Two weeks after James was buried Barbara began to suspect that she might be pregnant and by the beginning of December she was almost certain. The thought of it set her mind in a turmoil and she did not know whether to be glad or sorry. To all practical intents and purposes it could not have come at a worse time. She had begun working for the Civil Nursing Reserve for four days a week, surprisingly encountering no resistance from the Spindlers who seemed to look upon her choice of war work as not only acceptable but also laudable, as if she was making some great sacrifice instead of enjoying herself hugely, which was much closer to the truth. But Barbara had the uncomfortable feeling that their attitude would change when they knew she was pregnant with their grandchild and her heart sank at the thought of being confined once more by the stout old walls of Hillsbridge House. It was such a pleasure to be travelling to Bath on weekdays once more, even if the trains were sometimes delayed so that she was left waiting on the platform for anything up to three quarters of an hour.
