Ada nodded. ‘You’re quite right, sister, it’s just that I’m a bit –’ Catching sight of Ann’s knowing expression, Ada gave a resigned shrug. ‘You know me.’

‘Putting everybody before yourself,’ Matron finished.

‘There’s always somebody here with a need bigger than mine,’ Ada explained.

‘Of course – it’s a Mother and Baby Home, what would you expect?’ Matron answered realistically. ‘There’s always some cause of concern.’

‘We’re not doing too badly at the moment,’ Ada added.

‘Apart from Rosie, who’s a huge cause of concern,’ Matron pointed out. ‘We can feed her up and make sure she gets all the rest she needs but hers is a very delicate pregnancy.’

‘I know – her anaemia’s not improving fast,’ Ada agreed. ‘I’m amazed she’s got this far, to be honest.’

‘The baby’s heart-beat remains weak,’ Matron sighed. ‘She might not make it until the end, you know.’

‘Really, the things women go through,’ Ada remarked. ‘At least Rosie’s married, so she’s not got that unmarried mother stigma to bear. But she does have the terrible fear of not knowing where her husband is,’ Ada added. ‘Imagine not knowing if your husband is alive or dead, captured, imprisoned, wounded.’ Thinking of her own beloved Jamie, Ada shivered as a chill of fear shot down her spine. ‘Apparently he doesn’t even know his wife is pregnant.’

Matron sighed. ‘So many issues are stacked against her.’

‘On the positive side she seems a lot better since Ronnie and Sally started school,’ Ada said, smiling. ‘At least she gets a bit of a break during the day when the kiddies aren’t roaring around.’

‘Poor Rosie – she tries her best to take care of them until bedtime, but you can see it’s a strain,’ Matron said sympathetically. ‘Nevertheless, she still makes the effort, which is to be admired.’

‘I’m increasingly worried about Sybil at the moment too – she’s not been right since Brigadier Baldwin’s last visit,’ Ada noted.

Sister Ann raised her eyebrows in a quizzical look.

‘I know, I know how difficult she is,’ Ada quickly responded before Matron could say the obvious. ‘She’s a downright snob and she invites trouble.’

‘She’s never once attempted to integrate with the other residents,’ Matron reminded Ada. ‘Moving to another nursing home is the best thing she can do – she will never be happy here unless she changes her habits.’

‘I agree that she would be much happier in a place with women of her own kind – she’s certainly a fish out of water in Mary Vale – but these days she seems depressed; she barely eats and stays in her room as much as she can. I’m convinced that brigadier chap did something to upset her.’

Sister Ann frowned. ‘I admit he is a pompous man, but he is working hard on Mary Vale’s behalf,’ she pointed out.