A Valentine for Daisy. Бетти Нилс

were a great many factories lining the road and she felt vague disappointment. Not for long, however; soon the factories dwindled and died away to be replaced by trees and charming houses, set well back from the road which in turn gave way to the outskirts of the city.

       The streets were busy here and the chauffeur had to slow down, so that she had a chance to look around her. It looked delightful—old gabled houses, canals, imposing buildings, a splendid place to explore on her free days… They left the heart of the city, driving down a straight road with parks on either side and then large, solid houses, set well apart from each other, before they turned off into a side-road, wide and tree-lined. There were blocks of modern flats on either side and here and there town mansions in their own grounds. Halfway down they stopped before the wide entrance of a solid red-brick block of flats and the chauffeur got out, opened their doors and led the way across the pavement as a concierge came hurrying to meet them.

       ‘I do hope,’ said Lady Thorley, ‘that someone has put the kettle on; we need a cup of tea.’ She smiled at Daisy, ‘You must be tired; I know I am.’

       Daisy had the twins by the hand, dancing with excitement. She thought it unlikely that she would have time to be tired until they were given their tea and put to bed, but that didn’t worry her. ‘I’d love one,’ she said cheerfully.

      CHAPTER THREE

      THE concierge led them inside, across a wide hall to an ornate lift. She was a tall, bony woman with a hooked nose and a cast in one eye and the twins stared at her with growing delight. ‘Is—is she a—?’ began Josh.

       ‘No, dear,’ began Daisy before he could utter the word, ‘this is the lady who looks after these flats…’

       ‘Juffrouw Smit.’ She ushered them into the lift which took them to the first floor. The landing was as wide as the hall below with a door on either side, one of which she now opened. ‘The apartment,’ she announced, and ushered them inside.

       The flat was large, with lofty ceilings, large windows and a balcony overlooking a sizeable garden. There was a staircase at one end of it leading to the garden and Juffrouw Smit waved a generous arm. ‘It is yours, the garden.’

       ‘Oh, how nice,’ said Lady Thorley uncertainly. ‘The people in the flat below?’

       Juffrouw Smit shrugged. ‘A very small apartment; he is but a clerk.’

       Daisy peered over the balcony balustrade. There were iron railings separating the flat from the garden; it seemed hard on its occupant.

       It was obvious that Juffrouw Smit was preparing another speech in her very basic English. ‘The cook and the serving maid wait in the kitchen.’

       She led the way through two handsome reception-rooms, a small sitting-room and down a short passage and opened a door.

       The kitchen was a good size and, as far as Daisy could see at a glance, well equipped. There were two women there, stoutly built and well past their first youth, with pleasant round faces and white aprons over dark dresses. They smiled and nodded, shook hands and said, ‘Welcome,’ several times. The elder of them pointed to herself. ‘Mien,’ she said and then pointed to her companion and said, ‘Corrie—we speak English a little and understand.’