She nodded. ‘I read about the government giving the census jobs to people without other employment.’

‘It’s something, I suppose. But it comes with strings attached. The work is for several weeks, but we had to sign a paper saying that if we get an offer of other work in that time, we will refuse it.’

‘That doesn’t seem so bad; it’s work, even if it’s only for a month or two. Surely that’s what matters?’

‘It is bad, though. If a man has been out of work for six months and is taken on as a collector, what if he’s offered a real job in those few weeks? A job that might last for months or even years? How could he turn that down?’

Ann frowned. ‘So this is another tainted census.’

‘I don’t remember the ’21 census being a problem. Apart from it being late because of the miners’ strike, I mean.’

‘If a strike isn’t a problem, I don’t know what is.’

‘I suppose, if you put it like that . . .’

‘I do. And that’s before one considers the difficulties in 1911.’ She glanced up at the clock, went over to the range and lifted the lid on a pot. ‘It’s my lunchtime. Would you like some soup? It’s just carrot and lentil, nothing fancy, I’m afraid.’

He hesitated, and then gave in. ‘That would be very kind.’

‘Bowls and spoons are on the drainer in the scullery.’

He got to his feet and went to collect them.

‘It’s just me here today. Isobel is out looking for work, a bit like you.’

‘Isobel?’

‘My friend. She used to live here and has moved back for a bit.’

‘There’s not much work about. That’s why I took this. Any wage is better than nothing at all, even with the strings.’

Ann scooped two great ladles of the soup into each bowl and put the bread and butter within reach. ‘Help yourself. The bread is two days old, I’m afraid, but if we don’t eat it up it will either be turned into bread and butter pudding this evening or fed to the sparrows. Have as much as you like.’

‘Thank you. It’s been a long time since breakfast.’ He breathed in the aroma rising from the bowls. ‘This smells wonderful. My mother used to say that good soup is a meal in itself.’ He dipped the spoon into the soup at the side furthest away from him and lifted it to his mouth, sipping from the near side.

Ann noted his good table manners without realising she was doing it.

He paused before taking the next spoonful. ‘What did you do about completing the last census?’