didn’t have anywhere else to go. I was evicted from my cottage two weeks ago.’
‘Did the landlord know you were about to give birth?’
‘He did, but I was four weeks in arrears.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Stuart Spencer; do you know him?’
‘Yes, I know him, and somehow I’m not surprised at his callousness.’
Doctor Higgins arranged for his nurse to pay a visit to Annabelle and the twins and to bath all three and dress the mother in a clean nightie. The babies were wrapped in baby blankets.
Mathew and his good friend Doctor Higgins went downstairs to partake in one of Mathew’s fine malt whiskies.
‘Young Annabelle informed me her intention was to give the babies up for adoption as she has no means to support them,’ said the doctor.
‘That’s a shame. No mother would want to lose her child,’ said Mathew. ‘David, would it be possible for a single man to adopt a child?’
‘That depends on the man and his circumstances. Why do you ask, Mathew?
‘Looking at those babies and considering the lives they may have in an orphanage makes me wonder if I should adopt them.’
‘Well, with your background and wealth I don’t think the adoption agency would have too many objections, Mathew. Are you sure you would wish to adopt both of them?’
‘No, probably not. Just the girl. I don’t think I could manage with two. I would hire a full-time nanny to help take care of the child.’
‘Do you want me to approach the agency?’
‘Yes, if you could, David, that would be excellent.’
‘Leave it with me, Mathew. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know anything.’
David Higgins got back in touch with Mathew the following week.
‘I have good news! Although the agency is always reluctant to adopt a child to a single parent, they are willing to make an exception in your case.’
‘What do I need to do?’
‘You will need to sign the adoption papers as will Annabelle. They have also asked me if you would be willing to make a donation to the orphanage the boy will be going to.’
‘Yes, of course. Let me think about how much would be appropriate.’
Mathew placed an advertisement in the Ballarat Star the next day, hoping to find a suitable nanny quickly. He received ten responses and having interviewed six candidates, he chose a woman of twenty-five who had recently arrived in Australia from England. She came from Surrey, next to Kent where Mathew was born and raised. She had been a nanny to two children of the Guilford family for the previous five years and came with excellent references. Her name was Sarah Anderson and the fact she was pleasing to the eye had nothing to do with Mathew’s choice.
Mathew donated £2000 to the Ballarat and District Orphanage, a non-denominational institution managed by an independent board of management. It would be here where the boy would be placed. Mathew never inquired about the boy’s name. It was of no real interest to him.
Annabelle Huston moved to Bendigo where her family resided. She never saw her twins again. The last and only influence she had on the babies after the birth was naming them Emma and Gordon. Gordon was taken to the Ballarat and District Orphanage where he endured a life diametrically opposed to the privileged life Emma would enjoy.
A Tale of Two Orphans
Chapter 12
Where can we hide in fair weather, we orphans of the storm?
Author: Evelyn Waugh
It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
Mahatma Gandhi
The Advantaged
Mathew arranged for the second bedroom in his suite to be converted into a nursery. The third became Sarah’s room.
Mathew was besotted with Emma. He would visit her on his lunch break and could hardly wait for his day at the hotel to end so he could spend time with her. No longer did he drink in the bar with patrons and rarely ate in the dining room with friends.
As the little girl developed his love for her grew by the time she reached five years old she was ready for her first day at school.
February 1, 1863
‘Emma, are you ready? We need to leave in five minutes?’ Mathew called out.
‘Do you think I look pretty in my new uniform Nanny? I want to please Daddy.’
‘You look splendid, Emma. Come on, grab your school bag, and we can show Daddy how pretty you look.’
Sarah and Emma entered the parlour where Mathew was sitting on the chesterfield going over some papers.
‘How do I look, Daddy?’
‘Darling, you look beautiful. I like your plaits.’
‘Nanny did them for me.’
‘I don’t know how Emma and I would cope without you, Sarah.’
The nanny smiled. ‘It’s my job.’
‘I think it’s more than just a job, Sarah.’
‘You’re probably right.’
Emma had been enrolled in Queens Grammar School, a newly created Anglican school servicing Ballarat and surrounding areas.
Mathew’s hotel was within walking distance of the school and they began their journey to a new life together. Mathew held Emma’s right hand, Sarah, her left, as they approached the impressive building and entered the front gates. Emma had some trepidation, Mathew was full of hope, and Sarah was concerned she may soon lose her job.
There was a blackboard in the foyer directing first-year pupils to proceed to classroom 1B. When they entered the classroom, they were confronted with some boys and girls crying, begging their parents not to leave, but the majority of pupils were quietly seated at their desks.
The teacher, Miss Woods, welcomed Emma to Queens and suggested she sit next to a girl who also had her hair plaited. Her name was Jane.
The first day at school mainly comprised of Miss Woods reading The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley.
The class also partook in some very messy finger painting; fortunately, they were all given smocks to wear.
At 3 pm, Sarah along with the mothers of the children who waited outside the classroom to walk their children home.
‘Is this your mummy?’ Jane asked. ‘Emma, she’s pretty.’
‘No, she’s my nanny. I don’t have a mummy.’
‘How come?’ asked Jane.
‘My mummy died when having me.’
‘Oh, that’s sad.’
‘My nanny makes up for it. She takes care of me.’
Mathew felt it was best to keep Emma’s history a secret from her. He hadn’t decided whether he would divulge the truth when she was much older.
When