Mrs Randell nodded, and Ellen’s father got up and said he’d drive down with Harry to his parents’ cottage and then walk back to stretch his legs. Billy said he’d go too, and Ellen smiled, knowing the two of them would call in at the nearest hostelry on the way home. Harry kissed Ellen goodnight and murmured that he’d see her in the morning.

Upstairs, the three children climbed on to the bed in the room under the eaves where Mary had been sleeping, the two girls chattering together but Thomas already falling asleep as Ellen undressed him and tucked him between the sheets.

‘Can we have a story, please?’ Mary asked. ‘It’s ages since you read to me.’

‘I know,’ Ellen said, giving her a hug, ‘and when we get home we can read every night just as we always did, but now you must close your eyes,’ and she thought how important it was that the children could look forward to a bedtime story before falling asleep.

When she came down again her mother lifted the steaming kettle off the fire to make them a night-time drink. ‘Now then, our Ellen. You’ll have cocoa, will you, and not tea?’ She looked across at her daughter. ‘You’ve summat to tell me, I shouldn’t wonder?’

Ellen smiled. Trust her mother to notice. ‘I expect you’ve guessed, have you, Ma?’

‘I reckon so. I’ve had enough of my own and seen all my daughters in ’same condition, so aye, I could tell there’ll be another grand-bairn afore long.’

‘I’ve onny just told Harry,’ Ellen said, thinking that it was just as well that she had, since her mother was so acute as to guess.

‘Aye, well, they don’t need to know till you’re sure, but you’d best find midwife when needed, for it’s too far for me to travel when it’s your time, and your sisters are tied up wi’ their own bairns, all but our Lizzie, who has difficulties of her own at ’minute wi’ a sick husband.’

Lizzie’s husband had been unwell for several months. It had started with pleurisy, and Dr Selby had told him to take time off work, but how was that possible when there was rent to be paid? Lizzie had been travelling to work in Withernsea in a grocer’s shop, but had had to give it up to look after Albert.