Glenys heaved a great sigh and for a moment leaned her head against his chest. ‘Oh, Sam, of course I love you,’ she whispered. ‘But we’re in uniform; you could get us court-martialled! Can’t we go somewhere a little less public so we can talk? You see, I thought you didn’t want me; I thought you were only interested in getting a mother for Jimmy and Mo and a housekeeper for the farm. That would have been all right if I hadn’t loved you, but I knew I couldn’t bear it if you married someone else.’ She smiled mistily up into his face, tears forming in her big blue-grey eyes. ‘Oh Sam, I’m on my way to meet someone, and she’ll be waiting for me. Look, I’ll be free tomorrow – I’ve got a week’s leave. Could we meet then?’

Sam shook his head. ‘No, my darling. I’m first lieutenant aboard the Hunter; we sail on the early tide and won’t be back until God knows when. Our orders can only be opened once we’re at sea, but I imagine we shan’t be back in Blighty for a long time. But I’ll write to you at the farm and you can write to me at my given address, and the moment I come back into port we’ll get married, because all I want in the world is to be with you.’ He pinched her cheek. ‘I’ve been searching for you ever since you ran away, and now when I find you we must part almost immediately. Oh, Glenys, Glenys, how can I bear to let you go?’

How can I bear to leave him, Glenys asked herself as she stood and watched him go aboard the Hunter. She ached to run after him, to beg him to stay, but she knew he could not. And presently she walked back to the Corner House, feeling as if she were floating a foot above the ground. That Sam loved her she no longer doubted. She loved him too, loved him with all the strength of her once lonely heart. But I’ll never be lonely again, because whatever happens Sam and I are together now, and will remain together till death us do part, Glenys told herself. Dear God, if I’d known being in love was like this I’d never have left the farm. Why didn’t I make him show his feelings; and why didn’t I show him mine, for that matter? I knew I loved him, I just didn’t know whether he loved me, and of course my silly pride wouldn’t let me admit to a love which I was not sure was returned.

And now a week’s leave would give her plenty of time to get back to Weathercock Farm, and face the task of explaining why she had left, and how she and Sam had resolved their differences. It’ll be my first visit in nearly two years, she thought. I wonder how things have changed? I wonder if Nain and Taid will be happy when I tell them I’ve met Sam and all our troubles and misunderstandings are over? At least the kids will be thrilled. Oh, what a fool I was! I kept telling myself not to give in, not to go back until I was sure of Sam’s affection. But how could I be sure when I made certain we never met? I really have been a fool, and giving in to Sam just now, admitting how much I love him, must be the only sensible thing I’ve done since I left Weathercock Farm. I love and am loved in return, and that’s enough to make anyone think they are on cloud nine. And I’ll see Sam just as soon as his ship comes in, and when peace comes we’ll never be parted again.