“Well, give Marlene my regards when you write to her. Tell her I miss her, too. She always did such a beautiful job with my hair.”
Polly’s smile faded. “I don’t know if she’ll ever go back to being a hairdresser, m’m. She says as how the war has changed her, and she’s talking about becoming a nurse when it’s over.”
“How splendid!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “We could certainly use dedicated people like her.”
“Yes, m’m. I’ll tell her you said so.” Polly hurried out, and Elizabeth looked at Violet, who was pouring hot tea into the china teacups.
“It’s very refreshing to see young people getting involved like this,” Elizabeth said.
Violet carried a steaming cup and saucer over to Elizabeth and placed it in front of her. “About time they did something,” she muttered. “Instead of nattering about film stars and clothes all the time.”
Elizabeth glanced at Sadie, who rolled her eyes but, thankfully, held her tongue.
“Don’t disturb Martin if he’s sleeping,” Elizabeth said, turning back to Violet. “He’s seemed rather preoccupied lately. I hope he’s not falling ill.”
“The only thing wrong with Martin is his mind,” Violet said crisply as she carried the cup and saucer over to the door. “If he didn’t spend so much time talking to imaginary ghosts and worrying all the time about Germans invading us, he wouldn’t get so worn out.”
The door swung to behind her, leaving Elizabeth alone with Sadie, who was still occupied with sorting out the laundry.
“The thing that really makes me cross, m’m,” Sadie muttered, “is that now I have to buy new knickers. I was saving up my coupons to buy a new blouse. Now I’ll have to wait another two months.”
“I might be able to spare a coupon or two,” Elizabeth offered.
Sadie’s face brightened considerably. “Oh, could you, m’m? That would be smashing. Really. I could pay you back later, if you like.”
“There’s no need for that.” Elizabeth got up from her chair and fetched her handbag from the dresser. Opening it, she peered inside, then fished out her coupon book. “Here.” She tore out three coupons. “You may use these.”