"Clear as daylight."
"That's not always very clear."
"Now you're being clever and I want to talk serious-like. It's about Fleur."
"Oh, Polly, hasn't Lavinia sent you any money?"
"It's not money we're after. What I wanted to say was that Fleur ... well, she is one of them Framlings when all's said and done. She's all right now. Wouldn't know the difference between Buckingham Palace and the rookeries ... as long as we're there to look after her and give her a kiss and a cuddle ... she's all right. But when she grows up a bit, is this place going to be good enough for her?"
"It will be good enough if you and Eff are there. She loves you both. Look how contented she is when you're there."
"Oh, she's a loving little thing. No bones about that. But there'll come a time when she'll have to be told who she is and something done about her education and all that."
"Let's leave it at that, Polly. When I get a chance I'll talk to Lavinia."
"And there's you."
"What about me?"
"What are you going to do?"
"What do you mean, Polly?"
"You know what I mean. Rector's not well, is he? How long can he go on working? I reckon this Colin Brady will take over. Do you like him?"
"You are not trying to do a little matchmaking, are you, Polly?"
"People have to be serious about these things. I'd like to see you settled, I would. You'd be happy with some little ones. Oh, I know. I've seen you with Fleur. There's some who are natural mothers and you are one of them."
"You are going too fast, Polly."
"Well, you like him, don't you, this Colin Brady?"
"Yes."
"And he's a good man."
"I daresay he is."
"You don't want to let some people pick up when they think they will and like as not drop you when they get a little tired."
"To whom are you referring?"
"That Sir Fabian."
"Oh, there is no question of his picking me up. He just happened to be on the train."
"Some people have a way of making things happen when they want them to."
I thought of what he had said about prodding, and he had certainly contrived the meeting. I felt rather pleased and excited that he had bothered to do so. It ought to have irritated me, but it didn't.
Gradually she wormed the story of Lavinia's betrayal and downfall from me.
"That one had trouble coming to her if ever anyone had. Perhaps this will be a lesson to her. Could be ... though I doubt it. She's got mischief written all over her, that one. She'll be in trouble again sooner or later. And to think that Sir Fabian is our Fleur's uncle and doesn't know it!"
"Of course, he doesn't know there is a Fleur."
"Bit of a shock to him if he did. I'm not surprised that Lavinia went to all them lengths to keep her little secret. I've always been sorry for girls in trouble, but I can't say I'm getting out my sackcloth and ashes for her."
And so we talked, and it was as comforting to me as it used to be in the old days when we sat in the room at the rectory with the churchyard on one side and the village green on the other.
Polly and I had our trips "up West"; I bought some clothes and some gloves for Polly and a scarf for Eff. I had my allowance, which came from the money my mother had left. It was not very much, but at least I was not penniless. I told Polly I was going to send her half of what I had to help with Fleur, but she was indignant. "You'll do no such thing! If you attempt to do that I'll send it right back ... pronto ... and Eff and me 'ull be most put out."
She told me how they loved having the baby. It was important ... particularly to Eff. Eff loved the business, but she often said she'd missed something. She had put up with Him for years and she would have forgiven him all his little ways if he had given her a baby. But it seemed he wasn't any good ... even at that. Polly, too, had been disappointed in that respect.
"But now we've got Fleur," she said, "and if that Lavinia ever wanted her back she wouldn't get her. I'd fight to the death for Fleur ... so would Eff ... and Eff always wins ... always has and always will. Father used to say that."
I often thought of Lavinia and wondered what she was doing and if she ever gave a thought to the child. I doubted it. She had recklessly conceived the child for her own gratification and as casually cast her off without seeming to realize how fortunate she had been to find people to take the burden from her shoulders.
During that week, I would wheel the baby out on the common. I used to sit on a seat and think of everything that had happened over the last two years. Often in my mind I went back to the little town, choosing my pastry and bringing it out on a plate to sit under the sunshade and wait for Charles to bring the coffee. I could recall with vividness the day the so-called Comte had strolled up to us. I could see Lavinia smiling provocatively at the handsome intruder in her secretive manner. I remembered so well that inner satisfaction of hers. I should have guessed that the Comte was false and all he wanted was a brief love affair.
While I was dreaming thus and Fleur was dozing in her pram, I was suddenly aware that someone had sat down on the seat beside me. I turned and with a mingling of exhilaration and consternation I saw that it was Fabian.
"Sir Fabian ..." I stammered.
"Oh please," he said, "not so formal. I'm simply Fabian to my friends."
"What ... what are you doing here?"
"Rejoicing in this happy turn of fortune. How are you faring? You look well. Such a rosy colour in your cheeks. Is that due to the London air or to reunion with your devoted nurse?"
I did not answer and he went on, "What a pretty child! Whose is it?"
"She has been adopted by Polly."
"She is an unusual woman, your Polly. The bonnet suits her." He looked at me rather roguishly. "It was a good choice."
"Yes, it was."
"And the little socks."
"She is really too old for those, so it wasn't such a good choice. She crawls and totters and needs shoes for that."
"You should have thought of that. How enterprising those two are! They have their own houses and they take it upon themselves to adopt a child. Most unusual! Tell me, have they acquired Number 10 Maccleston yet?"
"No, but it will come. Are you on business down here?"
He looked at me with a half-amused smile. "I see you suspect me of playing truant. I happened to be in the neighbourhood and when I came across the common I remembered you were staying here. Luckily I saw you. I was surprised. First the baby carriage disconcerted me. I thought it must be some young mother ... and then I realized that no one could look quite as you did ... and I rejoiced. When are you returning? I believe you said you would stay for a week. Friday would be a week exactly."
"Yes. I expect it will be then."
"I hope you are having a rewarding week."
"Extremely so."
Fleur had awakened and, after regarding us gravely for a few moments, decided that she had been ignored long enough and started to whimper. I took her out of her pram and she was immediately smiling. I bounced her up and down a little, which she obviously enjoyed. She showed great interest in Fabian and, stretching out towards him, took hold of one of the buttons on his coat. She looked up at him, staring intently into his face.
"Is that an expression of disapproval?" he asked.
"I am not sure, but it is certainly one of interest."
Fleur laughed as though she found him amusing.
"She will soon be talking," I said. "She wants to say something to you, but she just cannot get the words."
"She's a nice creature."
"I think so, and so do Polly and Eff."
"Eff?"
"Short for Effie."
At the mention of Eff, Fleur began to mumble, "Eff, Eff ... Eff."