This shook Betsy. The thought of them watching out for one another had given her a little comfort. She looked at each of her girls, all beautiful to gaze at; well, Rosie was more pretty than beautiful, with her hair falling in ringlets and her features a little softer that those of the other two. Betsy felt pride in noting that her daughters had all taken after her, with their curly chestnut hair and slim but voluptuous figures. But it was this last aspect that worried her. Eeh, I had to fend off the men who leered at me for one thing, and one thing only. I were strong, and I thought I would allus be a faithful wife . . . Aye, well, there’s no good raking over the past. Not now, not ever. What’s done is done. But even as she tried not to think of it, she knew she could never forget the affair that had led to Billy being born. Oh, why am I thinking like this, and at a time when I should be giving me girls a good send-off. With this, it occurred to Betsy that that was exactly what she would do – throw a party to give her girls a good memory to take with them.

‘Reet, if this is the way of things, then we’d best do it good and proper. We’ll have a do, to see you all on your way and be sommat good for you to remember. By . . . nurses, me three lasses. I’ll never get over that. I thought you’d all end up in factories, or married with a brood of young ’uns, but you’ve made good of yourselves. Eeh, I’m sorry as it’s led to this, though, and I’m going to miss you and worry over you. Come here.’

They were in a giggling huddle when Billy came through the door, followed closely, as always, by Roderick, Betsy’s youngest, and the only child she’d had with Angus.

‘What’s going on, Ma? Why the big hug?’

Florrie answered Billy. ‘We’ve all joined the Royal Army Nursing Corps, Billy.’

‘All of ye? Ye’re lucky beggars. I’d give a wee penny to go. Not to be a nurse, but to do army training to prepare for war.’

Betsy nodded at Billy. ‘Aye, well, thank God you’re too young by a year, our Billy, and it could all be over when your time comes. Anyroad, we’re going to have a party to give our lasses a good send-off, so let everyone in the village knaw, as you go about. It’ll be on Saturday night as seven, in the back room of the inn.’

‘Hold on, hen, ye’ve nay asked the landlord yet.’

‘Aw, they’ll be naw problem, Angus. It isn’t as if they’ll have any other do on or we would have known of it.’