Sister Mary Paul chuckled. ‘Maybe they were looking in all the wrong places, while Sybil just followed her instincts. Believe me, much as I would have liked some answers, there wasn’t much time for asking questions when we picked the poor girl up from Kents Bank Station.’

‘Taking off alone like that,’ Ada marvelled. ‘There’s no denying Sybil’s got some guts.’

Lowering her voice to a dramatic whisper, Mary Paul added, ‘And for sure it’s cost Sybil, going into labour on the London train, surrounded by men in uniform.’ The nun shuddered. ‘Matron and I found her lying flat on her back, panting in pain. God Almighty, you should have seen the passengers hanging out of the windows watching us, two nuns struggling along the platform carrying between them a pregnant woman on a stretcher!’ Mortified, she covered her flushed face with her wrinkled hands. ‘And Ronnie and Sally telling anybody and everybody their auntie was having a baby on the train! I didn’t know what to do with myself,’ the old nun wheezed.

‘Heavens, Sister! I’m surprised you had the strength at your age,’ cried Ada.

‘Glory be to God, as if there were any choice!’ Mary Paul gasped. ‘Dora took over once we got back here, while I took the children to see their mummy.’ Dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, Mary Paul wept. ‘What a beautiful reunion that was. Those little kiddies snuggling up to their mummy, stroking her hair, kissing her hands, and she, poor woman, sobbing her heart out.’

Ada struggled to stand up in order to hug her favourite nun. ‘Don’t go upsetting yourself, dear,’ she said softly. ‘It’s been very stressful for you, physically and emotionally.’

Leaning briefly on Ada’s warm shoulder, Mary Paul let out a long sob. ‘I’m just happy for Rosie, and for her little family too; imagine the alternative, if they weren’t reunited. As far as I can see, Sybil, who in truth has not made herself popular here, is nothing short of a saint.’

‘It is an amazing transformation,’ Ada agreed. ‘When I was working here, Sybil couldn’t even be in the same room as the Pickles family; she was forever moaning and complaining about them.’

‘Thank God something changed her mind,’ Sister Mary Paul said fervently. ‘Though,’ she added in a low voice, ‘the kiddies were sad to hear Rosie’s news, especially Sally. Ronnie of course tried not to show his emotions, but you could see he was upset.’

‘Hardly surprising,’ Ada commented. ‘It’s hard to come to terms with a loss like that.’ Sipping the cup of tea that the nun had thoughtfully set on the table for her, she asked, ‘How are Sybil and her baby now?’

‘She’s still in the post-natal ward with Matron, but I’m told she’s doing fine,’ Mary Paul informed her.