Ada looked thoughtful. ‘You know, it might have actually swayed the requisition decision. So far the Army have been sympathetic to Mary Vale’s cause on the grounds that we’re good for the Home Front, but if they had read in the papers that we were harbouring thieves they might not look upon us quite so generously any more.’

‘The Reverend Mother took control, thank God,’ Sister Mary Paul said gratefully.

Moving on, Ada asked, ‘How’s Rosie? She’s in no state to withstand a shock like this.’

‘She all but fainted away once it was all over with – Dora rushed her on to the ward and into a bed.’ Sister Mary Paul rolled her eyes. ‘Dora said Staff Sister Mann didn’t look best pleased.’

Ada looked surprised. ‘Was she annoyed that Rosie had been brought on to the ward?’

‘Well, I wasn’t there myself, but Dora said she looked at Rosie like something the cat had dragged in.’

Knowing that Dora regularly swopped stories with Sister Mary Paul on her many visits back and forth to the kitchen for nursery milk, Ada, now in full professional mode, pressed on. ‘Try to remember, dear, what exactly did Dora say about Rosie?’

Mary Paul crinkled her brow as she tried her best to recall Dora’s exact words. ‘She said Rosie’s blood pressure was sky high, and the baby’s heart-beat was weak.’

‘Oh, dear,’ Ada murmured under her breath. ‘Is she still on the ward?’

Mary Paul nodded. ‘Dora thinks that if there’s any chance of the baby surviving, Rosie will probably need permanent bed-rest from now on.’

‘Gosh!’ Ada cried. ‘Who is going to look after those poor children? First, they’re dragged up here where they’re clearly not wanted, then sent to a new school which they hate, and their mother is still in no state to care for them despite all our best care.’ Ada gave a sad sigh. ‘I feel so sorry for them both.’

‘The Reverend Mother is looking to have the kiddies fostered out. Just until their mother’s back on her feet,’ Mary Paul informed Ada.

‘Heavens above, their situation just gets worse,’ Ada cried.

‘What else can we do with Rosie ordered to her bed?’ Mary Paul asked. ‘Though God knows how Ronnie and Sally will take to leaving their mother.’

The Reverend Mother talked to saintly Sister Theresa about preparing the children for a possible move.

‘Prepare the way, just in case we have to foster them out,’ the Reverend Mother requested.

‘They’re pretty subdued at the moment,’ Theresa told her. ‘What with their mother sick on the ward and them only allowed one visit a day after they get home from school, they’re both a bit tearful.’

‘Hardly surprising,’ the Reverend Mother responded. ‘Are they still adamant about not stealing from the residents?’