Jimmy stared at him, eyes rounding with astonishment. ‘I haven’t finished,’ he said. ‘There’s some of Nain’s bara brith for afters, and I love bara brith.’

Mo, sitting opposite him, leaned forward and took a piece of the richly fruited bread. ‘I loves it, too,’ she confided. ‘Why don’t you take two pieces, our Jimmy, and then Daddy and you can eat it outside?’ She turned to Glenys. ‘Jimmy and I never did find the nest of the hen who lays away, Auntie Glenys, so if you eat your pasty up quick we can go out too and take our bara brith with us.’

Glenys smiled, though it was an effort to do so. ‘I’m afraid it’s too dark to go out nest-hunting now, poppet. And I’ve got a shocking headache, so the only thing I want to do is go up to my bed and sleep. Is that all right, Nain? I know from experience that the pain in my head needs darkness and quiet even more than it needs tea and sandwiches.’

‘Of course you must go. You could take a couple of sandwiches and a piece of fruit loaf up with you,’ Nain suggested, but Glenys shook her head, and was surprised when Taid got to his feet and came round the table to where she sat.

‘I mebbe don’t notice as much as Nain, but I can see today’s upset you,’ he said kindly. ‘It don’t do to take all the troubles in the world on your own shoulders, cariad. Things will work out, see if they don’t.’

Glenys was grateful for his solicitude and would have said so, but fortunately Jimmy had ignored Mo’s helpful suggestion and was tucking into his bara brith at the table, and now he piped up, ‘I ‘spect most of the troubles are still on Mr Chamberlain’s shoulders,’ he said, and Glenys realised that she had completely forgotten what day this was. Even the fact that Britain was now at war with Germany had shrunk into insignificance beside the emotions of the afternoon.

Jimmy, Mo and Taid were all looking at her sympathetically, obviously thinking that the coming war was on her mind; only Nain shot her a twinkling glance before helping herself to another sandwich.

‘You’ll get over it,’ she said cheerfully, and Glenys could not decide whether she was referring to anxiety about the war or to the quarrel with Sam. But she did not intend to give herself away and merely smiled her gratitude at the offer of refreshment whilst still shaking her head.

‘No, thanks, Nain; I can always come down later and make myself a snack if the headache eases off,’ she said. ‘But in case it doesn’t, I’ll say goodnight now.’