Chapter 16
Boxing Day dawned grey but promised to be dry and extremely mild. Looking forward to a day spent in Matthew’s company doing nothing in particular, George was a little put out to find that even here, he was unable to escape the dreaded football. A match had been arranged between the local brewery and the agricultural workers—and Matthew, by virtue of his father being a landowner with several farms in the area, would turn out for the latter.
“You needn’t come, you know,” Matthew assured George as he readied himself for the match. “I know it’s not really your thing, and I promise I shan’t feel slighted. You’ll have plenty of company here.” He grinned. “Or, if you like, you could go in for the cross-country race later on—Jimmy and Peter will be running. I’ve been trying to get Fat
