‘Honestly, if this were in the ancient days, I could brand you a witch. You don’t want me, your husband, to prosper?’

‘Not out of my sister’s ruin.’

‘Ruin, ruin, ruin! Christ! See Connie, the funny thing is that I am sure you are the only person who thought it was a disaster to have a sister who was the girl-friend of a big man.’

‘Okay; now all is over, and don’t let’s quarrel.’

‘I bet the coup could have succeeded on your prayers alone.’

And Connie wondered why he said that with so much bitterness. She wondered if . . .

‘Has Mercy been here?’

‘Not yet, later, maybe. Mm. I had hoped she would move back here and start all over again.’

‘I am not surprised she hasn’t. In fact, if I were her, I wouldn’t come back here either. Not to your nagging, no thank you, big sister.’

And as the argument progressed, as always, each was forced into a more aggressive defensive stand.

‘Well, just say what pleases you, I am very glad about the soldiers. Mercy is my only sister, brother; everything. I can’t sit and see her life going wrong without feeling it. I am grateful to whatever forces there are which put a stop to that. What pains me now is that she should be so vague about where she is living at the moment. She makes mention of a girl-friend but I am not sure that I know her.’

‘If I were you, I would stop worrying because it seems Mercy can look after herself quite well.’

‘Hmm,’ was all she tried to say.

Who heard something like the sound of a car pulling into the drive? Ah, but the footsteps are unmistakably Mercy’s. Are those shoes the old pair which were new a couple of months ago? Or are they the newest pair? And here she is herself, the pretty one. A gay Mercy.

‘Hello, hello, my clan!’ and she makes a lot of her nephew.

‘Dow-dah-dee-day! And how is my dear young man today? My lord, grow up fast and come to take care of Auntie Mercy.’

Both Connie and James cannot take their eyes off her. Connie says, ‘He says to Auntie Mercy he is fine.’

Still they watch her, horrified, fascinated and wondering what it’s all about. Because they both know it is about something.’

‘Listen people, I brought a friend to meet you. A man.’

‘Where is he?’ from James.

‘Bring him in,’ from Connie.

‘You know, Sissie, you are a new mother. I thought I’d come and ask you if it’s all right.’

‘Of course,’ say James and Connie, and for some reason they are both very nervous.

‘He is Captain Ashey.’

‘Which one?’

‘How many do you know?’

James still thinks it is impossible. ‘Eh . . . do you mean the officer who has been appointed the . . . the . . .’

‘Yes.’