‘I don’t mean hospital life, but what’s troubling you. Eeh, you can’t fool me, lass. I knew, as soon as I got your letter. Sommat’s up, and I want to knaw about it.’

Rosie tried to laugh, but the sound that came out was somewhere between a sob and a giggle.

‘You’re home now, me lass. Whatever it is, it’ll be better for sharing, and don’t forget what I told you: it’ll be woman to woman, and though I might give advice, I won’t be forcing me own feelings on you, naw matter what the trouble is. Now, let’s get you indoors. I’ve the kettle on. I put it on the minute I heard the train approaching.’

‘Is it just you that’s in, Ma?’

‘Aye, Angus and Roderick are out on the boat. And Susan is in the shop. You’ll see them soon enough.’

‘How is Roderick – has he accepted his fate now?’

‘If you mean not ever being allowed to go into the army, the lad’ll never accept that. He’s accepted that his job is as a fisherman, and is getting on with it. But the lad gives himself hell, trying to find sommat that’ll develop his arches. He’s designed and cut all manner of shapes out of wood to wear in his shoes. He seems to think that he can get them right by the time he’s eighteen. Nowt can convince him otherwise.’

‘Aw, poor Roderick. A lot of it’s his age, Ma. He looks on the soldiers as real men, and he thinks he won’t be one unless he can become a soldier. Happen the war’ll be over afore he’s eighteen anyroad, so just play along with him.’

‘Aye, you’re right, lass.’

‘What about Daisy and Florrie and Billy? Have you heard from them? I’ve been worried sick, with the news coming out of the area where they are.’

‘Naw. Our wireless has been on the blink. And the papers are a bit behind with their news, and Angus said he hadn’t been able to get a copy of a daily for a few days.’

Rosie froze. ‘Ma, I don’t feel right about it. I’ve not heard owt for a couple of days, with travelling, but what billboards I’ve seen have spoken of our troops being about to surrender.’

‘Naw. Naw, Rosie lass, don’t say that.’ Betsy plonked herself down on the nearest chair and stared at Rosie. ‘Angus . . . he’s been keeping me in the dark. Eeh, lass. Tell me what you knaw.’

‘That’s about it, Ma. The Japs are winning and are likely to occupy Singapore; they’ve already taken Malaya.’