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then she managed to overcome her feelings to say as calmly as she could, ‘I did think I’d like to do nursing when I was growing up but …’ She hesitated, unwilling to say to someone who plainly had come from a family that had been able to afford her training that she hadn’t wanted to burden her parents with that kind of cost.
    ‘Well, maybe now is the time to think of it again,’ Sister Harris told her firmly, without waiting for a full explanation. ‘You’re an excellent first aider, quick to learn and good at doing what you should when you have learned. The nursing profession needs girls like you, Campion, especially now. I happen to know that the Government is very keen to get new nurses trained up, and in fact we have been asked to put forward the names of young women who we think might be suitable candidates for such training.’
    Was Sister Harris actually saying that she felt she was good enough for her to recommend? Grace could hardly believe it. Her chest felt tight as her heart swelled with pride and delight.
    ‘So I’ll put forward your name, shall I? It will mean a lot of hard work but I’m sure we all want to do our duty and give what assistance we can to the Government.’
    ‘Well, I …’ Now Grace could feel her heart lurching sickening downwards as her excitement came up hard against the reality of her situation. She could see that Sister Harris was looking irritated and impatient. Flustered and embarrassed she burst out, ‘I’d love to, really I would, Sister, but it’s my family.’
    ‘You mean that your parents wouldn’t give their permission?’ Sister was frowning now. ‘I find that very hard to believe under the present circumstances, Campion – not to say positively unpatriotic.’
    Horrified, Grace blurted, ‘Oh, no, I mean … well, the truth is, Sister, that …’ Her voice dropped and she looked over her shoulder, checking she wouldn’t be overheard. ‘Mum and Dad have four of us at home, and my sisters are still at school, so …’ Grace bit her lip, floundering, not wanting to say that it was out of the question for her to expect her parents to go without her financial contribution to the household, never mind find the money required to buy the uniform and the books she would need before entering the Probationary Training School, but to her relief Sister Harris immediately realised what she was trying to say and the sternness faded from her expression.
    ‘Ah, I see, Campion. Well, my dear, it’s there for you to think about and I would be delighted to recommend you. If you should see a way to undertaking the training the cost would be around twenty pounds for your uniform and your books, you’d be paid eighteen shillings a week during your first year, and of course you’d be living in.’ She patted Grace on the arm. ‘My advice to you is to have a word with your parents and tell them what I’ve told you. It would be a pity if the nursing service were to lose the opportunity to acquire a girl like you.’
    Her praise left Grace feeling slightly dizzy.
    Ten minutes later, when Grace stepped out of the church hall, she was surprised to see Luke waiting for her.
    ‘I thought you were going to an ARP meeting tonight with Dad,’ she said.
    ‘I was – I did – but I thought I’d come this way and walk back with you.’
    Smiling at him, Grace tucked her arm through his. They were close in age and close emotionally as well, and she sensed immediately that he had something on his mind but she also knew him well enough to wait to let him tell her in his own time what it was. It was no mere impulse that had brought him round this way to walk home with her.
    ‘There were a lot of them that was there tonight saying that their lads had had letters and that, telling them to report to their units …’
    Grace gave a small shiver. She didn’t need Luketo explain to her what that meant – not after what her father had told her earlier. The whole country must surely know