We'll meet again

Bert was silent for a moment, then he said: "All right. You'll know, Miss.”

I went to Nanny Crabtree at once.

"Nanny," I said. "I've discovered why Charley was fighting.”

"The young imp," said Nanny. "After I'd told him I'd have none of that here.”

"I think you'll change your mind when you hear. Some boy was saying that Gretchen was a spy and was sending messages out to sea.

Charley wouldn't have that. He wouldn't have anyone saying anything against anyone in this house.”

Nanny Crabtree's face softened into a beatific smile.

"And he had a fight with this boy because of that? Silly lad. Why didn't he tell me?”

"He seemed to have some idea that you wouldn't like it to be mentioned.”

"Well, well, what would you do with them then?”

"So it was rather a noble act," I said.

"What goes on in their minds, bless 'em. I'm going to give him my sweet ration, that's what.”

I put my arms round her and hugged her. Nanny loved sweet things and her sweet ration was rather important to her.

After that, Charley knew he was forgiven.

I said to Nanny: "I am so pleased. It shows, doesn't it, that he thinks of Tregarland as his home?”

"More of a home than he had back with those parents of his. And that Aunt Lil. I don't much like the sound of her.”

"Yes," I said. "He feels he has to defend us all. It means, Nanny, that he looks on this now as his home.”

We had a caller at the Priory. He drove over one afternoon when I happened to be in the gardens getting some flowers for one of the rooms, so I heard the car arrive and went to see who it was.

A tall, pleasant-looking man in the uniform of a captain alighted from the car.

"I wonder if I could see Mrs. Jermyn," he asked me. "My name is Brent.”

"I am sure you can. Do come in.”

I took him to a sitting room on the ground floor and asked one of the maids to tell Mrs. Jermyn that we had a visitor.

"A lovely place you have here," he said. "Highly suitable for your convalescent home. It is that I have come to see you about really.”

"We have had visits from the authorities and from the hospital.

That was when we started.”

"Yes, I know, and everyone is delighted about what you are doing.

I'm actually an army doctor. My captain's rank is complimentary. I thought you might allow me to call occasionally to see the men who are here. Many of them, although they are physically well enough to leave hospital, have suffered grueling experiences and need special care.”

Mrs. Jermyn arrived. They shook hands and he said: "I'm James Brent-attached to the medical staff. I have been explaining to Miss.

"Denver," I supplied.

He smiled. "... to Miss Denver that we want to keep an eye on some of the men. They have been through some shattering ordeals and we want to make sure they're all right. I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I called from time to time ... just to see that all's well. There are one or two who have given us cause for anxiety.”

"But, of course, you are welcome at any time," said Mrs. Jermyn.

"We think you are doing a wonderful job here. Those few weeks of recuperation are just what the men need.”

Mrs. Jermyn smiled with pleasure.

"It seems such a small thing to do at such a time.”

"It is all the small things which add up. I was saying to Miss Denver here what a lovely place you have. Ideal for the rest these men deserve and need. I suppose you have always lived here, Mrs. Jermyn.”

"Oh yes. It's the ancestral home. I came here when I married. The family has been here for three hundred years. It belongs to my grand-son. He...”

"He was with the forces," I heard myself say. "We were hoping he would come back from Dunkirk...”

"Miss Denver is his fiancée," said Mrs. Jermyn quietly. "We feel...”

"There are a lot of our men over there," he said quickly. "Quite a few of them were taken prisoner.”

"It is the not knowing..." began Mrs. Jermyn.

"I am very sorry. But it does not do to give up hope.”

"That is what we tell each other," I said.

"And you are helping in this enterprise, Miss Denver. If you could hear what some of the men are saying about you all, you would feel it was very rewarding. And you have several helpers, I believe?”

"Oh, the servants have thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the project, haven't they, Violetta?" said Mrs. Jermyn.

"Indeed yes.”

"And you have other young ladies here to help you?”

"I have three helpers," said Mrs. Jermyn.

"I should like to meet them and express my appreciation.”

Mrs. Jermyn looked at me. "They would be around somewhere, wouldn't they?”

"Yes," I said. "I'll ask Morwenna to bring them. I am sure they would be delighted to meet you, Captain Brent. They will so enjoy hearing that the men have been happy here.”

"Just tell me a little about them first, would you?”

"There is my sister, Mrs. Tregarland. She is a widow. She was married to young Mr. Tregarland. It's the big house just along the cliff. She has a young child and we are twins actually. We have been together most of our lives.”

He nodded, smiling. and there is another young Lady, I believe.”

"That is Mrs. Denver.”

"Oh? She is related to you?”