As Jennet poured tea the mill hooters began to go off. First one and then another until the whole town was filled with their wailing. Then the clatter of clog irons on the cobbles began and a few minutes later Titus came in the door, stopping in his tracks when he saw them all sitting round the table and smelled the bacon frying.

‘What’s all this?’ he asked. ‘What’s tha doin’ ere?’ he asked Hannah with a suspicious glance at Mary. ‘How do?’ he said to her. ‘What’s goin’ on?’

‘Sudell’s gone bankrupt and done a runner,’ Mary told him.

‘Bloody hell!’ Titus hung his cap up on the hook behind the door. ‘There were some talk at t’ mill, but I didn’t think it were true.’

‘Gone in the middle of the night,’ said Hannah. ‘We knew nowt about it until we got up this morning.’

‘And what’s tha plannin’ on doin’ now?’ asked Titus as he tucked into the plate of bacon.

‘We’ll have to get mill work again, I suppose. I was hopin’ as tha’d let me board with thee for a while.’

‘Aye, all right,’ said Titus. ‘We could do with another wage comin’ in. And what about thee, Mary?’ he asked. ‘What’ll tha do?’

‘I’ll have to look for lodgings, I suppose.’

‘Can she not stop here?’ said Hannah. ‘I don’t mind sharing a bed.’

Titus pushed the last of the bacon into his mouth and chewed. ‘There’s not room,’ he said. ‘I don’t mind thee stayin’ for a while, but Mary’ll have to find somewhere else.’

‘I’ll be on my way then!’ said her friend, standing up and reaching for her bonnet.

‘Don’t go, Mary! Sit thee down,’ pleaded Hannah.

‘No. I knows when I’m not welcome. Thanks for the tea,’ she said to Jennet.

‘Where will tha go?’

‘I’ll take a room somewhere. I have a few shillings put by. I’ll let thee know where to find me.’

Hannah watched as her friend went to the door and closed it behind her. None of them spoke as she passed the window. Hannah was tempted to run after her, but she knew it would achieve nothing. Mary would be able to look after herself, she thought, although she was disappointed and embarrassed that Titus had been so blunt in his refusal.

‘Tha could have let her stay for a day or two,’ she told him. ‘It were a bit mean to send her on her way like that when she’s nowhere to go.’

‘She could go to Paradise Lane,’ he replied. ‘If I let her get her feet under t’ table here, we’ll never get rid. It’s different wi’ thee. Tha’s family. But her folks have caused us too much trouble for me to be doin’ her any favours.’

‘None of it were Mary’s fault!’

‘Aye, well …’ he remarked, draining his cup and reaching for his cap. ‘I’d best be gettin’ back. I don’t want my pay dockin’ for bein’ late. I’ll see thee later,’ he said, kissing his wife.