Deepening Stream Part II

Matey and Adrian have a daughter Priscilla (called Petella) a year after their marriage and then a son. Matey's sister Priscilla comes to stay to see her new niece, and seems to settle into the dull but pleasant life of the Forts and their friends. She does not seem to be bothered that it is provincial and "small towny", now. She gets involved with Peter Russell, a neighbour in their town who is a very quiet dull shadowy man. His wife died leaving him with several small daughters who need a mother. Priscilla decides to marry him and look after the children, though it seems that she does not want sex or more children, but is happy to have a life taking care of Peter and his children. Matey is also happy with her life. Francis, their brother, has married. He and his wife have a baby daughter but the child dies a few days after birth and he is very upset. War breaks out in Europe, the First World War, and Matey hears news from her French and Belgian friends. She is horrified by the barbarity of war, in the 20th century and upsets herself a lot thinking about it. Adrian, though he has a Quaker background is very ambivalent. He starts to think that although he is too much of a Quaker to fight, he should on moral grounds get involved with the war and try to help the French. Francis tells him there's nothing he can do and that he should not neglect his own children when he cannot make a difference in Europe. But Matey is also upset and wants to do something to help. She and Adrian take their two small children and sail to France.