‘Ah! Yes, so I did.’ He scratched his short beard. ‘Nine o’clock then. We’ll have a chat and maybe you can take some notes whilst the surveyors are there, for I’m apt to forget the detail. Will that be all right?’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Lizzie dipped her knee. ‘Perfectly.’

‘Good. A very successful morning. And,’ he added, ‘you don’t need to curtsy to me, Mrs … ?’

‘Robson. Very well, Mr Tannerson.’ Lizzie kept her back tall and straight. ‘Thank you. I’ll see you in ’morning. Nine o’clock sharp.’

Ellen and Lizzie both said goodbye and involuntarily dipped their knees. He raised his eyebrows and gave them an enigmatic glance, said, ‘Until this afternoon, then, ladies,’ touched his hat and went out to climb into the trap.

Ellen closed the door, barely looking at Lizzie, who had clamped her hand across her mouth, her eyes wild. It wasn’t until they were safely in their room and Mr Tannerson had driven away that they each gave an excited shriek, startling the children, and putting their arms round each other swung round and jumped for joy, just as they used to do when they were girls.

‘I can’t believe I just did that,’ Lizzie screeched.

‘I can’t believe you did either,’ Ellen squealed. ‘A house,’ she said breathlessly.

‘A clerk to a businessman,’ Lizzie gasped. ‘An office manager!’

The children slipped off the bed and grabbed the women’s skirts, and they all swung round and round in a jubilant and exuberant circle.

Ellen put on her outdoor clothes and boots. ‘I’m going out to buy food; bread, vegetables and eggs.’ She lowered her voice; the children still hadn’t noticed the little hen had gone and she hadn’t intended to mention eggs. She drew Lizzie into the scullery and pointed to the empty space where the box used to be, and put her finger to her lips. ‘Not a word,’ she breathed. ‘We’ll scrub ’veg and put them over ’fire to cook whilst I go with Mr Tannerson. I wonder if he’ll go past ’hospital on ’way back? I haven’t got my bearings yet. But if he does I’ll ask him to drop me off to see Harry and then I’ll walk home.’

She gave a deep sigh, and her thoughts turned into words and came tumbling out. ‘I really hope this house is all right. He didn’t say where it was, did he? And I suppose we can onny look at it from ’outside. He won’t carry a key. What’s Harry going to think?’