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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

Ellen swept the tears away with her fingertips. ‘Yes,’ she said croakily. ‘You did, sir, and I’m grateful. We’ll both be grateful, it’s just – it’s just that—’ A sob escaped involuntarily. ‘I don’t know how we’ll manage until then. The parish – I don’t know if they’ll allow us any relief as we haven’t lived in Hull for very long – I think there’s a minimum time before a claim can be made.’

He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. ‘Mrs Randell. It won’t come to that. Your husband is due to receive compensation for his injuries. Everything is in hand, it’s just taking time.’ He stood up and went to a metal box on top of a cabinet. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, opening the box with a key that he took from his pocket. ‘I should have thought before. I’ve had so much on my mind. I’ll give you something on account, just to tide you over. Five shillings?’ he asked, turning to her. ‘That’ll buy food and pay your rent. Only pay the usual,’ he warned. ‘Don’t pay any extra, as you’ll never get it back if by chance you should move house.’

He fished about in the desk drawer for an envelope and put the coins inside and handed it to her. ‘I’ll make a note that it’s on account of what is to come, and I’ll try to come and see you tomorrow.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Ellen hurried down the steps to where her sister and the children and Filip were waiting.

‘You’ve been crying,’ Lizzie said, eyeing her keenly, and Sarah came and put her hand in her mother’s.

‘Is everything all right, Ellen?’ Filip asked. ‘Harry is not to lose his job? If so I will speak for him to Mr Tannerson!’

‘No, no,’ she said shakily, and put her other hand to her nose and sniffled. ‘He’s been very kind. He assured me that Harry will go back to work and he’s – he’s given me some money to tide us over until ’compensation comes through. He’d said there’d be some money while Harry was recovering, but I didn’t know – didn’t think there’d be compensation! I was only hoping that Harry would get his job back.’

Tears ran down her cheeks again, but she saw the children were watching her and gave a rather watery smile. ‘I’m crying because I’m so relieved. I thought we’d have to apply for parish relief and thought how ashamed I’d be, and anyway, I was doubtful we’d get it.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Filip said, with a puzzled frown. ‘What is this relief?’