‘Are we really goin’ in that?’ he asked, his voice awed.

‘We certainly are,’ Tom told him as he ruffled his hair and winked at Holly who was feeling rather anxious. ‘You’ll have lots of rides in it in the future. How about you come up front with me? I’m sure Sunday won’t mind sitting in the back.’

Robbie was smiling now as he turned to say goodbye to Matron and Holly. The matron smiled at him warmly and shook his hand making him feel very grown-up. And then it was Holly’s turn and she found it difficult to speak past the lump that had formed in her throat.

‘You be good now and do what Sunday and Tom tell you,’ she said in a choked voice.

He stared up at her solemnly and nodded. Then suddenly he flung his arms about her waist and his voice was thick as he whispered, ‘Thanks, Nurse ’Olly. Yer all right, you are.’

The next minute he was scrambling up into the seat next to Tom and Matron and Holly stood and waved till the car turned a corner and was lost to sight.

‘I think we can safely say that’s going to be a very happy ending for one child thanks to you, nurse.’ The matron smiled at her approvingly and they both returned to their duties.

Two weeks later Holly and her mother visited Treetops and were delighted to find Robbie had settled in nicely.

‘Our teacher, Mrs Lockett, reckons I’m brainy,’ Robbie told Holly gleefully when he had rushed out to meet her. ‘I can count up to ten already an’ I’m learnin’ me ABC now!’

‘Why, that’s excellent,’ Holly answered astounded at the change in him. His cheeks were glowing from the time he spent playing outdoors and he had gained a little weight. He’d also had a haircut, which he wasn’t so happy about, much to their amusement.

‘Tom took me an’ one o’ the other lads to the barber’s,’ he told them, solemnly stroking his shorn curls. ‘An’ Cissie went through me ’air every single night wi’ a nit comb till she were sure all the nits were gone. Don’t know why she boffered really. I were so used to ’em they didn’t boffer me. But ooh, the grub ’ere is lovely!’ He rolled his eyes in ecstasy. ‘Cook makes smashin’ dinners as well as cakes an’ tarts an’ we never ’ave to go to bed wi’ a ’ungry belly. She reckons I’ve got ’ollow legs cos I eat so much but Sunday told her that’s normal cos I’m a growin’ boy.’

‘So you’re happy here then?’ Holly asked and he grinned.

‘Nor ’alf.’ His attention was caught then by Ben, a child slightly older than him who was kicking a football about the lawn. ‘Sorry, but I’ve gorra go.’ His eyes were fixed on the ball. ‘I’ll see yer before yer leave, eh?’ And with that he was gone like the wind as Holly watched him with a smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear.