The following Wednesday she found Armando waiting for her when she left work and saw at once from his face that something was wrong.

‘I need to talk to you. Where can we go?’

It was a sunny afternoon. She led him to the pediment of St George’s and they sat on the steps.

‘What is it, Armando?’ she asked. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘They’re sending me away.’

‘Who are? Sending you where?’

‘My parents. They’re sending me to Italy, to live with my great uncle.’

‘Why?’

‘They say it will improve my skills. He is famous as a terrazzo artist. But I know it’s not that.’

‘What then?’

‘They don’t want me to see you any more. They are afraid that we are getting too fond of each other.’

‘Is that so bad?’

‘They think so. They want me to marry an Italian girl, and a Catholic.’

‘I see.’ May absorbed this in silence for a moment. Then she said, ‘How long will you be gone for?’

‘A year, two years? I don’t know.’ His head drooped. ‘I’m sorry, May.’

‘It isn’t your fault. But did your parents really think we were going to marry?’

‘Didn’t you?’

‘I don’t know. We never spoke about it. But it would have been so far off, Armando. We are both too young to even think of marriage.’

‘But I love you.’

‘I know and I love you.’ Even as she said it she was not sure it was true. ‘But let’s be realistic. We couldn’t have gone on the way we were for much longer. I know what you wanted. I suppose I did too. But it couldn’t happen. Perhaps it will actually be better for us to spend some time apart.’

He looked at her. ‘Do you really believe that?’

‘Yes. I shall miss you, Armando, terribly. But I think it is for the best.’

‘I shall come back, in a year or two. Will you wait for me?’

‘You shouldn’t feel that you are bound to me. Your parents are probably right. You should marry an Italian girl. If you married me your parents would never accept me, and that would make us both miserable.’

‘I don’t want to marry an Italian girl! I want you!’

‘You do now. But you may feel different in a year or two. I may feel different, too.’

‘Is there someone else? Are you seeing someone else?’

‘No. No, there’s no one else.’ At least she could be honest about that.

He got up. ‘If that’s what you want …’

‘It isn’t what I want, Armando. But it is what has to happen. Can’t you see that?’

He frowned at her. ‘I won’t change my mind. I shall come back for you.’