‘No, she won’t. Kathy is made o’ sterner stuff than that,’ Cissie assured her, patting her hand. The strain was showing on Sunday too now, and she was beginning to look her age.

Behind them, Kathy gave a gasp. ‘Th-there’s someone coming down the drive,’ she said with a catch in her voice. ‘I-I think it’s a policeman!’ And suddenly she was racing towards the green baize door that led into the hallway, the others following behind at a more sedate pace.

The policeman arrived at the front door at the same moment she did, and she ushered him inside and quickly closed the door behind him. It was the same man who had been keeping them informed of the search and he respectfully took off his helmet and beamed from ear to ear.

‘I’ve got good news,’ he told the group gathered around him, not wishing to keep them in suspense for a moment longer than he had to; he had seen how they had suffered during the time the children had been missing. ‘The children have been found. They’re safe and well in a police station in London.’

The shock of his words made Kathy sway and had it not been for George taking a firm grip of her elbow she might have collapsed.

‘A-are you quite sure it’s them?’

He nodded. ‘Sure, as I can be. An ARP warden took them to the police station after a raid and they told the sergeant their names and what town they lived in. Seeing as the London police already had all their details it didn’t take much for ’em to put two an’ two together. So, it looks like all’s well that ends well.’

‘But what were they doing out on their own?’ Kathy asked.

‘They ran away from the chap that took ’em by all accounts,’ the policeman told them and now Kathy was sobbing with relief, although she knew she wouldn’t settle properly until she had them back in her arms.

‘So, what will happen now? Must I go and fetch them?’

‘No need, they’re already on their way,’ he assured her. ‘The police contacted the welfare department and they’ve sent a lady to bring ’em home. They’re on the train even as we speak so they should arrive later this evening.’

‘I’ll go and get the car out. We can go and wait at the station for them,’ George said, and Kathy nodded her agreement, and without thinking, she threw her arms about the policeman’s neck and gave him a loud smacking kiss on the cheek, causing him to blush a dull, beetroot red. She rushed away then to get her coat and soon she and George were on their way to the station.