Time for Silence

Andrée immediately soothed him, and Annabelinda said, “Marcus will have arranged something. It won’t be long now before we are home.”

We spent another night in that inn, and in the early morning of the following day we boarded a Channel ferry. At last we were on the way home. Marcus had made it possible.

I sat on deck in the semidarkness, holding Edouard on my lap. Andrée was beside me.

“I don’t know what we should have done without you,” I said to her. “I know so little about the needs of children.”

“You learn quickly,” she said. “It comes naturally to some of us. I don’t know what I could have done without you. When I think of how you have helped me…”

“We must all help each other at times like this,” I replied.

Annabelinda was close by with Marcus Merrivale and Miss Carruthers. I felt very comforted to watch them.

How silent it was! There was a coolish breeze sweeping over the sea. We were all tired but too keyed up to think of sleep.

When I shut my eyes I could see the remains of the cottage. I could see Marguerite’s appealing eyes. And I knew that was something I should never forget.

I looked across at Marcus Merrivale. His task was nearly over now. He would deposit us at my parents’ house and then report to Uncle Gerald. Mission accomplished!

I smiled. What a fine man he was. What a hero! Not once had I seen him in the least perturbed. He had accepted everything with something like jaunty nonchalance and a certain belief that he would be able to overcome all difficulties. And he had.

We shall see him again, I assured myself. My parents would want to thank him, and he was, after all, a friend of Uncle Gerald’s.

That thought gave me a certain, warm comfort.

And then in the dawn light, I saw the outline of the white cliffs.

We had come safely home.

Milton Priory

THEY WERE THERE AT home to greet us when we arrived—my parents, Charles, Aunt Belinda and Uncle Robert—all, except Robert. My mother seized me and hugged me again and again. She seemed as though she must keep reassuring herself that I was really there.

Miss Carruthers stood a little apart with Andrée, who was holding the baby. My mother had given them a quick glance but she was too intent on me to take in immediately the fact that we had brought strangers with us.

My father stood by, awaiting his turn to embrace me. He was almost as emotional as my mother. Charles was dancing around. “Did you see any soldiers?” he asked.

It was a wonderful homecoming.

Marcus stood by, watching and smiling.

“How can we thank you enough?” my father was saying to him. “How grateful we are to my brother for arranging for you to bring them home…and especially to you.”

Aunt Belinda was talking excitedly and kissed Annabelinda and then me. Uncle Robert stood by, smiling benignly on us all. Dear Uncle Robert. He reminded me so much of his son, my own dear Robert.

“Where is Robert?” I asked.

“Robert joined the army immediately after war was declared,” my mother told me.

“He’s in training now,” added Aunt Belinda. “Somewhere on Salisbury Plain, I think.”

“I’m going to join when I’m old enough,” said Charles. Nobody took any notice of him.

My mother seemed suddenly aware that there were strangers present. Her eyes lingered on Andrée and the baby.

“I’ll tell you everything later,” I said to her. “This is Miss Carruthers, who has traveled with us from the school. She really doesn’t want to go down to the country just yet. If she could stay…”

“But of course you must stay, Miss Carruthers,” said my mother. “Lucinda has mentioned you in her letters. You must be exhausted after all this. I’ll have a room made ready.”

“And this is Mademoiselle Andrée Latour. We met while we were getting across France.”

“Welcome to England,” said my mother.

“She must stay here, too, Mama,” I said.

“Of course. Look. Here are some of the servants. They have all been so anxious about you. Mrs. Cherry…isn’t this wonderful?”

“It is indeed, ma’am,” replied Mrs. Cherry. “We are so glad you’ve come back safe and sound, Miss Lucinda.”

“We want two rooms made ready. Three perhaps…Major Merrivale…?”

“Thank you,” he said. “But I shall be reporting to Colonel Graham to let him know that all has gone according to plan.”

“But you’ll stay for a meal?”

“That would be delightful.”

My mother, in her usual way, was getting the practical details sorted out. I was longing to be alone with her. I could see she had the same thought in mind.

Aunt Belinda and Uncle Robert went off with Annabelinda and I went to my room. I had not been there long when my mother arrived.

As soon as she entered the room, she took me into her arms.