in the bedrooms the children were preparing to sleep . in turmoil and excitement probably , because of the strangeness , and being packed together . what was Thomas doing ? he liked to watch them ; he wanted children now ; he might be undressing Bobbie . and Aunt Mary ? she would be alone , as always . she would be plaiting the iron hair in two stiff little pigtails , and when that was done she would sit on the edge of the wide , lonely bed she had claimed for herself , and she would rub her legs , and sigh , and she would pull over her head the voluminous wincey nightgown with the tucks on the bodice and the round collar up under her chin . and when at last she lay down she would rise out of the bed in rigid humps , like a mountain . she would not lie relaxed and peaceful , as though she were resting , but iron hard , as though she were still fighting . Kate and Thomas came back along the hall , at ease and smiling . children on the point of going to bed , freshly washed , are at their most lovable . hullo , said Thomas . it &apos;s quiet . where are the others ? Sheila and Hugh are fixing the boat , said Esther . do you think they can manage ? what was wrong ? what was wrong ? said Henry . what do you think was wrong ? bash , bash on the weatherboards all day ! I &apos;m tired of it ! I told him to fix it or take it away ! and I told you it was to stay there ! even if it did bang ! what can the boy do about it ? Thomas slammed up the window . he climbed out on the verandah roof , calling Hugh ! the wind washed in a great gob through the house , sending the curtains up to the ceiling . in a few minutes Thomas came back , grasped the sill , and looked in . where are they ? goddammit , where are they ? nobody answered . then , what do you mean ? said Kate . Thomas climbed in the window , catching his foot on the sill and tumbling to the floor . he picked himself up in a frenzy , ran into the blue bedroom , almost knocking Teresa down , hurled up the window there . the stern mooring line of the little boat hung straight down into the water . of the boat there was no sign . Thomas rapidly hauled on the line . the end came up . it had been cast off into the water . Thomas ran back to the landing , hung out the window there . the mast and sail , which he had laid in the guttering were gone . he closed the window , turned to the old man , and said in a choked voice , I could kill you ! for a while it was Teresa they must cope with . she was completely frantic . she would have attacked her father but that they pulled her away , and Kate took her into the only free bedroom , where for a long time she tried to calm her . Julie dragged off shoes and stockings and searched in the kitchen for aspirin , because there was none in the bathroom . the water in which she waded was cold , thick and repulsive , and she shuddered all the time , but it was not only with distaste of the water and the smell of it which was now permeating the house . the clammy flood reached to her thighs , and she could not keep her clothes dry . she had tucked her skirt up , but it trailed in the water . dusk was now thickening in the corners , and outside the water slapped , not below , as when one was upstairs , but round about , butting about one &apos;s ears , pummelling , menacing , with all too little to keep it out , keep it from engulfing one . she found the aspirin at last , and climbed the stairs , to where Thomas was waiting . he would not leave the old man . he would not let him out of his sight again until they were all safe . he had wanted to rush out , to swim to the boundary fence , at least , to see if he could see them , but there was no sense in it . there was no doubt where they had gone , downstream , to Sheila &apos;s home , which , as Henry pointed out , aggrieved , was n&apos;t far . there was no reason , he said , why they should n&apos;t be perfectly all right . but not sailing , Thomas had said . they would n&apos;t need to sail , said Henry . just drift there . they have only one oar ! they can use it to steer with . all of which was true , and no doubt Sheila and Hugh would be perfectly safe . unless they tried to come back . which they would be anxious to do , knowing their absence would cause alarm . at the thought of it Thomas grew cold . Sheila probably knew nothing of sailing , and Hugh thought he knew it all . there was one comfort , if Bob Higgins were at home he would stop any such foolhardiness . but was he at home ? that was what Sheila had gone to find out . Thomas took the aspirin and gave it to Esther . Julie , you &apos;re wet . you must change . I &apos;ll find something . Thomas , it &apos;s growing dark . had n&apos;t I better bring up a primus and some tea ? I should fetch them myself . I can manage . bring some things on a tray . then you must change . Julie went down again . the shadows were growing deeper , the water sounded louder , both what was outside and what she was pushing through . it made such a weight against her thighs , and the cold edge of it was a knife on her body . was it as high before , or do I imagine it ? she began to shudder again . do n&apos;t be silly . think what you need . the big tray was on the kitchen table . the primus , too , that Aunt Mary had used . she shook it . it seemed full . but do n&apos;t forget the methylated spirit . cups . a few will do . we can wash them in the bathroom . the tea caddy . the biscuit barrel . both of willow pattern and as old and familiar as the milk jug , which would be in the refrigerator . she could not open the refrigerator door . the weight of water against its lower part was too much . bother , I do n&apos;t like tea without milk . but I &apos;d better leave it . to open the door would spoil some food anyway . Thomas has matches . the lamps are upstairs . and the candles . I do n&apos;t know what else . sugar , yes . bread . and butter . a few knives . we shall n&apos;t starve overnight anyway . but can I carry it all ? it &apos;s a good thing we have rainwater tanks . we do have something to drink . oh ! kettle and teapot . it &apos;s awfully hard to walk in the water . am I tired ? it was n&apos;t so hard before . she was lifting the tray before she noticed water washing across the table . now fear caught her . the flood was reaching towards her waist , was covering the kitchen table . water dripped from the tray as she lifted it high . her heart hammering , she began to wade from the kitchen . Thomas , she said , as he came down to meet her , and took the heavy tray , Thomas , the water is deeper . it &apos;s nearly up to my waist . he looked at her , nodded . do n&apos;t go down again , Julie . for anything . Thomas , I did n&apos;t feel another wave . no . but it &apos;s risen quickly , all the same . now go and change . I &apos;ll watch the water . do n&apos;t worry . Julie padded off to find some clothes , wondering , in spite of all the worry and fear and the tiredness which was beginning to clog her , whether she at all resembled Aunt Mary doing the same thing . Esther gave her a frock and a warm dressing gown , and she changed in the bathroom . when she came back Sophie and Esther were sitting dejectedly , Henry was dozing , and Thomas peering into the dusk . but of course he could see nothing . are the children asleep , Sophie ? more or less . I &apos;ve threatened them with everything . they &apos;re settling down . oh , darling , do n&apos;t cry . for Esther had pulled out her handkerchief . cheer up , said Sophie . but all the same , why did n&apos;t I find me a husband at home in Wellington ? do n&apos;t you use your handkerchief . Julie tried to joke a little , and then Kate came back , looking as though she too were ready to give way . it would be better if the children were here , thought Thomas . they would pull themselves together . he came from the window and lit one of the lamps . the soft yellow light flickered , then settled , pooling so that the corners of the landing were still shadowed and remote , and peopled , suddenly , to Julie , by the ghosts now awakened . first Grandmother , of course , erect and certain , not fighting like Aunt Mary , but just - completely sure of herself . from the tip of her feathered toque to the heels of her speckless shoes she was groomed , polished , perfect and unapproachable . and Uncle John who was killed in Flanders , and who had become a legend and a symbol , someone for Grandmother to pin her prayers on , so that one never knew exactly what kind of person he was , and never would . his two brothers who had been a disappointment , and so were never mentioned , skeletons in the family cupboard . but they were there now , inhabiting the shadowy , shifting corners of the landing . did Esther notice them ? how is Teresa ? asked Thomas . she &apos;s lying quietly now , said Kate . I think she &apos;s all right . poor girl , said Esther . Hugh and Sheila are quite safe . Thomas spoke angrily , as though trying to convince himself . Esther wept again . Kate bent over her and said weep now if you must , Mother , but I ask you , please do n&apos;t weep for him when he &apos;s dead . she gestured towards her father . if you do , I &apos;ll remind you . Sophie looked uneasy , and Esther startled . then she said calmly I &apos;ll probably die first . no ! said Kate . quite suddenly she crumpled into a heap on the floor , laid her head against her mother &apos;s knee and cried as though she would never stop . they were all utterly confounded . then they became embarrassed , as though this were something not meant for them to see . only Esther , after hesitating a moment , knew what to do . as though indeed Kate were a child at her knee , Rose or Jane or Sally , she placed her hand on Kate &apos;s hair . she did not say anything , but the gesture was all that was needed , both to reassure Kate and to increase the feeling , in Julie and Sophie and Thomas , that they were intruding . they were all quite quiet and still . only Henry &apos;s head nodded , his eyes were closed , and his breathing loud and heavy , too loud in the quiet house , where it was almost dark , and they did not know what the night hours would bring . in Julie the peaks of this day could rouse no more emotion . she was , she felt , wrung dry and flaccid , like a cleaning cloth . the sight of Kate at her mother &apos;s knee , where not so long ago she herself had ached to be , should have pierced her to the quick , and in truth she found tears wetting her cheeks , but by now she was so exhausted that she felt no jealousy and none of the hate she had resolved to bear for her sister . nor pity either . she was worn out , and felt quite detached , and wished Kate had not broken down in front of them . should I not feel for anyone ? she wondered . is that the only way to live , the only way to avoid hurt , and make life bearable ? but she knew that was not the answer . and she thought , perhaps Mother is stronger than I realised . when she is needed she is there . perhaps it is my fault I never sat at her knee . I can not lick the tears away . there are too many . yet if I bring out my handkerchief Thomas will notice . and I &apos;m not crying , really . I feel quite calm and cold . but so tired . so deadly tired . Sophie rose at last , and went to the table . she tried ineffectually to light the primus , and Thomas came to help her . 