Secrets of a Charmed Life

On the train ride to Moreton-in-Marsh, Emmy remembers when she went by train to Brighton Beach with Julia, their mother, and Neville. Though she tries to hold on to her anger, Emmy enjoys the train ride and the food their mother sent with them, and she finds herself sad, rather than angry. On the train ride, she becomes acquainted with the group’s leader, Mrs. Braughton, who allows Emmy to call her Alice. When they arrive at Moreton-in-Marsh, they walk with the group to the building. The sisters each eat a meringue, and then they are called with the other children to meet the adults who wish to take them in during the war. A middle-aged couple approaches the sisters first: Howard and Margaret Trimble. Margaret is immediately fond of Julia, but both she and Howard are troubled by Julia’s candid admission that she and Emmy have different fathers who are both away. When they ask to take Julia, both Emmy and Alice say that the sisters will stay together. Before they walk away, Howard expresses displeasure with Emmy’s attitude, but Emmy remains steadfast about her role as her sister’s caretaker.

Emmy hopes that this will cause her to have to go back to London, and she gets into a dispute with Alice, feeling judged because of her background.