Steam rolled down the platform to mingle with the fog as Harvey continued to howl his anguish at Brendon’s leaving. The engine driver blew the whistle and Stan waved his flag. Peggy and the others craned their necks for a last glimpse of Brendon and could make out only a faint figure leaning out of a carriage window and waving as the wheels began to turn.

Pauline broke away from Frank and ran down the platform, calling out to Brendon to stay safe. Frank chased after her and gathered her to him, and they stood in a tight embrace as the train gathered speed and, all too soon, was lost from sight.

‘God speed, wee boy,’ murmured Ron, tucking Peggy’s hand into the crook of his arm. ‘To be sure I hate saying goodbyes,’ he said mournfully. ‘When this war’s over and they’ve all come home, I’ll not be wanting them ever to leave again. They come and they go, Peg, and all we can do is watch and wait and do our best to ensure they have a home to come back to.’

Looking towards the forlorn Frank and Pauline, who were still huddled together at the end of the platform, Peggy saw Harvey become animated as a figure emerged through the remnants of the smoke and steam that rolled across the station, and then left the cinder track running alongside the lines and jumped up onto the platform.

She blinked and stared as he approached with a smile and a wave, hardly daring to believe her eyes. ‘Good grief,’ she breathed. ‘It’s Rita’s dad.’

Big, brawny and looking very workmanlike in his army uniform, Jack Smith strode towards her with Harvey at his heels. ‘I fell asleep and only just woke up when the train began to pull out,’ he explained. ‘It was this fellow’s howling that woke me,’ he added, giving Harvey a hefty pat.

‘Oh, Jack, we’re so pleased to see you,’ cried Peggy, throwing her arms about him. ‘Rita will be thrilled.’

Jack’s brown eyes twinkled as he vigorously shook Ron’s hand. ‘I managed to persuade my CO to let me stop off for a couple of hours and catch the later train to meet up with the rest of my regiment. He’s a fair sort of chap, and once I explained the situation with Rita, he agreed immediately.’