The following day brought a fresh onslaught of rain and the arrival of Mrs. Baylock. She was Irish and outrageous, pulling up to the front gates of Pereford and announcing herself as the new nanny. The guard had attempted to detain her but she bullied her way through, her boisterous manner at once intimidating and appealing.

"I know it's a difficult time for you," she announced to the Thorns as she took off her coat in the vestibule, "so I won't impose on your grief. But between you and me, anyone who hires such a skinny young thing for a nanny is just asking for trouble."

The movements of her massive frame were so vigorous that they created a breeze; Thorn and Katherine, watching dumbfounded, were silenced by her certainty.

"You know how to tell a good nanny?" she laughed. "By the size of her breasts. These little girls with pigeon tits, they come and go in a week. But me, the big saggy ones like me. These are the nannies that stay. Go look in Hyde Park, you'll see it's true."

She paused only to pick up her suitcase.

"Well, now. Where's the boy?"

"I'll show you," said Katherine, indicating the stairs.

"Why don't you just leave us alone at first? Let us get acquainted in our own way."

"He's a little shy with new people."

"Not with me, he won't be, I can assure you of that."

"I really think..."

"Nonsense. Let me give it a try."

And in a moment she was climbing the stairs, her massive bottom disappearing from view. In the sudden silence left in her wake the Thorns exchanged a glance, Thorn nodding an uncertain approval.

"I like her," he said.

"I do, too."

"Where did you find her?"

"Where did I find her?" asked Katherine.

"Yes."

"I didn't find her. I assumed you found her."

And after a moment's pause, Thorn called up the

"Mrs. Baylock?" "Yes?"

She was already on the second-story landing, her face peering down from above.

"I' m sorry . . . we're a little confused."

"Why is that?"

"We don't know how you got here."

"By taxi. I sent it away."

"No, no. I mean .. . who called you?"

"The agency."

"The agency?"

"They saw in the papers you'd lost your first nanny, so they sent you another."

It seemed a bit opportunistic, but knowing the fierce competition for employment in London, Thorn thought it made sense.

"Very enterprising," he said.

"Can I call to confirm that?" asked Katherine.

"Go right ahead," replied the woman. "You want me to wait outside in the rain?"

"No, no .. ." added Thorn quickly.

"Do I look like a foreign agent to you?" asked Mrs. Baylock.

"I don't think so," chuckled Thorn.

"Don't be so sure," the heavyset woman rejoined. "Maybe my girdle is filled with tape recorders. Why don't you send up a young Marine to check it out?"

They all laughed, Mrs. Baylock hardest of all.

"Go ahead," said Thorn, "we'll check it out later."