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Chapters (59)
  1. Cover
  2. ABOUT THE BOOK
  3. Dedication
  4. PREFACE
  5. CHAPTER ONE
  6. CHAPTER TWO
  7. CHAPTER THREE
  8. CHAPTER FOUR
  9. CHAPTER FIVE
  10. CHAPTER SIX
  11. CHAPTER SEVEN
  12. CHAPTER EIGHT
  13. CHAPTER NINE
  14. CHAPTER TEN
  15. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  16. CHAPTER TWELVE
  17. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  18. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  19. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  20. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  21. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  22. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  23. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  31. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  41. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  44. CHAPTER FORTY
  45. CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
  46. CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
  47. CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
  48. CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
  49. CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
  50. CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
  51. CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
  52. CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
  53. CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
  54. CHAPTER FIFTY
  55. ENDING
  56. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  57. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  58. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  59. Also by Val Wood

When Ellen came to move the hen back outside to her shelter in the yard she found two eggs in the straw. ‘Well,’ she said. ‘I think you’ve had a reprieve. You obviously prefer being inside, even though it’s not much warmer in ’scullery than outside. But you’ll be out of ’wind so mebbe we’ll bring you in at night if you’re going to pay for your keep.’

She built up a good fire with the wood and dressed the children warmly by it, then scrambled the eggs over it and gave them plenty of bread to eat with them. Her mother had made extra bread for them to bring back as well as several slices of ham and half a dozen eggs. She was thankful too to have Billy’s fish and a cabbage and potatoes from her father’s vegetable store.

When they’d finished and cleared away, she left the two girls playing with their peg dolls and took Thomas to visit Mrs Johnson upstairs.

Her neighbour called for her to come in when she knocked and Thomas tried to climb into bed with her. Ellen picked him up and scolded him but the old lady shook her head. ‘He’s full of high spirits, I think.’ She patted the blanket. ‘I have something to tell you.’

Ellen sat on the edge of the mattress. ‘Something good?’

‘Yes, I think so.’

‘Would you like to come down and sit by our fire?’ Ellen asked. ‘You can have a cup of coffee whilst you tell me.’

In truth, after her visit home, Ellen realized that though she loved her children dearly, she missed adult company; the days were often long with no one to talk to.

‘I would,’ Mrs Johnson said. ‘Is it all right if I come in my dressing robe? It is so cold to dress in here.’

‘Of course. I’ll take Thomas down again and then come up to help you.’

She asked Sarah and Mary to entertain Thomas for a few minutes and then went up again to help Mrs Johnson. Descending the stairs carefully, she mused that in a few months’ time it might be more difficult for her to support her neighbour’s weight, slight though it was. If indeed we’re still here, she thought. And if we do find another house, what will Mrs Johnson do then?

She settled her by the fire and made them both a hot drink, then sat down opposite her to listen.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE