Dimanche Diller. Henrietta Branford

daring holidays. Polly knew that children need adventure, but she had not expected her employer to feel the same. In the past she had shown absolutely no understanding of what a growing child needs.

      “Teach the child deep-sea diving,” she suggested, as soon as Dimanche could swim. “Never mind the treacherous tides, you mustn’t mollycoddle her. At her age I could swim the channel with my eyes shut.” This was completely untrue – Valburga couldn’t swim a stroke and never had been able to. “Take her somewhere warm and tropical, Miss Pugh. Somewhere with large and interesting fish.” Luckily this particular idea came to nothing, because of how much money it costs to go somewhere warm and tropical.