‘If I’d known.’ Lizzie sipped her tea and turned back to stare into the fire. ‘If I’d known that he’d be took ill with influenza and not recover, well – I’m really sorry about Albert’s death, and it’s a regret that I don’t have a child, and perhaps I might have behaved differently; but on ’other hand I now have my freedom, and that, Ellen, is why I’m now full of guilt, for I love my new job. I’m asked my opinion by my boss, and this morning I saw off an intruder with ’tip of my sharp tongue; and that’s not how’ – her tone of voice changed as if she were choking – ‘that’s not how women are supposed to behave.’

‘I suppose women are meant to conform, but our ma always said we should think for ourselves and never be browbeaten,’ Ellen murmured in appeasement. ‘She asked me on my wedding morning if I was sure about marriage, and told me that I was very young to decide on such an important lifetime event; that it wasn’t onny about being starry-eyed over a handsome young fellow, and that there was still time to change my mind.’

‘Ah, yes, but we all knew about Harry and how he’d waited for you. Albert was an incomer to ’village, wasn’t he? We knew very little about him.’ Lizzie pursed her lips. ‘And I wanted my independence, and thought if I was wed with a husband I’d have it.’ She shook her head. ‘I was wrong. I could only do what Albert wanted us to do and not have an opinion, and it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t stretched; I was meant to be passive and compliant.’

Ellen smiled wistfully at her. ‘Well, you’ve got your freedom now, haven’t you? There’s no one to say nay to you. You can mek your own decisions about your life, Lizzie.’ She raised an eyebrow and added, ‘Perhaps for decency’s sake you won’t do anything too outrageous for ’next six months or so and damage your family’s reputation!’ Then she reached across and took hold of her sister’s hand and said softly, ‘You’ve always been a loving and caring person, Lizzie, and you will be again, but right now you’re feeling low and mebbe you think you’ve made some faulty judgements in the past, but it doesn’t mean they’ll impede you. You are grieving, no matter what you might think, and you cared for Albert when he was sick, and you’d have done it lovingly.’

Lizzie’s voice trembled as she spoke. ‘I did ’best I could for him. I wanted him to get well,’ and she squeezed Ellen’s hand as she began to weep, saying, ‘When did my little sister become so wise?’