While Edith took Bobby downstairs for the treats he had been promised, Sunday went through the process again with Peggy, but thankfully she proved to be much more amenable and hardly moved throughout the whole procedure.

‘Why, you look just like a little angel,’ Edith declared when Sunday led her downstairs sometime later in the pretty nightgown they had found for her. Edith made to cuddle the child only for the little girl to cringe away from her and run to her brother.

‘You keep yer ’ands off ’er,’ Bobby warned as he hugged his little sister protectively and Edith looked so hurt that Sunday was afraid she might burst into tears. It was a situation she had come across many times during the years she had cared for children and she squeezed Edith’s hand reassuringly.

‘Just give them a little time,’ she whispered. ‘They have to learn to trust you.’

Edith blinked back tears. ‘I hope they do,’ she responded.

Soon after, Sunday glanced at the clock and sighed. ‘I shall have to get back now,’ she told Edith regretfully. ‘Do you think you’ll manage?’

‘O’ course I shall,’ Edith told her. ‘I’ve already sorted some story books out for when I tuck ’em in. Kids like a bedtime story, don’t they? I’ve sorted out two bedrooms next door to each other as well, so they don’t feel too isolated from each other.’

Sunday smiled her approval and after saying goodnight to the children she set off back to the lodge to tell Kathy and Livvy all about the new arrivals. It had been nice to see children in Treetops again and she had an idea Edith was going to take to being a foster mum like a duck to water.

Back in Treetops, Edith’s next problem came when she led the children up to bed. Their eyes grew round when she showed them into Peggy’s room. Decorated in shades of soft green with a thick, warm carpet on the floor and a cosy fire burning in the grate, it was the prettiest room they had ever seen. The children seemed more than a little impressed with it but when she came to coax Bobby into taking a peep at his room, he planted his feet apart and glared at her.

‘We sleep togevver!’ he declared, placing his arm about his little sister’s waist.

‘But I have the room next door all ready for you,’ Edith told him just as John entered the room.

‘Do we have a problem?’ he asked with a wink at Bobby who was looking very rebellious.

‘Yeah, we do, mister,’ he answered stubbornly. ‘She wants us to sleep in different rooms but we allus sleep togevver!’