![]() ![]() Malaria, typhoid, and dysentery were as commonplace as measles and influenza had been in England. What on earth did I know about any of that?Īs the weeks passed, food and medical supplies continued to dwindle, and health and morale deteriorated. I was a childless spinster, without nieces or nephews. Schoolgirls I could just about handle, but a baby was a different matter entirely. I threw the note into the stove and tried to forget about it, while partly wishing there was some other way I could help Shu Lan. You have nurtured and comforted.” She leaned forward, her hands on the desk, her eyes full of intent. “You’ve been far more than their teacher. “I’ve been their teacher, as I was appointed to be,” I replied, dismissing her compliment. ![]() “You’ve done a fine job with the children, Elspeth. You might have made a mess of things in the past, but, from what I can see, you’re making a damn good show of things now.” She ran her fingers over her hair, sending stray silver strands drifting to the classroom floor. “You really should try to like yourself a lot more than you do. ![]() If I had to think of someone to help me, to entrust my child to, I would come straight to you.” She placed her hands on her hips in a manner that reminded me of my mother when she was vexed. “I would have asked for your help, if I were her.” And there are Chinese mothers, too.” Edwina leaned against the edge of the desk. I wish she’d asked someone else to help her.” I don’t exactly look as if I’m expecting, do I? Or look Chinese, for that matter. Quite apart from which, the guards would be suspicious. “How on earth can I look after an infant here? I can barely look after myself. I slumped into my chair at the front of the classroom, and leaned my elbows on the desk. We certainly had plenty of those already. From experience, I’d learned that the fewer people who knew about camp secrets, the better, and while I trusted Minnie, I didn’t want to give her another reason to worry. I’d gone to Edwina for advice before even telling Minnie about Shu Lan’s note. “I was hoping you would help me find the answer to that.” “She says she’s terrified the soldiers will take it from her.”Įdwina looked at me. “She wants me-us-to look after her baby when it’s born,” I explained.
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