" Not for one moment do I regret marrying your father , " Amelia hastened to rectify that sigh .sx " He was the dearest and most beloved of God's creatures .sx " .sx " Yes , Mother .sx " Ellen wished she could say the same about her own young husband , but that would be hypocrisy .sx She looked down on the grandchildren , and wondered what life had in store for them .sx The grave little boy , so shy and sensitive , the eager , intelligent little girl .sx She loved them both .sx Paul was hers to cherish for three short years .sx When he was seven , his father would claim him .sx Perhaps she would be allowed to have him for the holidays ?sx As for Vicky , it would depend on her mother's health .sx If Prue had to be sent away to a clinic , and it seemed likely , then Basil would want his daughter to live at home .sx " Sufficient unto the day , " Ellen reminded herself .sx The pattern of life would be made plain , one day .sx Her empty arms had been filled , at long last .sx " I can smell roast chicken , " Grandma pronounced , as she stepped into the lobby .sx " We always have roast chicken on Easter Sunday , " she told the children .sx " And this afternoon we shall take the cab to the promenade and listen to the band .sx Well , what do you say to that ?sx " she prompted .sx " Thank you , Grandmama , " they chorused .sx Every Sunday evening followed the same pattern .sx When tea was finished , they all trooped into the drawing-room , and Grandmama played hymns .sx The children stood on either side of her .sx Ellen , Bertha and Norah seated themselves on the sofa .sx They knew all the hymns by heart , so did Vicky , because Grandmama played only the familiar ones she had once played to her own children , and to her three grandchildren , Prudence , Arabella and Thomas .sx These two , standing so obediently by her side , were actually her great-grandchildren , but she pushed the thought aside , lifted her proud little head , and touched the keys with a certain delicacy only Grace had inherited .sx All her daughters , and her two grand-daughters , had been obliged to practise on the schoolroom pianoforte for half an hour each day , apart from the Sabbath .sx It had been a laborious task for the girls , and a painful ordeal for those who listened to those interminable scales and exercises .sx Nevertheless , there was no escape , for no young lady in that day and age could claim to have completed her education without the rudiments of music , plain needlework and sketching .sx It was the custom .sx Vicky and Paul enjoyed this last hour of Sunday .sx They sang 'Jesus loves me , this I know , for the Bible tells me so .sx Little ones to Him belong , They are weak but He is strong .sx ' They sang Vicky's favourite , 'All things bright and beautiful , All creatures great and small , All things wise and wonderful , The Lord God made them all .sx ' Then they sang , 'Now the day is over , Night is drawing nigh , Shadows of the evening , Steal across the sky .sx ' Three hymns , no more and no less .sx That , too , was the custom .sx Paul had an ear for music , as Nana had discovered .sx He liked to pick out nursery rhymes on the schoolroom piano .sx He missed the regimental band and the singing Welsh voice of Uncle David in the open-air concerts .sx 'Land of my Fathers' and 'The Minstrel Boy' filled his eyes with tears .sx He could not explain such emotion because he did not know its source , might never know the truth of his birthright .sx If David Jones had claimed his son , and he had been brought up in Wales , the pattern of his life would have been completely changed .sx But David loved Rosalind , and she had been spared the scandal .sx During the following three years , David would send birthday and Christmas presents to the boy who was growing in his likeness , but they would not meet .sx He was saddened when he discovered Paul had not returned to Aldershot .sx It was Vicky who developed measles and passed it on to Paul that first week of the summer term .sx Ellen had been expecting it , for it happened to most children in their early years at school .sx Next year it would probably be chicken-pox .sx She hoped and prayed they would escape diphtheria , the dreadful scourge that still claimed the lives of so many young children .sx Vicky thought it was fun to be tucked up in the same bed as Paul , but she had only a mild attack .sx He was smothered in a rash and ran a high temperature .sx He was quite ill , but he made no fuss .sx Norah squeezed oranges and made jelly , for he had no appetite for food , while Vicky enjoyed such delicacies as minced chicken , poached eggs on creamed potatoes , and grilled plaice .sx It was quite impossible to keep her in bed for more than a few days , and since she was disturbing Paul with her restlessness , she was allowed to get up at midmorning ; wrapped in a warm dressing-gown , she amused herself with a box of coloured pencils and a copy-book , or curled up in the armchair with a book .sx A fire burned in the tiny grate , day and night , and a lamp was turned low to protect their eyes .sx Strong light was harmful and could cause permanent damage , according to the family doctor , who was called in to diagnose the rash .sx Not that Ellen needed to be reminded it was measles .sx She remembered the time when all six sisters had been isolated on the top floor with the nursemaid and the governess , and Kate , who had only a mild attack , had nearly driven them mad with her demands for more attention .sx When her own two girls had measles , during their first term at the convent , it was Prue who demanded all the attention , and Bella , so accustomed to her sister's domination , who patiently awaited her turn .sx Fortunately for everyone concerned , Thomas had not caught the measles , or chicken-pox the following year .sx Ellen was in her true element with a sick child to nurse , and another to keep quietly amused .sx It was Norah who carried the heavy trays upstairs , and Mabel who struggled up