‘That bitch won’t have me in the kitchen unless I’m clean,’ Pete had grumbled. ‘It ain’t her kitchen, conceited slut, but she’s got the old folk under her thumb so I’ve axed you here to help me fill my tin bath.’

‘Clean out the cobwebs, you mean,’ Liam O’Connell had said jocularly, in a not unfriendly tone. ‘All right, I’m game. The missus and kids are out looking for blackberries, so we shan’t be disturbed.’

There was a short pause and then, as Jimmy told Glenys later, the truth came out. ‘I’m not that keen on soap and water, so you’ll have to throw me into the tub,’ Pete had said. ‘But suppose you put a bucket of hot in with the cold, I dare say I wouldn’t fight you quite so hard.’

Gleefully Jimmy had listened as what sounded like a pitched battle took place inside the cottage, and presently a transformed Pete had come stumbling out of the back door. He had not seen Jimmy crouching behind the water butt.

‘He was mother naked and pink all over and cursing like a docker,’ Jimmy said happily. ‘He went into the old privy and came out lugging a tattered old bag. It must have had his clean clothes in it because when he and Liam staggered out of the cottage carrying the bath between them and emptied the filthy water on to that patch of weeds he calls a garden he was wearing clean trousers, and Liam was laughing fit to bust, and Pete told Liam if he told a soul he’d kill him. But he was laughing too, and he told Liam he could have the rest of the cider he’d nicked from the farm as a thank you. So I waited till they went back into their cottages and hightailed it back here.’

The kitchen was big, but by eleven o’clock it was full, for the tenants had brought their families, knowing that, whichever way it went, this would be a historic occasion. When the announcer introduced Mr Chamberlain complete silence descended, even the children ceasing their chatter, guessing from the way the adults behaved that they should not say a word as the thin, sad voice began.

I am speaking to you from the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street. This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German government a final note stating that unless we heard from them by eleven o’clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.

Chapter 15

WHEN THE TENANTS had departed, taking Pete the Sheep with them, Nain rose to her feet. ‘Well, now we know what we’re in for,’ she said briskly. ‘We’ve brought the Huns to their knees before and no doubt we’ll do it again, but we are ill prepared. Last time we were told not to hoard, but this time I think we should buy in anything which will keep. I dare say the shops will be out of tinned goods in a couple of days; we must make sure at least some of them are here.’