Part 49 (1/2)

' ”T didn't, at least not for a time.

I tried all the usual places--the children's friends, your friends,

anywhere that Nanny and Al suggested, and then I remembered hearing Sarel talking about the old cottage which had belonged to Nanny.

It was a shot in the dark.

. ' He stopped the car and got out, and at once the house door flew open and Al, closely followed by Nanny and Mrs McCrea, came down the steps.

Sarre had picked up Jacomina after he had helped Alethea out of the car and handed her over to Al, then led the procession back into the house.

”Hot baths,” he ordered, already halfway up the staircase with his daughter.

”T'll look you over afterwards, and give Mevrouw some brandy, Al, she's in need of it.

' He had disappeared as he spoke and Alethea was sat down tenderly in one of the chairs in the hall and made to drink the brandy while Sarel stood close by, looking anxious and describing with a wealth of detail to Nanny and Mrs McCrea just how awful it had been.

Al took the gla.s.s away presently and said: ”Now, ma'am-upstairs to your room, like the guv says.

' She felt peculiar and a little sick, but she managed to say: ”Sarel, you'll do what Papa says, won't you?

A bath and then jump into bed so that you can be properly looked at.

' She managed a smile.

”You were a brave boy,” she told him, 'and thank you for wanting to stay behind in that awful place.

' He said something then to send her spirits soaring.

”T wished to do what your son would have done.

' He grinned at her, looking exactly like his father so that her insides melted.

”T shall call you Mama.

' She thanked him and then turned away quickly before he should see the tears pouring down her dirty face.

She had a good cry in the bath so that by the time she was sitting obediently in a dressing gown while Sarre examined her hurts, she was admirably composed once more.

True, her eyes were dreadfully red, but he wasn't likely to notice that; she had washed her hair and even done something to her face, happily unaware that it had in no way disguised the fact that she had had a good howl.

Her arms were swollen now and the redness was turning purple, but the ache was better, she a.s.sured him as he closed the cut on her hand with b.u.t.terfly plasters, gave her an ATS injection and then gently removed some grit from one eye.

”Are the children all right?

' she asked once again.

”In splendid shape.

Nanny's giving them their supper and then they're going to their beds.

They want to see you before then if you could manage it.

I've asked Mrs McCrea to throw away our dinner and get us some supper

instead.

' He touched her cheek gently.

”You are a very brave girl, my dear, we are all deeply in your debt.

' Alethea wanted to catch hold of his hand and hold it against her

cheek for ever, but all she said was: ”The children were splendid, you

must be proud of them.

' He said slowly: ”What did you think about while you were waiting down there?

' It was on the tip of her tongue to say, ”You,” but that would never do.

”Oh, the children, and I made plans for Christmas although it's a bit

early for that, and whether Mrs McCrea would make an extra chocolate cake because the children have friends coming to tea on Sat.u.r.day.