Mrs. Bagot jerked her thumb over her shoulder, while Carina stared at her in consternation.

“You mean that I am to take this child to his father and Lord Lynche does not even know he exists?”

“That’s right,” Mrs. Bagot said. “That’s what she’s made up ’er mind is to ’appen. And ’ow could you deny the poor soul ’er dyin’ wish? She ’as killed herself to get ’ere and that’s God’s truth.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Carina said. “It seems such an incredible situation!”

“She’ll pay you for it,” Mrs. Bagot told her. “She’s got money at the moment or I’d not ’ave taken ’er in, even though she was recommended by a friend who had stayed ’ere a whole year when ’e was at The Gaiety.”

Mrs. Bagot simpered a little as if she had very special personal memories of that friend.

“Yes, she can pay you ’andsomely,” she went on, “and there will be enough left over for the funeral. I’ve been into the whole thing with ’er and she’s promised me ’er jewellery. Of course it’s only Eastern stuff. I said I didn’t want it, but she wants to give it to me for my kindness. And I’m not one to refuse the dyin’ wish of anyone, be it man or woman.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Carina repeated miserably.

Mrs. Bagot gave her a hard slap on the shoulder with her fat hand.

“Forget all your ladylike prejudices. You want a job or you wouldn’t be ’ere. And if you don’t like it after you’ve delivered the child, well, you can find yourself another.”

As she spoke, Carina seemed to hear Mrs. Macey’s voice saying – “if you don’t get this position, it’s unlikely we shall be able to find you anything else.”

It was no use holding back. As far as she was concerned there would be no point in returning to London. The die was cast. She would do what was asked of her.

It was as if Mrs. Bagot knew without words that Carina had accepted the responsibility that was thrust upon her.

She waddled down the passage and opened the door into the sick woman’s bedroom.

“All’s well, dearie!” she said cheerily, “this nice lady is goin’ to take Dipa to ’is father. All you’ve got to do now is to give ’er the money and I’ll tell Agnes to run out and get a cab to take them to the Station.”

As she finished speaking, Mrs. Bagot reached the side of the bed, but when she looked down she saw that Lady Lynche was unable to answer her. It was obvious that she was gasping for breath.