There was a knock at the door and Anton made a noise in answer.

The maid came in, carrying a tray with food and drink. She put it on the table.

Still sitting on the bed, Anton swung his feet to the floor. He could not speak, but held out both hands to the maid.

She stopped and looked at him, her eyes wide.

Then she crossed herself and went out of the room.

2

‘Because I want to go back to Vienna.’

‘But why? I thought you were happy here,’ said Martha.

‘I was happy,’ said Lena. ‘But not any longer. There’s a … new life for me. In Vienna.’

‘You tried it before. And it was hard, wasn’t it?’

‘It’ll be different this time. I’ll have someone to look after me.’

‘Can I ask who?’

‘I don’t want to say.’

Martha stood up from her desk. ‘Lena, I want you to think very hard about this. We’re friends, aren’t we? You can trust me. Although I had to be strict that one time about the wine. You’ve told me about yourself. Not in detail, but enough to give me a picture of your life.’

‘I know.’

‘We like you here. And you’re so much more confident than the frightened girl who first arrived.’

‘I know.’

‘There’ll always be a place for you. It’s your home. And if you’re bored with the work, I wouldn’t blame you.’

‘No. I like the work.’

‘Would you like to train as a nurse? We could help with that, perhaps. If you went to Klagenfurt, for instance, we might be able to pay for your lodgings. Or Graz has a good hospital. If you promised to come back.’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Daisy will retire any day. We’ll need someone to take her place. Someone young would be marvellous for us. A real tonic.’

‘That’s kind of you, Fräulein, but I’ve made up my mind.’

‘I’m worried about you, Lena. I’m anxious that you’re going to come to grief. Who is this man anyway?’

‘I told you. I can’t say.’

‘But it is a man, is it?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s not that lawyer, Rudolf, is it?’

‘No,’ said Lena. She wasn’t lying. It wasn’t Rudolf who had made her go. It was Anton.

‘Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind?’

‘No.’

‘Although times are very hard, as you know, we could probably pay you a bit more. Or I could open a savings account for you and put something into that each month.’

‘It’s not money.’ She was thinking of Rudolf’s apartment. She’d hardly need money there.

‘Suppose we move you to a nicer room. There’s a bigger one in Clock Court – with window boxes. I could have it redecorated. What’s your favourite colour?’

Lena shook her head and looked down at the rug on which she was standing. ‘My room’s nice. I like it in the summer when the breeze comes in through the window. I like to lie there and feel it on my skin.’