After viciously banging the top of the receiver, which only served to enhance the interference, he turned abruptly. ‘Kitty,’ he roared through clenched teeth, ‘for goodness’ sake, can you no keep that bawling bairn quiet? Och,’ he continued with disgust, ‘does nobody in this house understand that I want to listen to this broadcast?’ ‘That right?’ his sister Kate chuckled. ‘Aye, it is,’ was his impatient retort, as he waved his hands in the air. ‘I mean, do I have to spell it out to you just how very important it is that I hear exactly what Winston Churchill said to the parliament today?’ ‘Important to you, is it?’ goaded Kate. ‘Well let me tell you, sonny boy, all he said was that he’d nothing to offer the whole country except …’ She hesitated so as to savour the moment before slowly simpering, ‘Blood – toil – tears – and – sweat.’ Johnny’s jaw dropped. ‘He never did,’ he slowly drawled. ‘Oh, but he did,’ was all Kate replied.
