“This is the day nursery,” she said, “the night nurseries open out of it. Here’s one that will do for the little Prince and one for yourself next door.”

They were excellent rooms, Carina could see that, and Dipa had already spied the rocking horse in one corner of the day nursery and had run towards it.

There was the conventional nursery grate and a fireguard for airing small clothes, while the fourfold screen was covered with coloured scraps just like one Carina had had herself as a child. She could remember her mother sticking on Christmas cards and transfers that they used to buy at the village shop. She had loved her screen, seeming to find a new picture every time she looked at it.

Mrs. Barnstaple smiled at her interest.

“I can remember her Ladyship making that,” she said, “and I have even stuck some of the pictures on myself until Nanny stopped me. Jealous, she was, because his Lordship was so fond of me. ‘Barnie, Barnie’, he used to call me all over the house. It used to infuriate Nanny.”

Mrs. Barnstaple spoke with self-satisfaction.

“Nannies are often jealous, I know,” Carina said sympathetically, remembering how her own Nanny had often resented her affection for the old cook at Claverly.

“But I must not stop here gossiping,” Mrs. Barnstaple said. “I will fetch the housemaids and tell one of the footmen to bring you something to eat. What would you like?”

“Oh, I think all that is necessary at this late hour is a glass of milk and a biscuit for Dipa,” Carina replied. “We had some sandwiches to eat at the Station while we were waiting for the cab. And if it is not too much trouble, I would be most grateful for a cup of tea.”

“It will be no trouble at all,” Mrs. Barnstaple replied.

She went from the room, leaving Carina alone with Dipa.

“Big, big doggie,” Dipa was saying, as he played with the rocking horse pushing it backwards and forwards.

“Not a big dog. Say ‘horse’, Dipa.”

He repeated it after her and then said it several times to show that he had learned a new word.

But he was really very tired and long before his milk came he was half-asleep in Carina’s arms.

The luggage was brought upstairs. She told the footmen to put all her trunks into her bedroom and large though the room was, they seemed to fill it up. Dipa’s small box looked almost pathetic in contrast, but Carina took out his nightshirt and soon had him ready for bed.

“Big horse,” he murmured dreamily as he put his head on the pillow and then suddenly reached up his thin little arms and clasped them round her neck.

“Nice lady, very nice lady. Dipa like – ”

He was asleep almost before he had finished speaking.

Carina went back into the day nursery to find Mrs. Barnstaple waiting for her.