Tess! It was Tess Williams, the girl who had waited for him for the past two years, had written to him every week, had talked of marriage! Yet here she was, wrapped in the arms of some feller . . . and then, abruptly, he recognised the other man. It was that ploughboy, Jonty or whatever his name was, and Jonty was making love to Snowy’s girl right under his very nose!

‘Snowy?’ Tappy’s voice seemed to come from a long way off. ‘What’s up? Ain’t you comin’? I thought we could share a taxi, ’cos of all our luggage . . .’

Snowy could not wrench his eyes away from what was happening on the platform, but even as he watched, Tess – if it really was Tess – picked up the suitcase that Jonty – if it really was Jonty – had been carrying, and threw it into the train. The porter was waving his green flag, there was a great slamming of doors . . . Fascinated, Snowy continued to stare. Tess – if it was Tess – pushed Jonty – it was definitely Jonty – aboard the train, and just as the engine was about to move off, having announced its intention with a shrill whistle, Jonty appeared again, hauled Tess aboard and slammed the door. The porter shouted and began to remonstrate, but he was too late. The train was on its way with the sandy-haired young man and the dark-haired girl aboard.

‘Snowy? Wharrever are you thinkin’ of? Ain’t you comin’ out to join the taxi queue? Only if we doesn’t get a move on . . .’

Snowy pulled himself together. He knew, now, that the couple embracing on the platform had indeed been Tess and Jonty, and with the knowledge came, astonishingly, wave after wave of relief. It was all right! He knew now that he had never really loved Tess, knew also that had he not seen for himself that Tess and Jonty were in love he would have been most uncomfortably situated. Tess had been true to him for two whole years and to turn round now and repudiate her love, admit to everyone that he had made a terrible mistake, would have been so difficult that his mind shied away from the very thought of it. But darling Tess and darling Jonty had made him a present of guiltlessness. Why, Tess had gone away with Jonty regardless of the fact that he, Snowy, was due to come home within the next two or three days. Nothing mattered to her but Jonty, and nothing mattered to Jonty but Tess.

‘Snowy! For Gawd’s sake stop staring at that train and let’s gerrout of here and join the queue, else it’ll be Christmas Day and you’ll still be standin’ here starin’ into space. Don’t you want to surprise your Tess? When will you give her the ring? Christmas mornin’ would be nice – a sort of extra special present – but of course you’ll know when’s best.’