He found Alice doing the dinner dishes. Flash was curled up by the fire. Old Jock was at the stables. Dave grabbed a drying towel and helped with the dishes. Then they sat by the cheerful fire. He spoke of his day’s work. “No luck,” he concluded. “Perhaps tomorrow. Brand and I are getting better with our planes every day. We’ll be fighters yet.”
Alice smiled.
“Tonight they seemed very far away,” she said, after a moment. Her voice was low. “It’s the first time Cherry and I have been parted for long.”
He knew who she meant and was silent.
From outside came the sound of a car. It stopped. There was a hand on the latch. Mrs. Ramsey stepped into the room. A large, healthy, good-natured woman, on arriving it was her custom to shout a cheery greeting. Tonight there was nothing of that.
“You’re here, David?” she said as she took his hand. “I’m glad.” She gave Dave her heavy coat, then took a place by the fire.
“It’s a bit chilly outside tonight,” said Alice.
“Quite.” Mrs. Ramsey’s voice seemed strange.
“But still and peaceful,” Dave suggested. “As if there were no war.”
After that for a full minute there was silence.