Maggie sat and a faint smile twisted her lips. How often had she said that, particularly to Sheila, a hand on the child’s knees. Sheila no longer swung her legs, but she needed just as much looking after. A new anxiety passed through Maggie’s mind. Was she right to turn anything as lovely and as silly out into the world? But conscription for girls must come. Sheila would have to go then; she would be just one of thousands of mothers who had a daughter whom they thought pretty and silly. She got up for the Creed and, though her lips said the words, her mind was forming its own prayer. “Oh, Lord, do stop me fussing. Let there be nothing the matter with me, and let Sheila settle all right, and in Your own good time please let Janet fall in love.”

“He is a bad preacher,” said Janet as they came out of church, “but he’s got a lovely voice.”

“Was he dull?”

Maggie was surprised.

Janet laughed.

“You’re a bad old woman. I don’t believe you heard a word he said. You were thinking of something else, weren’t you?”

Maggie looked at the sky.

“Yes, darling, and I have a feeling God understands.”

Section 8

Nobody likes Mondays. This Monday in the Brains’ cottage started particularly badly. Maggie had scarcely slept. She had woken with a jump, short of breath, and with the sinking feeling she so dreaded. She had sat up. She would have been glad of a light, but before she had got into bed she had pulled back the black-out to let in the air. The wind flapped the curtains, somewhere an owl hooted, a dog barked. The sky was inky black. Then suddenly a fork of light slit the darkness and distant thunder rumbled. Maggie hated storms; they frayed her nerves, added to her fears and gave her a feeling of foreboding. Why had she agreed to see the doctor? Was she being selfish in allowing Janet to stay with her? Ought she to insist on both girls doing war work? If she had got to see the doctor she must get Sheila out of the house first. Oh, dear! Why had she given in to Janet! She wouldn’t have the energy to have a row with Sheila after a night like this.

Anxiety made Janet cross. She came down to breakfast meaning to be nice, but so worried at the thought of what the doctor would find wrong with Maggie’s heart that she could not help sounding snappy.