As they got in he looked at Sophie and said, ‘We have here one tired little girl who will be relieved to get home and have a nap.’ Sophie protested, but her protests were clearly halfhearted, and as soon as she and Grace were aboard she pressed up to Grace’s side and closed her eyes. ‘We’ll go by way of Upper Callow first,’ Mr Fairman said to Grace. ‘We’ll let Sophie off in the care of her nurse and then I’ll take you on to Berron Wick, if that’s agreeable.’ Reaching Birchwood House in Upper Callow, Mr Fairman drove the trap into the stable yard and helped the passengers down. Sophie, having been close to sleeping in the rocking of the trap, now became wide awake again and eager to show off her new home and possessions. Standing on the cobbles, she tugged at Billy’s sleeve. ‘Billy, would you like to come and see my rabbit? Her name is Mrs Cottontail.’ Then to Grace: ‘Will you come and see her, miss?’ Then back to Billy: ‘Will you, Billy? Come and see my rabbit.’ ‘Can we, Grace?’ Billy looked at Grace, and Grace looked at Mr Fairman.
