“And now that she can’t walk properly, of course she does have to be treated like an old woman,” the social worker finished.

“I expect she’ll cheer up once she’s off the island,” I said.

“I expect she’ll cheer up now she has you to order about,” replied the social worker, at last letting go of my arm.

She smiled at me. Then she ruined it by adding ominously: “Do take care that Frau von Arnim isn’t allowed to hurt herself again.”

We had one last visit to the camp office. I was to be the Official Keeper of Documents, and there was a brief argument over my suitability for the job.

“Miss Adair is perhaps rather, um, perhaps too young?” said someone. “To be entrusted with such responsibility, I mean.”

“I don’t believe the commander would approve,” said another. “Not if she saw the girl herself.”

“But she hasn’t seen the girl,” protested Frau von Arnim, who was ready to leave.

What a stupid argument! I was sure it had nothing to do with my youth and everything to do with my skin color.

I said, in my best English accent, “I should think it will be rather difficult for Frau von Arnim to manage her walking sticks and her papers at the same time.”

In the end I was put properly in charge, with sheepish excuses as the Society of Friends people avoided looking me in the eye. But they apologized by making a bit of a fuss over Frau von Arnim before she left, and me as well, feasting us with scones slathered in jam and butter. “There’s no rationing here!” somebody told me. “People on the mainland are envious when they find out how well the detainees eat. But we can’t let it go to waste, can we? And we’re not allowed to send any foodstuffs off the island. You must stuff yourselves before you go!”

I studied the documents they’d so grudgingly given me. It said Johanna von Arnim on the old woman’s passport and her ration books and release papers. Hadn’t Nancy Campbell told me her aunt was called Jane Warner now? But everyone in Rushen Camp called her Frau von Arnim. I wasn’t sure how to keep her Germanness quiet, as Mrs. Campbell said I should; or even what to call her.