Whether it was their idea or whether they were acting on the advice of another Elspeth never knew, but they decided that it would be best for the child if they didn’t tell her they were leaving. They dressed Elspeth in her best clothes and took her out for a walk on the beach, each holding one of her hands. While she was playing with the pebbles and seaweed on the blustery seashore, they slipped away and when she turned round they were gone and in their place was the upright figure of a housemistress for St. Cuthbert’s School for Girls, who took her by the elbow and led her up the beach and on
...more
