

'All of us, or just Pauline?'

'All of you.'

They went, and found the gramophone very nice indeed. Theo let Pauline and Petrova wind it and change the records. Posy began to dance as soon as the music started; the other two were a bit shocked.

'You mustn't mind. She doesn't mean to show off - it's because she's little.'

'It's not showing off,' said Theo, who was watching Posy with interest. 'Why don't we all dance? It's the right thing to do to music'

It did seem to be, for she put on a record which had the most striking effect on the feet, even on Petrova's, which were the least dancing feet in the family.

When Nana came to fetch Posy to bed, she found a most hot, dishevelled party.

'Well, you have been having a time.' She smoothed Posy's hair. 'Thank Miss Dane nicely, Posy, and say good-night.'

Theo kissed Posy. She looked anxiously at Nana.

'I hope we haven't made too much noise.'

'There was plenty,' Nana said. 'But it hasn't done no harm. We let the other two rooms while you was at it.'

The three children threw themselves at her.

Who, Nana? Did they look nice ?'

'Have they got cars?'

'Have they got a gramophone?'

'One at a time,' Nana said firmly. 'They are both doctors - lady doctors.'

'Lady doctors!' Pauline made a face remembering various bottles of medicine that she had not cared for. 'I don't think we want those in the house. n.o.body's ill.'

'These aren't the sort that come when you're ill,' Nana explained. 'Doctors for learning, they are. They coach.'

Posy looked interested.

'Like the picture of John Gilpin? ”My sister, and my sister's child.” That one ?'

Nana shook her head.

'No. Miss Brown says their sort of coaching is teaching. Come on Posy.'

Pauline and Petrova went in to the drawing-room, where Sylvia always read to them for a bit before they went to bed. They were reading a book called The Secret Garden The Secret Garden which had belonged to Sylvia when she was a child. Neither Pauline nor Petrova could sit quiet while they were being read to, however interesting the book, without something to do. Pauline had sewing, and embroidered very well for somebody not yet ten. Petrova was very stupid with her needle, but very neat with her fingers; she was working at a model made in Meccano. It was a difficult model of an aeroplane, meant for much older children to make. Sylvia opened the book. which had belonged to Sylvia when she was a child. Neither Pauline nor Petrova could sit quiet while they were being read to, however interesting the book, without something to do. Pauline had sewing, and embroidered very well for somebody not yet ten. Petrova was very stupid with her needle, but very neat with her fingers; she was working at a model made in Meccano. It was a difficult model of an aeroplane, meant for much older children to make. Sylvia opened the book.

'Garnie,' said Pauline, 'do you think you are going to like having boarders ?'

'I shan't.' Petrova screwed in a tiny nut. 'Houses is meant for families, not for strangers.'

Pauline wriggled excitedly on her chair.

'I shall like Miss Dane. Oh, Garnie, she has such a lovely gramophone!'

Petrova looked up.

'I shall like Mr and Mrs Simpson best, because of their car.'

Pauline nodded at Sylvia.

'You'll have to like the poor doctors, then; it's mean they shouldn't be liked by anybody.'