‘Could I?’ Diana was interested.

‘Of course. We could have tea afterwards at my mother’s and then go to the pictures in the evening. If you’d like to.’

Diana looked more at ease. ‘I’d love to, you know that. Will your mother mind?’

Jeff shook his head. ‘Of course not. Well?’

Diana smiled. ‘All right.’

Jeff managed a smile in return and thrust his hands into the pockets of his coat. ‘I must go now,’ he said. ‘See you tomorrow. We’ll meet at the school.’

He left her at the entrance to the flats and then walked back down the gardens to catch his bus.

When Diana opened the door of the flat and went in she found her mother just preparing coffee and sandwiches in the kitchen while Adrian Sinclair was stretched out on the settee watching the television. It was apparently the repeat of a football match held in some continental country and after greeting Diana, Adrian returned to his viewing while Diana went out to the kitchen to see her mother.

Madeline smiled cheerfully at her. ‘Well?’ she said. ‘Did you have a good time?’

‘Yes, thanks,’ said Diana, sighing a little as she remembered the kiss they had exchanged. She supposed idly it was the first real kiss she had ever experienced. Prior to tonight all the kisses she had been given were light, casual affairs, and even Jeff had been the same. Now suddenly it was all different. Tonight’s kiss had been full of emotions that she had not realized existed.

Madeline was looking at her curiously and she asked: ‘Why the faraway look in your eyes? Where have you been?’

‘Just to the Club,’ exclaimed Diana, flushing and feeling rather embarrassed. ‘I … we … I’ll go and get undressed, Mum, and then I can go straight to bed after supper.’

‘All right, darling.’ Madeline frowned to herself. There was something different about Diana tonight and she couldn’t decide what it was. It disturbed her to realize that Diana was getting to the stage where she did not tell her mother everything.

CHAPTER TWO

ON Saturday morning, Madeline and Diana usually went shopping together. They bought most of the food required for the following week and the perishable goods were stored in the pocket-sized refrigerator, in the kitchen.

‘I’m going to the grammar school rugby match with Jeff this afternoon,’ remarked Diana, as they ate their lunch. ‘Then we’re going to have tea at his home and go on to the pictures.’

‘Really?’ Madeline raised her dark eyebrows. ‘Will his mother be pleased about that?’

Diana smiled. ‘Why shouldn’t she be? Besides, we won’t be there long.’

‘Have you met his family before?’

‘No. But that doesn’t matter.’

Madeline shrugged. ‘Well, I hope everything turns out all right. Does this portend a more serious relationship in the future? I hope not. You’re very young, both of you.’

‘Oh, Mother!’ Diana exclaimed, and carried her dessert plate through to the kitchen.

While she was making the coffee her mother joined her, her expression thoughtful.

‘Just remember,’ went on Madeline quietly, ‘you’re still only a child and Jeff is still at school. He intends to go to university in the autumn, so you’ve told me, so it’s no use either of you doing anything silly.’

‘I don’t see that you’ve any reason to talk to me like this,’ protested Diana exasperatedly. She hated being talked down to. ‘After all, I’ve not said anything, have I?’

‘No. But last night you looked rather strange, when you came home.’

Diana felt her cheeks flame again. It was annoying to be so transparent.

‘For no reason,’ she retorted abruptly, and turned off the percolator.

Madeline wondered, was she being over-anxious about Diana? After all, as Adrian said, girls did mature earlier these days. She hoped so; how she hoped so!

After the meal was over Madeline washed up while Diana went to change. Then she got out the vacuum cleaner. She always did the apartment through on Saturday afternoons.

Diana emerged looking young and fresh in a tweed skirt and a chunky sweater. She was wearing a quilted anorak with a hood which actually belonged to Madeline and which was the colour of honey with a darker brown lining. It suited Diana’s olive colouring as much as Madeline’s and she looked rather ruefully at her mother.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’ she asked, indicating the anorak.

Madeline grimaced, an amused look on her face, ‘Would it matter if I did?’ she asked, smiling. ‘No, go on. It will at least keep you warm. And you’re wearing your new boots, I see. I’m glad you got them, even if they were expensive.’

‘Well,’ said Diana, ‘I want to look nice to meet his parents.’

‘Y … yes,’ said Madeline doubtfully. ‘Oh, well …’ she shrugged. ‘Have fun!’

‘I will. G’bye.’

After Diana had gone, Madeline set to work with a vengeance. She was not particularly fond of housework, but it had to be done and she was not one for shirking it.

By the time she had finished it was teatime, so she made herself a snack. Adrian always took her out for dinner on Saturday evenings, so she did not bother with much of a meal. They usually went to a hotel just outside Otterbury, and had a drink before the meal. Madeline always enjoyed the change it made as she did not go out at all during the week.

She changed into a jersey dress of amber-coloured material and combed her hair up into the French knot. As she applied a light make-up to her face she thought that at least her skin was good. It was smooth and unlined and she was aware that she did look younger than her thirty-three years. Amused at her thoughts, she realized that all this self-criticism had been brought on by the man in the red car and she wondered again whether she would see him any more.

Adrian arrived at seven-thirty. Dressed in a fawn lounge suit he, too, looked younger and distinguished, and Madeline smiled as she admitted him.

‘You look very smart this evening,’ she complimented him.

Adrian raised his eyebrows. ‘Thank you. So do you. The Crown won’t really do us justice, will it?’

Madeline pulled on a loose suede coat. ‘I expect it will be as pleasant as usual,’ she replied, matter-of-factly.

Adrian drove an old Rover which was remarkably comfortable. He was always saying he would have to get a new one, but Madeline knew his old car would survive a few more years yet. Adrian disliked change. He was a creature of habit. That was why she knew that she could never think seriously of marriage with him, if for no other reason than his staid ways.

The Crown was only three miles from Otterbury, on the Guildford road. It was a reasonably sized hotel, catering mainly for evening motorists who wanted to get away from the noise and bustle of the towns. It had built up a reputation for good service over the years and its restaurant was both efficient and well patronized. The food, cooked by a French chef, was delicious and varied in taste and Madeline always felt quite a gourmet eating there.

The road to the Crown ran past the Sheridan factory, and she felt her eyes drawn to the place as they passed. She wondered what position the man held. He had said he worked at Sheridans, so he was possibly one of the managers. Driving the kind of automobile he drove, she hardly associated him with the shop floor. Besides, his clothes had had that definite air of good tailoring about them, and even Adrian’s suits did not fit him so well or look so expensive as that. And Adrian was a headmaster! But then Adrian bought things to last and they usually did.

The Crown was very crowded, but their table was reserved week by week, so that at least was secure. Since the arrival of the Italians and Americans the town of Otterbury and its environs seemed to be getting smaller and the population was overrunning its limits everywhere. Adrian grumbled as he had to push his way through to the bar for their drinks. He fought his way back to her side as she stood near the entrance. He was carrying a vodka for her and a whisky for himself.