three flights of stairs with scuttles of coal and cans of hot water .sx As for Amelia , she was not expected to inconvenience herself in any way , and her normal routine was undisturbed .sx " Will Vicky's teddybear catch my measles ?sx " Paul asked , anxiously , as he cuddled the bear to his spotty chest .sx Ellen smiled , and assured him there was no danger .sx She was constantly surprised by the sensitive perception of such a young child .sx From whom did he inherit such qualities ?sx she asked herself .sx Not from Thomas or Rosalind , and certainly not from Grandmama !sx It did not occur to Ellen that she could have been the indirect source of such unselfish qualities , for she was much too modest for such thoughts .sx When she wrote to inform Thomas that his small son had measles , his only reaction was to send a box of toy soldiers .sx Paul turned his head away .sx " I 'spected Teddybear and Elephant , " he sighed .sx " Never mind , darling .sx You may keep my teddybear for always .sx I think he loves you best , " Vicky told him , soothingly .sx " Thank you .sx " His weak smile could not hide the tears of disappointment .sx And the box of soldiers went into the cupboard unopened .sx Before they started back to school , Ellen took the children for walks along the promenade each day .sx The sea air soon put a flush on Vicky's cheeks , but Paul was pale and languid .sx Jane and Edward took a week's holiday from the Mission at Hoxton , and came to stay at The Haven during that period of the children's convalescence .sx It was Ellen's suggestion , and it did more for Paul than the doctor's tonic .sx Both children adored Uncle Edward , and Auntie Jane was a great favourite because she was still young at heart , and never too tired or too busy to join in the interminable games of Ludo and Snakes and Ladders .sx Having no children of her own was her only regret in a very happy marriage .sx Looking for some new diversion for the children's amusement outdoors , she discovered two bicycles carefully wrapped in old sheets in the shed , and wheeled them into the yard .sx Memories crowded in as she pumped the tyres and took a trial run on each one in turn , down the lane at the back of the house , watched by the children .sx " Perfectly all right .sx We will make use of them , " she announced .sx " How ?sx When ?sx " Vicky demanded , excitedly , for she had never seen the bicycles until today , and was much impressed by Auntie Jane's performance .sx " Do you remember the bluebell wood ?sx " Jane asked her sister .sx Ellen nodded .sx " We will take the children on a picnic .sx You can take Paulie on your carrier , and I will take Vicky .sx Edward can hire a bike from the shop in Clifton Road .sx Norah will pack us up some sandwiches , and I will fill the flasks with tea .sx It will be like old times .sx " She smiled affectionately at her elder sister , and hurried down the back steps to find Norah most co-operative , as always .sx They made the sandwiches together while the kettle boiled , reminiscing over the good old days before Ellen's marriage , when the sisters had often spent a day in the woods in the early spring , taking the younger ones on the carriers , and a picnic lunch in the baskets on the handlebars .sx Those same baskets would be filled with primroses or bluebells on the return journey .sx The primroses would decorate the church on Easter Sunday , but the bluebells would quickly fade .sx " It will be fun , " Vicky told her little cousin as Ellen pulled an extra jersey over his head .sx " Will it ?sx " Paul was a little doubtful .sx He had never been transported by bicycle , and had never seen a bluebell .sx " You will en-j-joy it , old chap , " said Uncle Edward , encouragingly , and went off to hire the bicycle .sx Grandmama thought it was a most unsuitable expedition for children only recently recovered from measles .sx " .sx " Nonsense , Mother .sx It is just what they need , " Jane retorted .sx An independent married woman for a number of years , Jane was no longer under her mother's thumb .sx " Can I take Teddybear ?sx " Paul was asking Nan at the last moment .sx " Of course you may .sx He can sit in my basket with the thermos flasks , " she told him kindly .sx " I'll fetch him .sx " Vicky raced upstairs .sx Paul smiled his thanks , then they were off .sx Edward , Jane and Ellen wore straw boaters , the children wore linen hats stiffly starched by Mabel , who had left her scrubbing to wave them off at the back gate .sx Paul clung like a limpet to Nana's waist .sx Vicky was clutching Auntie Jane's well-padded bottom .sx Mabel was sceptical about such a dangerous expedition .sx Shanks's pony was so much safer .sx And who would want to travel three miles on a bicycle to pick bluebells ?sx " What can you do with bluebells ?sx " she had asked Vicky .sx " I don't know .sx I think they would look pretty in a blue jug , " the child answered .sx Bluebells in a jug ?sx Mabel looked puzzled .sx In her cluttered bed-sitting-room , smelling strongly of cat , the scent of flowers was something quite alien and quite unnecessary .sx " You be careful now .sx Mind you 'ang on tight , " she admonished her little favourite .sx Then she closed the gate and went back to her scrubbing .sx Having covered the distance with his head tucked into the folds of Nana's jacket and his eyes shut , Paul was lifted down and was instantly transported into Paradise .sx A million bluebells stretched like a carpet under a canopy of green beech .sx Birds twittered in the hedgerows , and there was no other sound but the scraping of the bicycles against the fence .sx Even Vicky was awed into silence , and stared wide-eyed , clutching Paul's hand .sx Edward , Jane and Ellen had seen it all before , yet it was new , as everything was born anew at this wondrous season of the year .sx Jane was the first to speak , her voice husky with emotion .sx " We came here on just such a day in April , my darling , and you had my engagement ring in your pocket .sx "