Aunt Hatt stood up, looking tearful. Margaret even saw her uncle wiping his eyes.

‘Will you have another cup of tea, Mr . . . er, Reverend Hanson?’ she asked, getting in a fluff with the titles.

‘William, please,’ he said, smiling stiffly. ‘And I must say – it is a pleasure to see you both again. It’s been too long. Another cup of tea would be most welcome.’

‘What are you going to do about him?’ Annie demanded as they all sat down again.

‘I shall take measures as soon as I get home,’ he said. ‘He is dangerous and must be stopped. He is unwell, I believe.’

‘Unwell!’ Annie erupted. ‘He may be unwell, but he’s a complete ba—’

‘Annie’s been working in a factory,’ Aunt Hatt interrupted. ‘I’m afraid some of it might have rubbed off.’

William Hanson looked astonished. ‘Well, you always said you wanted to see more of the world. I am full of admiration.’ He gave the creaking laugh of a man not often overcome by mirth. ‘But now, girls, there is no reason for you not to return home, is there? I think we have all imposed on your aunt and uncle quite long enough.’

‘Oh, no,’ Annie said straight away. ‘We’re not coming home. At least – we’ll visit, of course. Soon. But not for good. I’m going to apply to become a nurse.’

Exclamations of surprise rang round the table.

‘Ooh, are you?’ Aunt Hatt said. ‘Oh, my – I couldn’t do that.’ She looked carefully at Annie. ‘Come to think of it, if you really think that’s what you want, from what I’ve seen of you, you’d be marvellous.’

This affirmation brought a beaming smile to Annie’s face. ‘Thanks, Auntie,’ she said.

Margaret sensed her father looking at her.

‘I’m afraid I shan’t be coming back to live at home either, Father, though I look forward to visiting very much. I . . .’ In confusion, she looked across at Philip Tallis. Holding her gaze very seriously, he got to his feet.

‘Reverend Hanson,’ he said. ‘I know you don’t know me and I hope that we can rectify that in the days to come. But I should like to ask you for Margaret’s hand in marriage.’

‘Ohh!’ Daisy cried, jumping up and leaping about the small available space. She went to William Hanson, hands clasped in front of her chest. ‘Oh, say yes, please – you’ve got to say yes!’

Margaret was beginning to feel genuinely sorry for her father, the number of shocks being inflicted on him in one day. He looked about him with an air of almost comic bewilderment.

‘Well, I . . . What’s your name, my dear?’

‘I’m Daisy Hanson. And I would like your daughter to marry my father, please, if that’s all right?’

‘What do you say to that, Margaret?’ William Hanson said. ‘And is this all right with Miss Annie?’