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be would have more sense than let it start all over again? Why can’t we just mind our own business?’
    â€˜Bullies don’t go away if you ignore them, Amy,’ Ralph said. ‘They just get more and more drunk on their own power and the time comes when you have to either make a stand or submit. I don’t think I’m ready to submit, whatever it might cost me.’
    â€˜Not even if we lose the businesses that we’ve worked so hard for?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Not even if our children get killed in the process?’
    Ralph set down his cup. She had never seen him look so serious.
    â€˜No, Amy. Not even that.’
    â€˜Oh, my God,’ she said.
    They were silent for a moment each in their own world. Then Ralph went to pull her close once more but she broke away.
    â€˜I’m going up to see Barbara.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜There’s something wrong with her. I want to find out what it is.’ Suddenly it seemed desperately important that her daughters should not waste a moment of what little of the halcyon days might be left to them on silly petty quarrels and anxieties.
    She went upstairs. The girls had their own rooms, tiny twin rooms on the far corners of the house, barely larger than boxrooms, but it was better than sharing. There were less, quarrels that way. She tapped on the door of Barbara’s and pushed it open a fraction.
    â€˜Can I come in?’
    â€˜If you like.’ Barbara was standing by the window, staring out. Her back presented a straight, uncompromising line.
    Amy closed the door behind her.
    â€˜Babs – what is the matter? Did something happen at school today? Don’t say nothing, because I know there is.’
    â€˜Nothing …’ Then Barbara swung round defiantly. ‘Oh, I suppose I might as well tell you. You’ll have to hear sooner or later. I played truant from school and went to see Huw.’
    â€˜You …? Oh, Babs!’
    â€˜I know. I shouldn’t have done it. I told Sister Claude a story about having to go to the dentist and I got caught out. Someone saw me at the station and told her.’
    â€˜Oh, Babs!’ Amy said again. ‘That was very wrong of you.’
    â€˜I know. But I don’t really care. Not even if I get expelled …’
    â€˜Expelled!’
    â€˜She threatened. But she won’t do it. She’s just a lot of hot air. And even if she did do it, oh Mum – don’t look like that!’ Barbara’s lip wobbled suddenly. ‘I’m sorry, but I did want to see Huw so much.’
    â€˜I see,’ Amy said.
    â€˜You don’t, Mum. Everybody keeps talking about a war coming and if it does, goodness knows when we shall see him again. He might …’ her voice trembled, ‘he might even be killed. Well, he might! Flying aeroplanes is all very well, but suppose he crashed. Oh Mum, I couldn’t bear it!’
    â€˜Babs, Babs – don’t talk like that!’ Amy coaxed, but Barbara’s wide worried eyes showed the depth of her fear. Amy pulled Barbara to her, holding her the way she had as a child, with the golden head against her shoulder. ‘Babs, darling, nothing is going to happen to Huw.’
    â€˜How can you be so sure?’ Her voice was muffled.
    Amy did not answer. She knew there was nothing she could say. Barbara was only voicing her own fears, fears she preferred not to acknowledge but which were there all the same, dark shadows in the quiet of the night. She pushed aside Barbara’s blazer, dropped carelessly onto the bright cotton bedspread, and sat, pulling Barbara down beside her.
    â€˜Oh Mum!’ Barbara whispered into her shoulder. ‘Mum, I’m so scared!’
    â€˜Don’t.’ She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief and gave it to Barbara. ‘What did Huw have to say anyway? How is he?’
    â€˜He’s fine.’ Barbara brightened. ‘He bought me a coffee. We