The children bring a welcome distraction and go a long way toward filling the emptiness of the house. In the evenings, Siegfried entertains them with tales of the day's cases, embellishing as needed to thrill the young ones and impress the elder. The two oldest, Christine, 10, and Peter, 12, have developed a keen passion for model airplanes after seeing them flying overhead for months on their way to the mainland. Siegfried has begun making his own trips to Leeds for supplies, as the regular deliveries have been disrupted by the war, and sometimes takes the older kids along to pick out a new model from the hobby shop. The youngest, Susan, follows Mrs Hall like a shadow, thumb perpetually in her mouth, although she is often persuaded to remove it to taste-test the cooking. All five of the children soon learn to stay out of Siegfried's way in the morning, although the two 8-year-old twins, Sam and Kelly Ann, aren't averse to slipping the occasional mouse in the pocket of his coat while he's occupied with stocking his bag. His shout of surprise and the string of colorful language that follows never fail to send all five of the youths into stifled hysterics from their chairs at the breakfast table. Audrey scolds them dutifully, but it's nothing to the dressing down she gives Siegfried for using that language in front of the children. Siegfried protests, defends, and ultimately leaves overruled and petulant. Audrey, for her part, maintains remarkable composure throughout. She only allows herself a quick grin over the whole proceeding once the door slams behind him, leaving her a brief moment of solitude in the hall.
