Page 145 (1/2)

"That's nonsense I won't permit it," I told her

"I can't help it!" she cried, gri

I walked into the room and seized her by the shoulders

"You will help it You will do exactly what I want you to do For once, you will bear some responsibility for your actions, Belinda Do you hear me?" I shook her hard and she just started to cry "Do you!"

"Yes," she said, nodding

"Good," Ito live an exeive birth to a healthy child"

I paused in the doorway She looked at me with terror in her eyes

"This you will do," I said slowly "This you will definitely do"

Early one evening three weeks later, the doorbell rang

We had just finished dinner Belinda was upstairs and Saone to the den and had begun to look at soht home when Effie caan"

"Who?"

"Mrs Childs," she said

It was as if my heart fell to my stomach I hadn't seen Louise for some time and we had never really been close She had certainly never visited me by herself

Louise Childs was one of those woant and statuesque with tiure She still looked like she had just coazine cover

"Hello, Olivia," she said "I hope I' this unannounced visit"