Harry came home early; Tannerson’s workers had been given extra time off and received a Christmas bonus as well as the meat. Harry, having only been working with the company for a short time, received a smaller bonus than the others, but as he tipped the money on to the table he thanked his lucky stars for the chance that had led him to Tannerson’s that very first day.

Ellen drooled over the thick rib of beef. ‘How perfect for slow cooking,’ she said. ‘Did Mr Tannerson know we had no oven for roasting? This is just right for cooking over ’fire.’

‘I told him we’d onny a fire. He must have remembered what I’d said.’ He pondered over this and thought how very remarkable it was that he had.

Harry told the children a story before bedtime whilst Ellen prepared next day’s special meal, cutting the beef into thin slices and adding onions and carrots, with a grating of nutmeg and allspice. She had sent Harry out to the alehouse with a small jug earlier, and now she poured a cup of frothing ale into the dish. He’d bought a small sack of coal with some of his extra money and built up the fire to give the casserole a good start, and when the children had been put to bed he turned down the lamp and sat down by the fire to share the remainder of the ale with Ellen.

‘It’s mebbe going to be a good Christmas after all,’ he murmured. ‘We’ve a good meal to look forward to, at least.’

‘And presents to open from ’Boscos,’ she said. ‘Wasn’t that nice of them?’

They both lifted their heads when they heard something outside the front door, and then someone gently tapped on theirs.

Harry went to open it. Edyta and Karl Kidman, whom Harry hadn’t yet met, were standing in the small hall.

‘Sorry,’ Edyta whispered. ‘We didn’t want to wake the children. Harry, this is Karl.’

‘Please come in,’ Harry said, shaking hands.

‘It is Hanukkah,’ Edyta said. ‘We have brought presents.’

‘It is also Christmas,’ Karl added, ‘and I have brought something for the children.’

Ellen and Harry were astonished at their generosity. Edyta had brought a gift of honey cake from her and her mother. Karl had brought a bottle of brandy and a small parcel for each of the children.

‘There is a small tree outside,’ Edyta said. ‘Is it yours?’

Ellen and Harry looked at each other and Harry shrugged. But Ellen said, ‘Anna called earlier and asked where our Christmas tree was. I said we wouldn’t be having one this year.’

‘Shall I bring it inside?’ Karl asked. ‘It must be for you. It was leaning against the door.’

The two men went outside. ‘It’s a young tree,’ Harry said in astonishment. ‘Can it really be from the Boscos?’