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raised. As usual the same thought had come to both at the same moment.
    ‘Go on, you tell her,’ said Daisy. ‘It was your idea.’
    ‘Well, we were thinking of having a surprise birthday party for you next week,’ said Poppy.
    ‘They’re just telling you a week early so that you’ll forget and then it really will be a surprise,’ explained Rose. ‘Poor things! Don’t laugh at them – they haven’t got their younger sister’s brains,’ she added in loftily condescending tones.
    ‘We’re telling her a week early, Miss Clever,’ snapped Poppy, ‘because she’s the only one of us good at sewing and she’ll have to make the dresses.’
    ‘Weave them from spiders’ webs.’ Violet made an effort to stop crying. She brushed the tears from her eyes and managed a faint smile.
    ‘We were thinking about Mother’s old dresses. Up in the trunk in the attic,’ explained Daisy. ‘We could just chop them a bit so that they’re nice and short and fashionable.’
    ‘And the jazz band would provide the music and the boys could be dancing partners too.’ This was the most important part for Poppy.
    ‘But we thought we would ask Justin for you,’ put in Daisy hurriedly. Violet was not interested in the jazz club boys, who were all Poppy’s age.
    ‘Justin!’ Now a speculative look had come into Violet’s eyes. Daisy and Poppy exchanged glances. Violet was obviously thinking hard.
    ‘We’ll have to have some decent dresses, but we can do it in a week,’ she said in a determined fashion. ‘Rose, you give that parcel to Morgan. I’m going to see Great-Aunt Lizzie about those old dresses of Mother’s up in the attic. With a bit of work we might be able to do something with them.’

Chapter Five

    ‘Well?’ The twins were waiting in the hall when Violet came out of the drawing room, gently closing the door after her. She was flushed and smiling.
    ‘She says yes – but we must talk to Mrs Pearson first. And we can take what we like from the attic. And most of the food at the supper has to be made from eggs,’ she added, and both girls started to laugh. Hens were their standby. Dozens of them wandered around the beech woods and their eggs were plentiful even in wintertime.
    Mrs Pearson was eventually tracked down by Rose to Great-Aunt Lizzie’s bedroom. As they climbed the stairs, they could hear her scolding the maids.
    ‘Nora, haven’t you finished Lady Violet’s room yet? Dorothy has cleaned three bedrooms while you were lingering here. And Maud, hurry up, child, for goodness sake. There are ten more fireplaces for you to do.’ Mrs Pearson could never get used to having only three maids under her.
    ‘Don’t be cross, Mrs Pearson; we’ve come to you for some advice.’ Daisy knew that Mrs Pearson had a soft spot for good gossip and she led the housekeeper into Violet’s bedroom. ‘Poppy and I were thinking about having a birthday party for Violet next week; Great-Aunt says that we may, but we’re not sure what to do about it. You remember the old days, don’t you, when there were parties all the time?’
    Mrs Pearson began to smile. ‘Well, of course, there were only two boys at Beech Grove Manor when I first became housekeeper, but then of course . . . later on, when . . . when your mother came here . . . But I suppose you know all about that.’
    ‘A bit,’ said Daisy, frowning at Poppy who, she guessed, was going to bring Mrs Pearson back to the point. It was better to let the old lady have her reminiscences and gently steer her back to practicalities. ‘Was Mother pretty?’
    ‘Very!’ Mrs Pearson sighed. ‘They were . . . Yes, she was lovely. Well, no good talking about the past,’ she said, to the girls’ relief. ‘You were asking about parties and I can tell you we had plenty of them the year your mother came here.’
    ‘Sit here, Mrs Pearson.’ Violet pushed forward the shabby old chair. It had originally been covered in velvet, but most of the silky nap had been worn off