The Address - Marga Minco

Yes. The statement gives an important clue that the story is set after the War and that many people had not returned. It suggests that the narrator’s family had been displaced and that the belongings at Mrs Dorling’s house were being kept from the time before the War. The line also hints at the loss, separation, and uncertainty caused by war.

The girl likely underwent many hardships during the pre-War and post-War years. Before the War, she and her mother had to live with the fear of losing their home and possessions, and they trusted Mrs Dorling to keep their valuable things safe. During and after the War, they seem to have been displaced, had to live with scarcity, and perhaps in a small rented room with very few belongings. The story suggests the pain of losing one’s home, familiar surroundings, and the comfort of ordinary possessions.