"I just got to go down and see Mr. Pigott after a job, dad," Ern answered soothingly. "I'll be round again later."
He went out of the house, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Anne Caspar heard it go, and looking out into the passage saw that the bag had vanished too.
"He's gone," she said.
"Army manners," muttered Alf.
"You've drove him out," continued his mother.
"Ave I?" said Alf, cleaning his nails with a penknife. "I got my way to make. I don't want no angers-on to me.... Comin back on us a common soldier—not so much as a stripe to his arm, let alone a full sergeant. A fair disgrace on the family, I call it."
"All for yourself always," said his mother censoriously.
"Who else'd I be for then?" asked Alf, genuinely indignant.
"You might be for the church," answered Anne grimly.