About this story
Paulina Home turns out to be young, upright, and unnervingly composed, until her father says goodbye and leaves for London minutes after arriving. She fixes her whole vigilance on Graham Bretton's promise to be home for supper, and even his keeping it is not enough: before dawn she is at your door insisting a promise has already broken.
How it opens
The Bretton breakfast room faced a calm street and kept its clocks precisely together.
Mrs BrettonLucy, my godson's friend is sending his little daughter to us today.
Graham Bretton looked up only when the post brought a second, more urgent letter.
Graham BrettonHome travels at once, and the child must arrive before him.
Choose
I can prepare the small room beside mine.
Does the girl know why she is being sent away?