Maggie took her knitting out of her bag.

“At our age we hate being ordered about, don’t we? Janet’s been dictating to me, I mustn’t do this and I mustn’t do that, and bless the child, I find it very annoying.”

The colonel remembered the main object of Maggie’s visit. He wondered guiltily if he had said anything about the doctor to put her off.

“Nice girl that of yours. My Barbara’s taken no end of a fancy to her. Glad of that; bit lonely for her lookin’ after an old feller like me. Comes hard now, you know, when other girls are off in uniform doin’ this, that and the other. I wouldn’t keep her, mind you, but she says she’d only worry if she was away. ’Course it makes all the difference her bein’ about. Between you and me my heart sinks a bit at the thought of being alone. It would be damned lonely. Still, as I say, I wouldn’t stand in her way.”

“You’re in just the same position as I am. I’m perfectly willing to stay alone and let both my girls go, but Janet won’t hear of it.”

“I should think not. That cottage of Sheldon’s is no place for a woman on her own. Why, it’s miles from anywhere.”

“That’s true, but I’ve kept Janet from joining the W.R.N.S., and she’s just the type to do well in the services.”

“Well, what about little Sheila stayin’? She’s not the cut for service life.”

Maggie chuckled.

“She certainly isn’t, but she slacks at home and I spoil her. She could be useful, she’s quite a smart little shorthand-typist. I gave her a week to make up her mind what she’d do, and it’s nearly up. She’s off to the Labour Exchange in a couple of days. I can put down my foot when I want to.”