Sam breathed an inward sigh of relief. He knew he was being mean and selfish, but he found himself hoping that Glenys would indeed join up and be posted far away. However, he realised it would not do to let such feelings show. ‘Why not join the Wrens, then we could both go to sea,’ he said jokingly.

And he was disproportionately upset when Mo said at once: ‘Oh, that would never do, Daddy. If she can’t stay here with us we wants her where we can visit her, doesn’t we, Jimmy?’

Sam looked at his son, who had been quieter than usual, and read in his eyes more than he wanted to see. Mo was only a baby and accepted things at their face value, but Jimmy was older and looked deeper than his sister. He had read Sam’s mind, and Sam realised that Jimmy would soon begin to see that the older man was jealous of his children’s affection for the schoolteacher. Hastily, he tried to put things right. ‘Well, Miss Trent, you’re very welcome to stay with my parents-in-law, I’m sure,’ he said quickly. ‘But you told us yourself that when you left Liverpool with my children you were not being entirely altruistic. You were looking for your own family, and I imagine you will want to continue to pursue your search. Naturally, any help we can give . . .’

He was watching Miss Trent’s face as he spoke, and saw the colour in her cheeks gradually fade until her face was perfectly white and her big blue eyes, when she turned them on him, seemed to burn. ‘It’s quite all right, Mr Trewin,’ she said quietly. ‘I won’t intrude on your family now you have all managed to find one another. I shall continue my own search and need no help from anyone, and now I’d better go back to Mrs Buttermilk’s house and explain that the children are staying here. I shan’t set out on the next stage of my journey until tomorrow, but I think it best that we say our goodbyes now.’ She had been sitting in a comfortable armchair, but got up and went over to give Mo and Jimmy a kiss. ‘Cheerio, kids,’ she said, and Sam realised that she had recognised his antagonism and was doing her best not to let the children see her hurt.

Feeling ashamed, he suggested that she might stay for the evening meal before returning to the town. ‘I’ll see you safely home afterwards,’ he said, ‘and then I’ll bring the kids into town tomorrow to see you on your way.’

Mr Griffiths began to speak, to say that Glenys must not refuse their hospitality, but his wife hushed him. ‘I’m going to prepare a meal for us all and Miss Glenys will no doubt be happy to give me a hand,’ she said firmly. ‘It will be bacon from the pig we killed last autumn, and our own good eggs. Children, Sam and your taid will show you round the farm whilst Miss Glenys and I prepare the meal.’ She smiled kindly at Jimmy and Mo. ‘Give us thirty minutes and the food will be on the table.’