Jamie's mood is not improving as the afternoon wears on, either.

Fortunately, before any of them snaps, they come to a long hedge. The sound of children's voices comes from behind it. Jamie knows a thing or two about how children play (more than Helen or Joris does, he bets; neither of them would know the first thing about a normal childhood) and where there are children, in this kind of climate, there are almost always shed coats and jackets and sweaters left somewhere behind.

Jamie pushes through the hedge to let them see what's beyond.