““They had reached Euston station. Miss Minton waved her umbrella at a porter, and Maia’s trunk and her suitcase were lifted onto a trolley. Then came a battered tin trunk with the letters A. MINTON painted on the side. “You’ll need two men for that,” said the governess. The porter looked offended. “Not me. I’m strong.” But when he came to lift the trunk, he staggered. “Crikey, ma’am, what have you got in there?” he asked. Miss Minton looked at him haughtily and did not answer. Then she led Maia onto the platform where the train waited to take them to Liverpool and the RMS Cardinal , bound for Brazil. They were steaming out of the station before Maia asked, “Was it books in the trunk?” “It was books,” admitted Miss Minton. And Maia said, “Good.””
