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smiled. ‘Don’t look so worried. You see, my daughter hasn’t any friends of her own age, and as long as she’s happy, that’s all I worry about. Now, are you pleased with those clothes? They seem to fit you just fine.’
    ‘I ain’t ever had such lovely things before. I’ll give ’em back before I go.’
    ‘It seems that Jane is really taken with you. This was her idea, so please don’t let her down.’
    ‘I won’t. But I must look for me aunt.’
    ‘Of course. Now, come along to the drawing room. Jane is waiting to see you.’
    Milly was still smiling as they left the bathroom. Perhaps they didn’t want girls for the white slave market after all.
     
    Milly had followed Mrs Green along the hall, and the older woman stood to one side at the open door to let her enter the room.
    ‘Here’s Milly,’ she said, adding, ‘I shall be back later.’
    Milly walked into a beautiful room with a very high ceiling. It almost took her breath away.
    ‘Hello,’ said Jane, who was sitting on a multicoloured tapestry sofa. Milly could only see her pretty cream-coloured slippers, as her frock and a blanket covered her legs. ‘You look lovely. Come and sit next to me.’ Jane patted the seat.
    Very cautiously Milly sat down.
    ‘You look very nice now, and you smell a lot better.’
    ‘Miss Jane,’ said Walton angrily.
    ‘I’m sorry, that was very rude of me.’
    Milly smiled. ‘That’s all right. I was a bit smelly. And thank you letting me wear your clothes.’
    ‘You can keep them,’ Jane said dismissively. ‘I’ve grown out of them.’
    ‘Thank you,’ said Milly again. Her eyes were wide as she sank into the soft cushions on the sofa and she glanced quickly round her. She couldn’t take in all the lovely things that were in this room. There was a large fireplace with a huge warm fire burning in the grate. All sorts of interesting vases stood on the mantelpiece. Lovely pictures hung on the walls, and a long window with heavy green curtains each side tied back with silk rope looked out on to a garden. The huge clock that stood in the corner ticking loudly fascinated her; she had never seen anything like it before.
    ‘Now. You must tell me all about yourself and why you have run away from home.’
    ‘Miss Jane.’ Walton, sitting close by in an armchair made of the same material as the sofa and doing some needle work, looked up.
    ‘Milly doesn’t mind telling me, do you? After all, she is my best friend.’
    Walton just gave a sigh and returned to her sewing.
    Jane giggled and took hold of Milly’s hand.
    ‘I’m looking for me aunt,’ Milly said.
    ‘Yes, I know that,’ said Jane impatiently. ‘But why don’t you know her name or where she lives?’
    Milly looked down at her hands. ‘Me mum wouldn’t tell me,’ she said softly.
    ‘But why? She must have had a reason.’
    Walton stood up. ‘Miss Jane, I must ask you to stop this at once. Your mother would be very upset if she heard you interrogating this poor young girl.’
    ‘I just want to know all about her,’ Jane said. Her big blue-grey eyes were full of sadness. ‘I am sorry.’
    ‘That’s all right,’ said Milly. She didn’t want this girl to get in any trouble. After all, she had rescued her, and she must be worried about where she came from. She would tell her one day. That was, if she was allowed to stay.
     
    As the afternoon wore on, Milly told Jane a little about herself, including the fact that she had six brothers and sisters.
    ‘You have all those?’ Jane said in amazement.
    Milly nodded.
    ‘I wish I had more brothers, and a sister. I have one brother, Richard. He’s older than me and goes away to school. I have a tutor who comes to teach me. Miss Dance is going to teach me now because Miss Brook left to get married. Perhaps you could come to my lessons. That would be so much fun.’
    Milly noticed Walton raise an eyebrow at that.
    When Betty brought tea in on a tray on wheels, Milly was fascinated. She had never seen