Time for Silence

We were assembled in the lounge. Andrée had come down, ready for departure. She smiled at us wanly. We did not like to ask how she was in case she thought the inquiry referred to her abrupt departure from the dining room on the previous night.

We were sitting there rather uneasily when Marcus came in.

“There’s a hitch,” he said. “Something wrong with the vehicle.”

We all looked dismayed, and he smiled his bright smile.

“It can’t be much I’m sure we’ll get it fixed in no time.”

Georges Latour, who was also preparing to leave, said he would go to a garage and get someone to come to the inn.

“That will delay your start,” said Marcus.

“That’s nothing. It won’t take long in the car. I’ll bring someone back. Talk to Andrée while I’m gone.”

“A little delay won’t hurt,” said Marcus. “We may get to the coast in time to board a ferry. If not, there’s tomorrow.”

We sat waiting.

“I am afraid this is delaying you, too,” Miss Carruthers said to Andrée.

She shrugged her shoulders. “It is of no importance,” she said.

“I wonder what is happening at La Pinière,” I said. “Poor Madame Rochère. Whatever is she feeling now?”

“She should have left,” remarked Annabelinda.

“She could not bear to leave her home,” I said. “She spent all her married life there…and then she had the school all those years. It must be terrible for her. But if the Germans come…”

“She will know how to deal with them,” said Annabelinda. “They’ll be terrified of her…as we all were.”

“What nonsense! We were schoolgirls. She will be confronted by a conquering army.”

“Oh, she’ll be all right.”

We waited for about an hour before Georges came back. He looked helpless.

“Sorry,” he said. “I couldn’t get anyone. You’ve no idea of the confusion everywhere. They are working on a lot of vehicles they are going to need at any moment. No one had anyone to send.”

“I’ll see if I can discover what is wrong,” said Marcus.

“Do you know much about motors?” asked Georges.

“Not my line really. There is usually a mechanic around.”

“I have a little knowledge,” said Georges. “I might be able to see what’s wrong. I’ll have a try.”

They went out.

Edouard had awakened and was taking stock of us all. I took him onto my lap and he gripped my coat and kept hold of it as though to ensure that I did not leave him. Apart from that, he seemed quite undisturbed.

Andrée was talking a little now. She said that she must not stand in Georges’s way. He had always been keen to join the army. She thought they would be eager to take him now. They would want as many men as they could get.

“I shall have to go to my aunt in England,” she said. “I suppose I ought to be glad I’ve somewhere to go to. I don’t want Georges to worry about me and he is very worried, but I don’t want to live with my aunt.” She lifted her shoulders. “I do not know how long it will be. This war could go on and on, but I must not be a burden to Georges. Young men do not want their sisters clinging to them. I should like to do some work in England. Do you think that is a possibility? I wouldn’t mind going if I could do something. Georges will be in the army and that will help him…but myself…”

“I daresay there will be all sorts of work for people to do,” said Miss Carruthers. “Wars make work.”

“It is good to be able to talk,” said Andrée. “I feel you understand.”

“What sort of work would you want to do?” I asked.

“Anything. I wouldn’t mind working in a house at first.”

“Do you mean as a servant?”

“I wouldn’t mind. I’d rather do that than go to Aunt Berthe. In any case, I should be doing dusting and cooking with her. Why not do it somewhere else?”

“Then you’ll easily find something,” said Annabelinda.

Andrée had brightened considerably. She looked almost animated.

“Do you…er…know anybody?” she asked.

“We know a lot of people, don’t we, Annabelinda?”

“Oh, yes. Our families do.”

“I’m quite good at looking after babies,” said Andrée. “I’ve always loved them.”

“Oh, then…it shouldn’t be difficult…in London or in the country,” I said.

“If you would help me…”

“But, of course we will, if we can,” said Annabelinda.

“That would be wonderful. I was just thinking…”

We waited for her to go on, but she said, “Oh, no…it would be asking too much.”

“What were you going to say?” asked Miss Carruthers.

“Well…Oh, no, I can’t. You’d think me…Oh, no.”

“Please say it,” I said.

“Well…if I could travel with you…Georges need not come as far as the coast. He could go straight to Paris and find out about joining the army. I need not go to Aunt Berthe. If I could come with you…if you would help me.”

Annabelinda and I exchanged glances. We should arrive home with a baby, a school mistress and a girl who had been a stranger to us on the previous night. It would be a surprise—I might say a shock—for my parents. But these were unusual times and when tragedies overtook people, one must do all one could to help them. I was sure my parents would understand that.

Annabelinda said, “We could, couldn’t we, Lucinda?”