‘I dare say you’re right,’ Edith said sadly as she moved to the window to get a last glimpse of them, then turning about she tried to concentrate on her chores and put the children from her mind.

‘How did they go in?’ she asked George the second he arrived back.

George lifted his cap to scratch his wiry head and grinned. ‘Right as ninepence. Most o’ the children that have been evacuated from London were there this mornin’ from what I could see of it in the playground, so happen they’ll meet up wi’ some of their mates.’

Cissie who had just arrived nodded in agreement. ‘O’ course they will so stop frettin’, Edith. They’ll both be right as rain, you’ll see.’ She collected the lavender polish and went into the hallway to begin polishing the mahogany bannister rails as George went to stable the horse.

She glanced up as the post came through the door and picking it up, she noticed an official-looking envelope at the top of the pile. Guessing instantly what it was, she took it through to the kitchen.

‘This is fer you,’ she told Giles with a catch in her voice. He had just popped in for a tea break and he slit the envelope and read what was inside as they all looked on.

‘I’ve passed my exams and I’ve to report to a training centre in Wiltshire next Wednesday,’ he told them.

The mood in the kitchen became solemn. None of them had had any doubt that he would pass the exams with flying colours. During the past few weeks, other than taking the children in, the war had not directly affected them but now it suddenly seemed very real.

Cook took a large white handkerchief from her apron pocket and noisily blew her nose just as Sunday came in.

‘I popped over to see how the children went into school on their first …’ Noticing the strained faces, she looked from one to the other of them before asking, ‘Is something wrong?’

‘Not at all.’ It was Giles who broke the silence that had settled in the room. ‘I’ve been accepted into the RAF and have just received the date to start my training. I shall be leaving early next Wednesday.’

‘Oh … I see.’ Like the others Sunday was deflated at the thought of what lay ahead of him, but she plastered a smile onto her face. ‘Well at least you can make your plans now,’ she said, managing to keep her voice cheerful. ‘And I’m sure George will do a sterling job of looking after the horses till this is all over.’

‘Huh! And I wonder how long that will be,’ Cissie said pessimistically.