“I’m afraid she isn’t. She never could teach anybody.” She watched a stubborn look settle on his face. “As a matter of fact that’s what I was howling about. Mother thinks Sheila ought to go away and get a real job. And that means that I”—stating her new plans as a fait accompli gave her a stab, her voice faltered—“I’ve got to stay here.” His face softened, his voice was sympathetic.

“Is that so hard?”

“Yes. I’ve earned my living since I left school. I’ve had an independent life outside my home. I’ve been stuck in an office so far, but it’s been bombed, and now I’m free I’d promised myself I’d join the W.R.N.S.”

“I can sympathize. Drives me mad to be stuck here, hard-worked, of course, but living pretty well. When I read of what the civilians, even the women, do in the towns, and we’ve never heard a bomb. Of course I’m Home Guard, but if I had my way I’d have joined the Navy.”

“I suppose as a farmer your place is here.”

“Of course.” There was silence. In it Janet heard the twittering of innumerable birds chatting as they settled down for the night. Some rooks cawed overhead. The baa of a sheep came from a distant field. London had been so noisy, with its crashes at night, and blastings and hammerings at smashed buildings by day, that the quiet and peace fell on her spirit like a cold hand on a sprained ankle. “If you’re stopping at the cottage instead of your sister, couldn’t you take on teaching Iris?” She moved and he hurried on. “She’s a nice kid, though I say it myself. Her mother died two years ago. I can’t give her much time. I’ve a housekeeper, but she’s got her hands full. I don’t want to send Iris to the village school because she’s delicate. If I can’t get her taught here it means a boarding school. Besides . . .”

Janet’s eyes were on his face. She saw the stubborn, dogged look come back.

“Besides,” she broke in, “Sheila promised.”

“Well, a bargain’s a bargain.”

“And nobody’s ever got the better of you over one,” she thought. To him she said:

“It’s a new idea. I don’t know how it will fit in with everything else. I don’t want my mother doing so much, and the only way to stop her is to be there to do it for her.”

“I don’t care a bit about Iris being forced on, it’s more companionship she needs. You could take her along to the cottage with you.”

She did not want to answer until she had time to think. She looked at her watch.