‘Summat better! Is that true, Nellie?’ he called. ‘Are we not good enough for this lass now that she’s worked for Mister Sudell?’ He emphasised the mister and all the men around the table laughed again.

‘Don’t tease her, Fred,’ said Mrs Hall as she served some newcomers. ‘She’s only just started and she’ll not last if tha doesn’t treat her nice.’

‘Oh, I’ll treat her nice,’ he replied with a knowing look.

‘Leave it,’ Mrs Hall told him.

‘All reet,’ he said, lowering his gaze.

‘Don’t let Fred bother thee,’ said Mrs Hall. ‘He’s all talk and he means well. But tha’ll have to learn how to handle the banter if tha’s going to work ’ere. It’s no place for shy lasses,’ she warned her.

‘I can look out for myself,’ replied Mary.

Chapter Three

Hannah woke with a start when the knocker-up rapped on the front window, and a moment later she heard Titus going down the stairs. She turned over and came face-to-face with Peggy.

‘Why are you sleeping in my bed?’ demanded the child.

‘Because I’ve come to live here for a while.’

‘I don’t like sharing a bed,’ said Peggy. ‘Look the other way. I need to use the pot.’

‘I’m going down now,’ said Hannah, pushing back the covers and reaching for her clothes.

Peggy had grown up so much in the time that Hannah had been away that she barely recognised her – and she’d become such a lady. It must be the school, she thought. The child spoke so well she could almost have passed for gentry.

Hannah went down and helped Jennet to make the breakfast.

‘I can take Peggy to school,’ she offered. ‘Then I’ll go round the mills to see what work there is.’

‘That’d be a big lift,’ said Jennet. ‘Tha can fetch some buckets of water from the spring later an’ all, if tha would.’

‘Aye, of course,’ said Hannah. ‘Tha knows I’ll pull my weight.’

After breakfast she took her niece by the hand and they walked up to Thunder Alley where the girls’ school was situated in a long low building, tucked in next to the boys’ national school. The street was filled with children of all ages, from little ones like Peggy to the ones who looked old enough to be in work and were causing a nuisance kicking a ball in and out of the younger children as they waited for the master and mistress to open the doors and let them in. Some of the younger ones were crying, but Peggy was watching the older children with a look of disdain at their rowdy behaviour. She seemed wise beyond her years, thought Hannah as she heard the little lass sigh when the ball bounced off the wall with a thud, bringing the schoolmaster to his door. He was wearing dark trousers and jacket and an unfastened grey cravat hung loose around his neck as if he’d been disturbed whilst still dressing.

‘Bring that ball to me!’