The girl’s eyes widened, and Janet thought looked somehow not too pleased.

“You can’t be Sheila Brain’s sister.”

“Yes, I am. How did you guess? Do you know her?”

“Of course I know her, everybody knows everybody in Worsingfold. Anyway, she and your mother live in one of Donald Sheldon’s cottages, and he’s a tremendous friend of Daddy’s and mine. Your sister’s going to teach his little girl, Iris.”

“Sheila is! I’m sure she can’t be. Besides, she’s got enough to do with the cottage.”

The girl gave her a rather odd glance.

“Your mother’s an awfully energetic person, I should think.”

“She shouldn’t be.” Janet’s face took on a worried look. “As a matter of fact her heart’s not very strong. She doesn’t know it, nor does Sheila. I got her down to the country on a trick. I got the doctor to say Sheila ought to get away; she never would have gone except for that.”

“I expect it’s difficult for your sister.” The girl’s voice had lost its easy naturalness and sounded forced. “I know how difficult it is to keep Daddy in order. I say, I wish you’d come and see Daddy and me while you’re in Worsingfold. Our name’s Haines, Daddy’s a retired colonel, and I’m Barbara. It’s awful to have a retired colonel for a father; he knows just how the war ought to be run, and gets so angry when the Government doesn’t do things his way. You can hardly see our walls for maps, and they’re ruined with pin-holes where the flags have gone in.”

Janet laughed.

“I’d simply love to come. I suppose Sheila knows where you live?”

Barbara stared at her feet.

“Oh, yes. Yes, of course she does.” She looked up. “Anyway, you can’t miss it. It’s called Worsingfold House. That sounds awfully grand, but it isn’t really. It’s the only house in the village, everything else is cottages except for the vicarage, and the Old Oast House which belongs to the doctor, and, of course, the farm. Donald Sheldon has the biggest of those, but you know him, don’t you?”

“Me! No, I don’t know a soul in Worsingfold. My sister found the place and fixed the cottage and everything.”

“Did she?” Barbara gave her shoulders a faint shrug. “I can’t think why, but I thought it was through you. I mean I thought I’d heard it was through a sister of Sheila’s that you knew Donald, but I expect I’ve got muddled.”

“No, we knew nobody, the cottage was just to let and we took it.” Janet was looking at her watch so she did not see the puzzled expression on Barbara’s face. “We must be nearly there, aren’t we?”

Barbara looked out of the window.