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just seconds the baby’s cries had ceased and it was sucking hungrily at her breast.
    After a few moments there came the sound of footsteps on the landing. Then the door was opening and Dr Kelsey was standing there. He looked at the scene. The room was silent but for the sounds from the baby’s sucking mouth. Kelsey smiled and gave Sarah a little nod. ‘Thank you,’ he said softly.
    ‘She’s got to be fed, hasn’t she, Ollie?’
    ‘Well, yes.’ He frowned, shaking his head. ‘But does it have to be you who does it?’
    ‘There’s no other wet-nurse around, and the baby needs the proper milk. She’s got to have it to have any chance at all. What else can I do?’
    Leaving the new baby fed and sleeping in the nursery, Sarah had spoken to the doctor who had then gone to see Mr Savill. When Kelsey had returned to speak to Sarah she had put on her coat and come out in search of Ollie in the gardens of the house. She had found him in one of the greenhouses. Now she stood facing him.Outside beyond the glass the snowflakes swirled down out of the leaden sky. Inside, all around them in the oil-heated interior, the plants grew green and succulent, filling the warm air with their pungent scents.
    ‘Did Mr Savill ask you?’ Ollie said.
    ‘No, it was Dr Kelsey. Just now – in the nursery. I just couldn’t say no, Ollie, could I? Not after what’s happened.’ She shook her head. ‘Mr Savill ask me? No – poor man, he’s going round as if he’s in a dream. I don’t think it’s struck him yet – the reality of it all.’
    Ollie said nothing for a moment, then he said, ‘That means you’ll have to stay here at the house, doesn’t it?’
    ‘Well, yes – because of the night feeds. But after a while I won’t be so tied to the place. Anyway, they might get another wet-nurse soon. Till then, though …’ She reached out, laid her hand on his arm. ‘Say it’s all right, Ollie, please. Say it’s all right.’
    He said: ‘So you’ll have to bring Blanche up here along with you, won’t you?’
    ‘Oh, yes, of course. I can look after both of them here. It won’t be difficult.’
    ‘Maybe not – for you or the babies. But what about the rest of us? – Mary and the others – and me?’
    ‘I know.’ She nodded sympathetically. ‘I’m sorry, Ollie, but – well, I’ll try to make sure that you’re not put out too much. When I get back home I’ll see Esther and ask her to come in in the mornings and get you your breakfast, and see you off to work with your dinner. And I’ll get her to feed the children and get them off to school too, and keep an eye on Artie and Agnes when I can’t be there.’ She pressed his hand. ‘It won’t be that bad, you’ll see. I shall be able to get down home for short spells during the days and also when you’re coming home in the evenings. So with a bit of luck I can have your supper ready for you and see to thechildren a bit too – be able to spend a little time with them before I come back up here for the babies’ next feed.’ Watching his face in the cold light she thought that he looked suddenly lost. ‘Oh, Ollie, we’ll work it out all right. But I’ve got to help the baby. I can’t refuse, can I?’ She gave him a little, pleading smile. ‘Don’t worry, you won’t go hungry – neither will the children. And as I say, it won’t be for too long a time.’
    ‘Not for too long a time? It’ll take months till the baby’s weaned.’
    ‘Well – yes. But if they get another wet-nurse –’
    ‘They won’t get another wet-nurse. You hardly ever hear of ‘em nowadays. It’s not like years ago when they were advertising in the papers all the time. And what makes you think Esther’s going to be ready to come in and look after us while you’re up here?’
    ‘Well – she’ll be paid for her trouble, of course.’
    ‘Out of what? You won’t even be able to do the washing now.’
    ‘No, maybe I won’t, but – listen, I talked all this over with Dr