“But surely the Allies are quite as clever as the Germans?”
“They may be, but they haven’t shown it so far. We are a scratch lot of amateurs against a team of trained professionals. The raw material is just as good, if not better, but it takes time to lick it in to shape. And we’ve got to learn to use it.” His gloom deepened. “Still we shall never give in to the Hun ... not in a hundred years.”
Ethel concurred in this robust sentiment. And then again she obtusely referred to Sally’s letter. It was such a wonderful letter that her father really ought to read it. He was clearly annoyed by her tactless persistence. In order to cloak his feelings he called upon Melia in the old peremptory way to come and look at his tomatoes.
As they rose for that purpose, Mrs. Doctor Cockburn rose also. She must really be going; it was the cook’s evening out. Gwenneth and Gwladys were bidden to say good-by to Grandpa. They did so shyly but rather prettily.
“Now let me see you shake hands with your Auntie Melia,” said Josiah.
Gwenneth and Gwladys accomplished this task less successfully. They were half terrified by this shabby, gloomy, silent woman who had not a word to say.
XXVIII
WEEKS went by and Melia settled down to a hard and lonely winter in Love Lane. She missed Bill sadly now he was no longer there. Absence had conferred all sorts of virtues upon him. She quite forgot that for many years and up till very recently she could hardly bear the sight of him about the place. Their relations as man and wife had entered upon a new and very remarkable phase.