The Howards of Caxley by Miss Read, 239 pages

The last decade of old Septimus Howard's life sees many upheavals. War comes to Caxley, and his favorite grandson Edward, a pilot, brings home a wife who seems too cold and aloof for the Howard family. The Howards' restaurant in Market Square survives the wartime shortages, but its temperamental manager, Robert, is slipping past the point when eccentricity becomes insanity ... The last decade of old Septimus Howard's life sees many upheavals. War comes to Caxley, and his favorite grandson Edward, a pilot, brings home a wife who seems too cold and aloof for the Howard family. The Howards' restaurant in Market Square survives the wartime shortages, but its temperamental manager, Robert, is slipping past the point when eccentricity becomes insanity . . .