Maisie was horrified. How could a mother walk out on three small children--and leave them to fend for themselves? Nora had given birth to each of these boys, and held them to her breast as helpless babies. Maisie thought of the mothers in the Southwark Female Hospital. If one of them were given a three-bedroom house in Chingford she would think herself in heaven.
She put such thoughts out of her mind for the moment. "Your father will be back tonight, I'm sure," she said, praying it was true. She addressed the four-year-old in her arms. "But we wouldn't want him to find the house a mess, would we?"
Sol shook his head solemnly.
"We're going to wash the dishes, clean the kitchen, light the fire and make some supper." She looked at the six-year-old. "Do you think that's a good idea, Samuel?"
Samuel nodded. "I like buttered toast," he added helpfully.
"Then that's what we'll have."
Toby was not reassured. "What time do you think Father will come home?"
"I'm not sure," she said candidly. There was no point in lying: children always knew. "But I tell you what. You can stay up until he gets here, no matter how late. How's that?"
The boy looked somewhat relieved. "All right," he said.
"Now, then. Toby, you're the strongest, you can bring in a bucket of coal. Samuel, I believe I can trust you to do a job properly, you can wipe the kitchen table clean with a rag. Sol, you can sweep up because--you're the smallest, so you're closer to the floor. Come on, boys, let's start work!"
Section 4
HUGH WAS IMPRESSED by the way Scotland Yard responded to his report. The case was assigned to Detective-Inspector Magridge, a sharp-faced man of about Hugh's age, meticulous and intelligent, the kind who would have made it to chief clerk in a bank. Within an hour he had circulated a description of Micky Miranda and set a watch on all the ports.
He also sent a detective-sergeant to interview Edward Pilaster, at Hugh's suggestion; and the man came back with the report that Miranda was leaving the country.
Edward had also said that Micky was implicated in the deaths of Peter Middleton, Seth Pilaster and Solomon Greenbourne. Hugh was shaken by the suggestion that Micky had killed Uncle Seth, but he told Magridge that he already suspected Micky of killing Peter and Solly.
The same detective was dispatched to see Augusta. She was still living at Whitehaven House. With no money she could not hold out indefinitely, but so far she had succeeded in preventing the sale of the house or its contents.
