'Expect us 7.20 to-night.' By that time the ground-floor of the west wing had been transformed into a temporary ward with its adjuncts, under the direction of a Fallerton doctor, who had brought Desmond into the world and pulled him through his childish illnesses.

Elizabeth had moved most of the statues, transferred the Sargent sketch to the drawing-room, and put all the small archaeological litter out of sight.

But the Nike was too big and heavy to be moved, and Elizabeth remembered that Desmond had always admired 'the jolly old thing' with its eager outstretched wings and splendid brow.

Doctor Renshaw shook his head over the library as a hospital ward, and ordered a vast amount of meticulous cleaning and disinfection.
'No hope ?' he said, frowning.

'How do we know?
Anyway there shall be no poison I can help.' But the boy's wish was law.
On the afternoon before the arrival, Elizabeth was seized with restlessness.