Mrs Hallam handed her a telegram. ‘It came half an hour ago,’ she said. ‘I’ve rung for a taxi for us. It should be here any moment.’ The telegram read: regret inform you your son...

The front door was open as he came downstairs and he could see Nelly beyond, scrubbing the doorstep. He called out to her, and she looked up with appraising, frightened eyes. His mother looked out...

She had a litheness that surprised him. She twisted herself free and stood in the doorway. Steam rose from her wet arms, and tears were beginning to roll down the thin, white cheeks. She said...

He said: ‘I’m ravenous, Rosie. I say – visitors coming?’ Rose said: ‘Yes, dear. Eve Graham and her mother.’ ‘Must I stay to tea?’ Lance asked. ‘Please, Mummy.’ ‘You must learn not to be frightened...

Lance, concentrating on Mrs Graham and Gordon and the cake-stand being lifted in his mother’s fingers, heard Eve’s soft, cheerful voice breaking in relentlessly, testing to its limit the courage that had brought him back...

In the driving seat Gordon paused to look round with pride. ‘Yes,’ he confirmed. ‘It’s a beauty. Cost a bit more, but it’s worth it. I can get up to seventy easily.’ He looked guilty....

‘We met Gwen Norton while Mummy was wheeling me to your house this afternoon,’ she went on. ‘Funny how old feelings persist! Ever since I’ve known her I’ve felt sorry for Gwen. When we first...

The road they were taking ran round the side of the hill towards Weybrook. There was little traffic on it now. The light seemed to be fading rapidly from the sky ahead. The little finger...

Gordon thought he had never known the car to run so smoothly. It seemed that no effort of his was needed to achieve a perfection in response; it ran with absolute sweetness, almost – he...

Lance climbed out of bed and ran over towards his brother. He shook him carefully, and called: ‘Gordon!’ Gordon stirred and mumbled something. Lance looked at him silently, feeling himself awake and rich in sensations....