‘Do you know “Little Vagabond Boy”?’

Kitty nodded.

‘Good, then you sing it to me while I play for you. What key do you prefer?’

Kitty told her, gulping nervously, but as the music flooded the room she began to sing, hesitantly at first and then as her confidence grew, in a clear ringing voice. She accompanied the words with gestures.

When the music died away, Kitty watched her mother anxiously for her reaction.

‘That was excellent. Your singing teacher taught you well,’ Ruby told her with an approving smile. ‘There is still a little work to do on your posture and your breathing, but I’m sure you would be a hit in the music halls.’

‘Do you really think so?’ Kitty was delighted.

‘Yes, but we also need to do something with your hair and you’ll have to learn how to apply stage make-up. Have you ever worn make-up before?’

‘No.’ As yet, Kitty thought, she hadn’t seen her mother without it.

‘No matter,’ Ruby told her. ‘The trick is not to overdo it, and with your skin you won’t need too much. But now you must excuse me. I have a visitor due in less than an hour and I need to get changed.’

Kitty’s spirits sank. Yet another evening on her own! But she held her tongue. Life here was clearly going to be very different to the one she had lived at Treetops, but no doubt she would get used to it. When her mother left the room, Kitty slipped through the French doors into the garden – just in time to see young Arthur heading towards his bicycle. His face lit up at the sight of her approaching him and she beamed back at him.

‘Here.’ Dipping her hand into the pocket of her skirt, she withdrew half a crown. ‘Treat your brothers and sisters to some sweets from me on the way home.’

He stared at the big silver coin as if he could hardly believe his luck. ‘It’s an ’eck of a lot. Are yer quite sure, miss?’

‘Of course.’ Kitty pressed it into his hand as he blushed furiously. ‘And please, don’t call me miss. My name is Kitty.’

‘Right you are, mi … Kitty. See you tomorrow.’ He then wheeled his bicycle towards the back gate and with a last smile and a wave Kitty went back indoors. She ran upstairs to admire all her new clothes and to write a letter to Sunday and Tom as she had promised.

She sat pondering on what she should write for a long time as she anxiously chewed the end of the pen but eventually she began,

Dear Sunday and Tom,

I hope this finds you both and everyone at Treetops well. I’m sorry I haven’t written before but things have been so hectic here.

She paused then as she wondered what else to write. She desperately wanted to tell them how lonely she was and how much she missed them, but pride wouldn’t allow her to do that so she went on, choosing her words carefully: