‘No indeed,’ he said, pouring the tea. ‘My ma would have a seizure if she should see me.’

‘Don’t tell her then, will you?’ Ellen gave him a grateful smile as she took the cup from him. ‘Will Sarah be all right with her?’

‘She’s had a few children of her own, hasn’t she? I think she’ll manage! How do you think Mary is faring?’

Ellen shook her head, glancing down at the sleeping child. ‘I don’t know,’ she said quietly. ‘She’s not so hot now. I think ’willow bark helped. I might never have thought of it if my mother hadn’t said.’

‘These mothers know a thing or two.’ He sat down opposite her. ‘You’ll be ’same when you’ve got a few more years on your back.’

‘Why did you come home?’ she asked suddenly. ‘Although I’m glad that you did. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t walked in the door.’

‘A knight in shining armour,’ he said. ‘Well, ’fact is …’ He hesitated. ‘I came to tell you something, and to ask you something as well. But it can wait. I ought to be getting back or Charlesworth will have something to say about me slacking.’ He rose to his feet. ‘We’ll discuss it later.’

Ellen sat up, disturbing, but not waking, Mary. ‘Put her in ’bed for me, will you? She might sleep now.’

Harry took Mary from her arms and Ellen opened the door into the bedroom where he put her down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Mary turned over and put her thumb in her mouth.

They both smiled, and Harry took Ellen’s hand as they tiptoed out. ‘I think she’ll be all right now,’ he whispered. ‘That’s a proper sleep she’s having.’

Ellen wiped away a tear. ‘I was so worried. What would we do if we lost any of them?’

‘Hush,’ he said, wrapping his arms round her and dropping a kiss on her forehead. ‘Don’t think of it.’

‘So what were you going to tell me?’ she said. ‘Just so that I can think about it until you come home.’

He gazed at her. ‘It’s onny a thought. An idea. Nothing might come of it. It’s just summat one of ’farm lads, Josh, mentioned. Charlesworth has given him ’sack.’

She drew in a breath. ‘Why? What’s he done?’

‘He’s done nowt. Charlesworth just said he didn’t need him any more.’

Ellen licked her lips. ‘So – what did he say?’

‘He said he was going to try for work in Hull.’

‘But he’s a farmhand. What can he do in Hull?’

‘Plenty of jobs in factories if you’re willing to work, and he’s a strong lad, so why not?’

‘And your question to me was … ?’