Adelaide hesitated. ‘Adelaide,’ she said, adding, ‘but only between us, not in company or in front of Danny.’

His mouth twitched. ‘You are a lady, Adelaide. You have my word as a gentleman, I would not presume on our friendship.’

Adelaide glanced at him and he smiled. She had few friends and, after having this man under her roof for so many days, she would like to call him friend. If only she could trust herself.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play …

Caleb lay on the cot in Mick’s shed, staring at the chinks of light that worked their way through the roof of Adelaide’s ‘guest room’. The words of Longfellow’s poem turned over in his mind and the desolation and despair of the war years washed over him.

Thumpa, thump, thumpa, thump …

Beyond the walls the steady cadence of the mine battery echoed the beat of his heart.

He longed for the peace and quiet of the snowy Virginia countryside, the sound of familiar accents and the feel of cold, clear winter air on his face. Not this hard land with its raucous birds and harsh voices.

As if hearing his thoughts, an unseen bird burst into mocking laughter. Its boisterous jollity was joined by another and another until it seemed to Caleb as if the whole world laughed at him. He had lived on his wits and good fortune for so long but was it all going to end here in a mad venture?

The birds’ chatter died away and the bell of the Catholic church began to toll, calling the faithful to evening Mass.

And in despair I bowed my head;

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said;

‘For hate is strong

and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.’

In his heart he knew that what he yearned for belonged to a time long past, before a world that war had blighted forever, but the pain in his chest felt real enough and he allowed himself the luxury of wallowing in self-pity and something else—good old-fashioned homesickness.

A timid knock at the door made him start and his heart raced again. ‘Who is it?’ he snapped.

‘Me.’

Danny. Caleb ground his teeth. Much as he liked the boy, he wanted to be alone with his ghosts and demons. ‘Come in,’ he said.

Danny entered the room and stood in the doorway.

‘What can I do for you, Danny?’

The boy shuffled his feet. ‘I was wondering if you could come up to the house and help me make some paper chains? Mama and Netty are too busy.’

‘Paper chains?’ Caleb pulled himself up on the cot and regarded the boy with genuine puzzlement.

‘I have some special coloured paper.’