Throughout the world there was change, violent and uncompromising. Wars, tidal waves, volcanic eruptions; and the relentless revolution of the seasons. But to see it, to catch the monster with claws outstretched, was hardly to...

‘Dear Mrs Hallam,’ he said, ‘there is a matter I should like to put to you. It is a delicate one but I have little gift for subtlety, and I can only hope that you...

Mrs du Cros, leading against a small slam in Hearts, turned at the sound of a fall. She saw Mr Garland looking up, frightened and bewildered, and beside him the slumped figure of Mrs Hallam....

Her father was already sitting in his high-backed wooden chair mauling the remains of a kipper in his hands. He looked up as she came in, blinking in the light. ‘’Ello,’ he said. ‘You’re late,...

‘How do you do, Elise.’ Elise said: ‘Pleased to meet you, Mrs Hallam.’ The room swam round and she felt her throat suddenly tighten. Of all times and places, for Elsie to appear now! The...

Elise said: ‘I only think Lance ought to do as his ideals tell him.’ Mrs Hallam said: ‘And what do they tell him?’ Elise said: ‘I don’t know. But they couldn’t approve of killing.’ She...

There was the usual little ceremony at the office when Lance left. Two other clerks had also received their papers, and one of the girls was leaving to join the A.T.S. Mr Bengear himself paid...

He gave her no warning when he came on leave. It was Saturday afternoon and she was ironing in the kitchen when the door-bell rang. She ran out to open the door, her face flushed,...

It was still light when they came out. The sky was deep, soft violet, except where one thin cloud was surprisingly green. Riveting the blue were the silver studs of barrage balloons, like man-made stars....

He drank solemnly and Elise sipped her sherry. Lance said reflectively: ‘It’s funny how knowledge of our own weaknesses only makes us more ready to assume strength in others. For instance, you seem to think...