Janet went on thinking it was astounding when the visitor was Sheila. But by degrees Donald accepted news on the visits without surprise, and would merely nod, and get on with his lunch.

“What on earth do you suppose Sheila goes up to see Gladys for?” Janet asked Maggie.

“I’m sure I don’t know, dear. Company, I dare say. It’s dull for her here; I shall be glad when she gets away.”

Maggie having agreed to rest, began to improve amazingly. Because she imagined that her discomfort when lying flat was due to her spine and not her heart, she did not aggravate her condition by getting into a panic; instead she quietly gave herself the drops the doctor had ordered, and presently, just as he had promised, her discomfort passed. She allowed herself a little light work, because it kept her from being bored, but mostly she lay in the garden, or on the sofa, reading. There was a library in the town and Barbara Haines undertook to keep her supplied with books.

“It’s no bother at all,” she told Janet. “I simply adore your mother, and she’s been so busy all her life she’s never had time to read. She’s the easiest person to choose a book for.”

“So long as it has a happy ending,” said Maggie. “I do like things to go right in life, and since reading is meant to be a pleasure, I don’t see why I should upset myself over the girl that doesn’t marry her man in the end. It happens too often in real life.”

Barbara gave her a scared look.

“You mean in war-time, because of people being killed?”

Maggie took her hand and patted it.

“I mean nothing of the kind, goose. I mean peace or war because foolish boys and girls let opportunities for happiness slide. All those complexes they talk about today! When I was a girl a man came courting and everybody knew he was courting, and after a bit he popped the question, and you said ‘yes’.”

“And you lived happily ever after,” said Barbara.

Maggie sighed.

“It’s the ‘ever after’ bit that belongs mostly to fairy-tales.” Then her voice grew in vigour. “But ever after doesn’t matter, it’s having known happiness that counts. It’s like an extra skin, it stays with you always, and keeps out the cold.”

Sometimes Barbara would fetch Maggie in her car and take her to her house for the day.