‘Just don’t laugh at me,’ he said simply. ‘I know what I’ve come to ask you sound very queer. But there it is. What can I do but ask? It ain’t easy, though.’ He pulled at his fingers as he had pulled at the rose sucker.

‘Is it about Sydney?’

He weighed this. ‘Well, I suppose, in a way. But more about Em.’ He decided to take the plunge. ‘Miss Mayfield, there’s something wrong with Em, and you’re mixed up in it.’

‘Oh, in what way?’

‘I’ll just tell you what I know and then maybe you can sort it out. Now, f’rinstance . . . Up to the time Sydney was took ill, she seemed to think very highly of you. You’ll hev noticed, maybe, that Em ain’t as ignorant as most, and she used to grumble good-tidily about Mrs Westleton – she was here afore you. So then Sydney’d come home and say something you’d said or done, and Em was pleased, saying what a change and how lucky we was. Things like that. Well, then Sydney was ill and nobody could be kinder than what you was. Helped pack his duds. Arst me in to supper. But now – and this don’t sound a very nice thing to tell a person, but I must, to make it clear – now she ain’t got a good word for you.’ His periwinkle-blue eyes met Miss Mayfield’s in a look both troubled and apologetic. ‘I say to her, “Em,” I say, “whass come over you? Whass got into you?” And she don’t give me no sensible answer. That is, not when she’s awake. But she’ve took to talking in her sleep. And thass where you come in.’

‘You mean she talks about me in her sleep?’

‘Thass hard to explain. You ever slept alongside anybody that talked in their sleep, Miss?’

‘Not that I can remember.’

‘Well, that ain’t like talking. They mutter and mumble and sort of call out. Em’ll say, “Miss Mayfield, don’t!” or “Don’t do it, Miss Mayfield.” She’ll say you’re – excuse me, Miss – nosey. She’ll say things about minding your own business and leaving her alone.’

He had given an expurgated version of his wife’s sleep talk. She had used words and phrases which she must have picked up while nursing rough soldiers. They had shocked him very much.