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Ashleigh was falsely jovial and challenged, ‘What’s this about you walking out with the girl in our office?’
    Charles sat down on the chesterfield between them and smiled at his father. ‘I’m very fond of Katy.’
    His mother said impatiently, ‘Oh, don’t be silly, a girl of that sort. She said her father works at Swan Hunter’s yard, but did not elaborate. I expect he’s a common labourer, or a—’ She stopped to search for the name of some trade she had heard mentioned, and found: ‘A riveter or something like that!’
    Charles shrugged, ‘I don’t know what her father does. To tell you the truth, I don’t think she gets on with him.’ Charles had gathered that from odd comments made by Katy and the way she dismissed Barney in a few words. She had not run him down, would not wash the family’s dirty linen in public.
    ‘ I expect he’s thrown her out,’ put in Eleanor. ‘And I can guess why: staying out to all hours with young men.’
    ‘ That’s not so!’ Charles defended Katy indignantly.
    ‘ How do you know? I know what trouble I have with the maids here. They’re forbidden followers but given half a chance they will have some young man hanging around the kitchen door — and inside it and worse, I shouldn’t wonder. You must give her up.’
    ‘ I will not.’ Charles jerked to his feet, flushed and angry.
    Of course you must!’ Eleanor flared at him, ‘That sort of girl will wind up in the family way and blame you!’ ‘No!’ Charles swung on his heel.
    His father rose now and put an arm around his shoulders. ‘Steady on, old boy. I think we’re all getting too worked up about this. I can’t see any harm in two young people keeping company but you’re both too young to think of being serious. Let’s think it over for a week or two and then we’ll talk again.’ He caught a furious glance from his wife at this treachery, but ignored it except to frown at her, the message clear: Leave this to me.
    Charles was mollified by his father’s attitude and answered, ‘That’s fine by me.’ He believed his father hoped the affair would blow over but he was sure of his feelings about Katy. He would not, could not, give her up.
    He reported as much to her next day. ‘And in a week or two I’ll be taking you home to meet Father — formally, I mean — and have tea.’ Katy was not so sure but he insisted, ‘You’ll see. Just wait a week or two.’
    It took just a week for Vincent Ashleigh to resolve the problem. At the end of that time Charles received a telegram from Admiralty ordering him to join a cruiser lying at Portsmouth at once; she was about to sail for the China Station.
    He waited for Katy to come out of the office at noon, not caring who saw them now. When she came running he showed her the telegram glumly. At first she did not understand, or did not want to, and asked, ‘Does this mean you have to go?’
    He explained to her patiently that it did, and straight-away: ‘When the Navy says “now” that’s what it means, not tomorrow or next week. I’ll pack my kit and take a train south tonight.’ He went on quickly, ‘This doesn’t mean we’re finished. Lots of chaps have to leave their girls at home for three years or so. It’s just one of the things about the Service. I’ll write to you. Will you wait for me?’
    ‘ Yes.’ Katy wanted to cling to him but that would not be seemly. She had to hold his hand and look up at him. ‘I’ll wait. I’ll write.’
    She was at the station that night. He had told his parents, ‘We’ll say goodbye here,’ and he had left them standing on the steps leading up to their front door as the Lanchester and its chauffeur carried him away down the carriage drive. So he and Katy had a few minutes alone in the dimness of the station and they clung to each other, kissed and repeated their promises. Then the train came in and pulled out again a few minutes later, bound for King’s Cross and carrying Charles. Katy was left