‘It’s another one of Finlay’s chemistry things,’ said Ann. ‘Taking powder and water and salt and putting them all together to make something tasty.’

Isobel paused in the kneading. ‘You are sounding very grown up, Miss Ann, if I may say so.’

Ann smiled to herself and patted her braids which, with Ursula’s assistance, were now looped around her head like a halo. ‘I have been thinking about how different things are now Ursula is here.’

Isobel continued to knead the dough.

‘And I’ve been making plans for my herb garden for next year.’

‘That sounds rather grand.’ Isobel shaped the rounded dough into a ball and dropped it back into the earthenware bowl to rise. ‘It’s only September. Next year is a good way off.’

‘I know, but I’ve been reading a book about choosing plants, and it says you should always plan things a long time before you need to do them. Have you got time to look at the garden with me now?’

Isobel looked up at the clock. ‘I expect so.’ She rolled up her long apron and tucked it into the waist strings. ‘Just five minutes, mind.’

They went outside and walked up the bone-dry path to the carefully tended herb patch at the far end. It was the only part of the garden which was still green and healthy.

‘What is it you want to do?’

‘I want this to be useful, so I need to know which herbs you would like more of. I’ve only ever planted the cuttings from the postman, and the seeds Finlay gave me for my birthday. But we might want different kinds next year. I’m teaching myself the proper Latin names.’ Ann pointed to each herb in turn. ‘Rosmarinus, Thymus, Salvia, Mentha, Melissa, Allium, Ocimum, Petrocelium.’

Isobel was impressed. ‘Very good. I think we might need more parsley, we use quite a lot of that. And sage, because of your favourite dumplings, and perhaps you could grow some lemon balm for salads?’

‘My book says there is more than one kind of thyme and sage. I’ll ask Ursula if I can buy some extra seeds. Do you think she’ll say yes?’

Isobel leaned backwards to stretch her back a little. ‘She might. You’ve worked hard at the digging and the weeding, and I’m impressed with how you’ve kept up with the watering. It’s very handy for me to be able to walk up the garden and pick a bit of this or that to help the dinner along.’ She bent down to nip off a few mint leaves and popped them into her mouth. ‘They have such pretty names, that’s for sure. Well, apart from the basil.’