“Just what you’d expect, wasn’t it? “Bell grunted.
“Yes. Absolutely. Poor struggling shopkeepers, earnestly religious, keeping the old house like a new pin. All in accordance with the evidence.” He sniffed the night air. “Dank old house.”
“General shop smell. All sorts of things mixed up.”
“As you say. There were. And there would be. Nothing you couldn’t have guessed before we went. Except that Mrs. Wiven is expected - whoever Mrs. Wiven is.”
“I don’t know. Sounds like a lodger.”
“Yes, that is so. Which would make another resident in the home of Eddie and Bessie. However. She’s not come back yet. So we can go home. The end of a beastly day. And to - morrow’s another one. I’ll be out to see the children in the morning. Oh, my Lord! Those children.” His hand gripped Bell’s arm… .
By eight o’clock in the morning he was at the bedside of Bessie Hill - an achievement of stupendous but useless energy, for she did not wake till half past.
Then he took charge. A responsible position, which he interpreted as administering to her cups of warm milk and bread and butter. She consumed them eagerly; she took his service as matter of course.
“Good girl.” Reggie wiped her mouth. “Feelin’ better?”
She sighed and snuggled down, and gazed at him with large eyes. “Umm. Who are you?”
“They call me Mr. Fortune. Is it nice here?”
“Umm. Comfy.” The big eyes were puzzled and wondering. “Where is it?”
“Blaney Hospital. People brought you here after you were in the pond. Do you remember?”
She shook her head. “Is Eddie here?”
“Oh, yes. Eddie’s asleep. He’s all right. Were you cross with Eddie?”
Tears came into the brown eyes. “Eddie was cross wiv me,” the child whimpered. “I wasn’t. I wasn’t. Eddie said must go into ve water. I didn’t want. But Eddie was so cross. Love Eddie.”
“Yes. Little girl.” Reggie stroked her hair. “Eddie shouldn’t have been cross. Just a little girl. But Eddie isn’t often cross, is he?”
“No. Love Eddie. Eddie’s dear.”
“Why was he cross yesterday?”
The brown eyes opened wider. “I was naughty. It was Mrs. Wiven. Old Mrs. Wiven. I did go up to her room. I didn’t fink she was there. Sometimes is sweeties. But she was vere. She scolded me. She said I was little fief. We was all fiefs. And Eddie took me away and oh, he was so cross; he said I would be wicked and must not be. But I aren’t. I aren’t. Eddie was all funny and angry, and said not to be like him and go to hell, and then he did take me into pond wiv him. I didn’t want. I didn’t want!”
“No. Of course not. No. Poor little girl. Eddie didn’t understand. But it’s all right now.”
“Is Eddie still cross wiv me?” she whimpered.
“Oh, no. No. Eddie won’t be cross any more. Nobody’s cross, little girl.” Reggie bent over her.
“Everybody’s going to be kind now. You only have to be quiet and happy. That’s all.”
“Oooh.” She gazed up at him. “Tell Eddie I’m sorry.”
“Yes. I’ll tell him.” Reggie kissed her hand and turned away.
The nurse met him at the door. “Did she wake in the night?” he whispered.
“Yes, sir, asking for Eddie. She’s a darling, isn’t she? She makes me cry, talking like that of him.”
“That won’t do any harm,” Reggie said, and his face hardened. “But you mustn’t talk about him.”
He went to the room where Eddie lay. The doctor was there, and turned from the bedside to confer with him. “Not too bad. We’ve put in a long sleep. Quite quiet since we waked. Very thirsty. Taken milk with a dash of coffee nicely. But we’re rather flat.”
