Lost Angel by Kitty Neale

wreck, but now she had blossomed, glowed with health and had been a pleasure to teach.
    ‘Ellen, did you pack your books?’
    ‘I wanted to, but Mum said they’d make my case too heavy. Will…will you look after them for me?’
    ‘I’ll do my best, but as I too might be leaving, perhaps I should parcel up our favourites and post them to you.’
    Hilda’s head shot around. ‘Leaving! What do you mean? I hope you’re not going to follow me back to London.’
    ‘No, Hilda, but I feel it’s time for me to wake up, join the world again. I’m thinking about enlisting in one of the armed forces.’
    ‘Yeah, well, the uniform would suit you,’ Hilda said derisively. ‘Mind you, I’m not sure that as a woman, you’d be allowed to wear trousers.’
    ‘Hilda, don’t be like this. I’d kept away from you for years, and you seem to be forgetting that it was you who asked to stay with me. I wasn’t sure how I’d cope, but knowing you were in danger, how could I refuse?’
    ‘I asked to stay with you because I saw you as a sister. I trusted you!’
    ‘I know, and I’m sorry. It shouldn’t have happened, wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been in such a state. I just couldn’t bear the thought of you leaving and lost control.’
    ‘That’s enough! Ellen shouldn’t be hearing any of this. All I’ll say is that you shouldn’t have tried it on, and now just shut up about it.’
    ‘What did you try on, Gertie? Was it one of Mummy’s dresses?’
    Gertie floundered for a moment, but then said, ‘Yes, my dear, I’m afraid I did try on your mother’s best dress and she wasn’t very happy about it.’
    ‘Why? Did you tear it?’
    ‘Well, darling, look at the size of me compared to your mother.’
    Ellen giggled, and it was followed by a chucklefrom Hilda before she said, ‘I suppose in a way I should be flattered, but I wasn’t, Gertie. I was just disgusted and in future, don’t you dare do that again.’
    ‘Don’t worry, I won’t. Your friendship means too much to me and I won’t risk losing it. We are still friends, aren’t we?’
    ‘I suppose so, but only friends and no more.’
    ‘I’m happy with that,’ Gertie assured her. She’d been mad to want more – mad to expect that Hilda would feel the same, and though Gertie doubted her feelings would ever change, at least she had the compensation of Hilda’s continued friendship.
    ‘Are you really going to join up?’
    ‘Yes, I think so.’
    ‘Will you sell the smallholding?’
    ‘It wouldn’t be practical to keep it. Unattended it would just go to rack and ruin and I have to think about the animals too.’
    ‘What about Bertie?’ asked Ellen.
    ‘I’ll have to find a new home for him.’
    ‘And Wilfred?’
    ‘Him too.’
    ‘Mum, can we have Bertie?’ Ellen appealed.
    ‘We can’t, love. We’ve already got Socks.’
    ‘Socks won’t mind. He likes Bertie.’
    ‘I’m not sure the landlord will allow one pet, let alone two. As it is, if we get the flat, we may have to sneak the cat in.’
    ‘But, Mum…’
    ‘That’s enough,’ Hilda snapped, her patience obviously wearing thin and her mood changing again.
    ‘Your mother’s right, Ellen, and anyway, I doubt Bertie would be happy living in London. Don’t worry, I’ll find him a good home locally,’ Gertie assured her as they neared the village. ‘Hilda, if you want to catch the train, we won’t be able to stop. If we do it’ll mean getting a later one.’
    ‘No, I don’t want to do that, but do me a favour, Gertie. Will you say goodbye to everyone for me, and…and tell them that I’ll never forget them, or their kindness?’
    ‘Of course I will.’
    They passed through without seeing anyone, and Gertie knew that when they finally reached the station she would somehow have to hold herself together. To do that she’d have to leave quickly, the thought of saying goodbye was almost tearing her heart in two.
    She straightened her back, hands tight on the reins as she