‘No,’ he answers, but slowly, as if it’s not totally true, and Amy, knowing Charley’s persistence and how she loves her own teaching job, suggests that they should order their food. Sam glances at her gratefully, gives her a little smile as if to thank her.

‘Come and see the flat,’ she says to him impulsively. ‘Bring Cara with you. I’m starting work there on Monday. It might be just the thing for her.’

‘Thanks,’ he says.

He looks surprised, slightly shy, and she thinks how nice he is. Max is asking her what she wants to eat and then they’re all moving to a table by one of the big windows. She glances across at the man sitting alone, studying the menu, and thinks how surprised he would be if she approached him and asked him if he knew Cosmo. He’d probably think she was crazy. Tomorrow, maybe, she’ll stroll out to Batson Creek, up to Snapes Point, and see if she can see Reggie having a walk. The idea amuses her and she sits down and begins to talk to Cara.

Sam is relieved to be sitting next to Jack. He’s slightly surprised himself by suddenly opening up to Charley about his time in China but, after all, it’s not a secret, though it’s getting harder to dissemble about passing the AIB, to admit that the prospect of teaching foreign children to speak English is beginning to feel like a vocation. He knows it’s foolish to be so secretive about this – after all, no one is forcing him to go into the navy – yet it’s been accepted for such a long time that he feels unable to make a change; to follow this newer dream. But suppose he should be mistaken about it and miss the tremendous opportunity of a career in the navy? It’s strange how Charley got under his defences so easily when he’s managed to keep this idea so closely concealed. He hardly knows why he’s unwilling to discuss it. Does he fear being talked out of it? Or is he actually afraid of being taken seriously; encouraged into it when he’s still so uncertain about his true feelings?