Snowy began to pick up the items he had dropped at his feet upon seeing Tess and Jonty. He shouldered his kitbag, grabbed his other packages and set off across the concourse with Tappy close beside him. ‘I shan’t be giving that ring to Tess,’ he said, grinning at his new friend. ‘I shall be giving it to my very first girlfriend, and boy won’t she be surprised!’

‘Hang on a minute,’ Tappy said. Snowy glanced at him and saw that his eyes were rounding with astonishment. ‘You’ve been tellin’ me how you meant to marry that Tess, how you’d bought an engagement ring – a ruby surrounded by diamonds – you talked about a wedding in the spring and a honeymoon in Ireland . . . have you gone mad?’

‘Nope; come to my senses, more like,’ Snowy said. ‘That couple on the platform, hugging and kissing and that, was Tess and an old flame of hers, Jonty Bell. Did you see ’em?’

‘If you mean the gal what got on the train just as it started to move . . .’ Tappy began.

‘That’s them. Phew, what a bit of luck my seeing them. It’ll save a deal of explaining, ’cos once Tess is out of the picture no one will think me a cad if I start seeing Marilyn again.’

‘You’re mad,’ Tappy said with conviction. ‘Who is this Marilyn anyway? A local bint?’

Once, Snowy would have taken offence at this description of his love, but now he was too delighted to object. He nodded. ‘That’s right. Dear God, what a fool I’ve been, trying to convince myself that once I clapped eyes on Tess again I would forget all about Marilyn. But it was just the opposite. As soon as I saw Tess I knew that we could never be anything more than friends because I’m in love with someone else.’

They reached the end of the taxi queue and Tappy looked at his new friend with pity. ‘Well, you’re in for a hard ride, mate,’ he said. ‘I wish you joy of it. You know what women are like . . .’

Snowy grinned. ‘It won’t be nearly as bad as having to tell Tess what a fool I’ve been,’ he observed, as a cab drew up beside them. ‘You’ll like Marilyn; she’s a bit like your Angie. Wish me luck, old feller!’

It was not until they reached the point on the lane at which the farmhouse could be clearly seen that Tess hesitated, suddenly unsure. She turned to Jonty, her eyes widening at the thought of what was to come. Jonty would have stepped out up the drive without a second thought, but she caught his arm, drawing him to a halt. ‘Oh, Jonty, what will your mum and dad say when they see me?’ she asked anxiously. ‘The last thing they expect will be an uninvited guest for Christmas, and when we have to tell them that we plan to marry they’ll think we’ve both gone mad!’