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leg of the kitchen table. But before he could start arguing the music on the radio ceased and a voice said, “In a few moments, after the time signal at ten o’clock, there will be an important announcement.”
    “This is it,” said Emma, snatching up the tray with the coffee. “You can all come through to the library, Mad said so, it will be on the telly. Shout for Joe and Sam, Andy.”
    She hurried out of the kitchen, closely followed by Dottie and the boys. Her grandmother was seated in her armchair in her sanctum, long-distance glasses on the top of her head, ready to descend instantly upon her nose. The television set was turned on. It showed a picture hitherto unseen, of two national flags side by side, joined together at the base. They were the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes. Colin settled himself on the stool at Mad’s feet, with Ben between his knees.
    “What’s it going to be, a Western?” he asked.
    “Sh!” said Emma.
    Joe came in, holding Sam by the hand, and they went and sat beside Terry and Andy on the window seat. Dottie, with a glance at Mad, drew up a hard chair. Emma perched on the arm of the sofa. The two flags faded, giving place to the face of the announcer, who looked nervous and harassed, unlike his customary debonair self.
    “Good morning to all viewers in the southwest,” he said. “This is your local station at Plymouth. There has been no transmission this morning owing to circumstances beyond our control. The reason for this will be explained to you by Rear-Admiral Sir James Jollif, acting Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches, who is in the studio now. Admiral Jollif.”
    The cameras switched to the bald-headed Admiral who sent Mad Christmas cards and had once been to lunch. He appeared more forbidding in his uniform, with decorations, than he had done two summers ago, in shorts and a floppy T-shirt, playing badminton on the side lawn with the boys.
    “It’s Madam’s old buffer friend,” cried Colin delightedly, and Ben, between his knees, began to clap. This time it was Dottie who said “Sh!” Mad’s face was inscrutable, but she placed her glasses firmly on her nose.
    “Good day to you all,” said Admiral Jollif. His tone was grave, but not unduly so, and at least it must mean, thought Dottie, that Buckingham Palace had not been bombed and the dear Queen was safe. “It is my duty to inform you,” he continued, “that since midnight the country has been placed in a state of emergency. Measures have been taken throughout the United Kingdom to ensure the safety of all members of the community, and to maintain power supplies and essential services. There will be no postal services, however, and after midnight trains will not be running for at least twenty-four hours, possibly longer. Telephone switchboards will be manned only for emergency calls. Except for those engaged upon essential work, everyone is instructed to stay at home until further notice, or to return there immediately if they have already left for work, or for any other purpose.
    “I am not, I am afraid, empowered to tell you any more at this moment. I do, however, want to impress upon you all that there is no cause for alarm. I repeat that, no cause for alarm. The aircraft you have seen and heard passing overhead this morning are friendly to us. The American Sixth Fleet is in the English Channel. The troops you may have observed in the towns and ports belong to the combined armed forces of the United States, and are here in the United Kingdom with our full knowledge and cooperation. Keep calm, keep tuned in to the radio and television, and may God bless you all.”
    His face faded. The two flags reappeared. And instead of “Land of Hope and Glory” the music started up with “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Mad rose to her feet, removed her glasses and switched off the set.
    “Is that all?” asked Colin, disappointed.
    “For the present, yes,” said Mad, “and quite enough too.”
    Everyone stood