‘What will you do after school, Katie?’ he asked.

‘I think I’d like to be a nurse.’

‘You’ve made up your mind then?’ Granny said.

‘Only just this minute.’ I laughed. ‘But I’ve really known that’s what I want to do for ages. I want to look after people. It seems the obvious thing.’

I felt Angus watching me again. I knew there were new feelings between us.

‘You’ve always been good at looking after people,’ he said. ‘Your grandmother, Olivia . . .’

‘Olivia?’ I was startled. ‘What d’you mean? Why does Livy need looking after?’

‘It’s always looked to me a bit as if that’s how it is, that’s all. Sorry. Perhaps I’ve had it all wrong.’

‘Livy’s all right!’

‘Well anyway, I think you’d make a very fine nurse.’

‘What’s this,’ Granny interrupted, ‘the mutual appreciation society?’ She was smiling, her face cock-eyed and rather comical-looking. ‘You two want to look out.’

Seeing she’d embarrassed us again, she added, ‘I think I need a doze now. And you must need a rest from me. Thank you for your company, Angus. I’m most grateful.’

She was already sinking into sleep as we left the room’s cosy light and went downstairs. William was studying in his bedroom.

‘I suppose I should be going,’ Angus whispered. ‘William’s putting me to shame.’

But he stood with me in our big family room at the back of the house where there were old easy chairs, a Welsh dresser and a piano. He seemed reluctant to leave, and I found I didn’t want him to. I perched on the arm of a chair, woollen skirt pulled tight across my knees, a compromise between remaining standing and committing myself to sitting down in the chair.

‘She’s a fine person, your granny,’ Angus said.

‘Everything changed when she came,’ I told him. ‘I love having her here.’

Cautiously Angus said, ‘I suppose your parents aren’t always the easiest people to talk to?’

‘No.’ I felt grateful that he’d noticed. His own family were freer, more scatty. ‘They’re certainly not. But with Granny – it’s hard to explain. I know she did some peculiar things when she first came. She was so used to being in charge of her house and everything, going down to the beach for a swim, even in winter if she wanted. And suddenly she was expected to come and settle down here with everyone telling her what to do. But she’s just so different from everyone else . . .’

The tears came suddenly, streaming down my face with so little warning that I couldn’t control them.

‘I just can’t bear the thought of her dying.’ I felt silly blubbing like that in front of Angus, I who had always been so much one of the boys, their games from which you didn’t run off in tears. I took my specs off and put my hands over my face.

‘Katie, don’t – ’ His voice was gentle. He took one of my hands gently away from my cheek and drew me to my feet. ‘She’s doing well, isn’t she?’ He looked anxiously into my face. ‘She’ll be all right.’