‘Hope so,’ said Anne. ‘Anyway, shopping to do. I’m catching the bus into York to try on my dress.’

She waved again and strode off confidently towards the High Street.

Lily was deep in thought when she was startled by the beeping of a motor horn. She looked up to see Stan Coe leaning out of the window of his Land Rover and leering at her as he drove past the school and round the village green. He gave a wave and shouted what might have been an obscenity before driving up the Morton road to meet his friends at the Pig & Ferret.

Lily trembled at the memory of his hands on her shoulders on Coronation Day and considered mentioning his continued attentions to John Pruett. She knew, eventually, this would reach Tom and hoped he might intervene.

It was after lunch in the staff-room that Vera mentioned Tom.

‘Sergeant Feather has been invited this evening, Lily,’ she said. ‘I thought you would like to know.’

John Pruett looked up cautiously from his Times Educational Supplement, while Lily’s cheeks reddened slightly.

‘Thank you for mentioning it,’ said Lily, but she did not progress the conversation.

During the afternoon John organized an extended playtime and the children gathered on the school field to play cricket and rounders. It was while Lily was supervising one of the outdoor sports that she saw Tom drive past in his police car and she wondered about the distance between them.

As they went back into school Reggie Bamforth was walking beside Lily looking thoughtful. ‘Ah’m not goin’ any more to Phoebe’s house t’watch television, Miss,’ he declared.

‘Oh dear, Reggie, why is that?’

‘Las’ time ah went with m’mother an’ we watched summat really scary.’

‘Scary?’

‘Quatermass, Miss.’

Lily remembered reading about The Quatermass Experiment, which had recently begun on BBC television. While it gripped the nation, many terrified children were hiding behind the sofa.

Reggie ran off to join in a cricket match on the school field while Lily leaned against the wall and watched a group of carefree five-year-olds playing ring-a-ring-a-roses in the sunshine.

At the end of the school day Lily and John met in the staff-room and enjoyed a cup of coffee together.

‘I don’t think Vera would approve,’ said John as he added milk to the two mugs.

‘Most certainly not,’ agreed Lily with a smile. ‘I suspect Vera will always serve us tea.’

John settled down in one of the chairs and sipped his coffee thoughtfully. ‘Thank you for all you have done, Lily, and I do hope you enjoy your holiday. Have you any plans?’

‘My mother mentioned a week in Whitby, but that’s all at present. I’m sure there will be days out. What about you?’