‘And what did happen next?’ he teased.

She rubbed her cheek against his and closed her eyes. ‘I fell in love,’ she said softly. ‘With someone who loved me, and I knew I couldn’t leave unless he came with me.’ She opened her eyes. ‘And that’s what’s going to happen next,’ she said tenderly, ‘onny we’ll have a few little people with us.’

‘We’ll be all right, won’t we?’ he said, and she nodded. ‘You know that I’ll work my fingers to ’bone for you and our bairns.’

She kissed him. ‘I know that,’ she said. ‘We’ll manage fine.’

Harry did as Ellen had proposed. He was pleased that she had made the choice, as he hadn’t wanted to pressure her into agreeing, and it had surprised him to know that even when she had been so young she had thought that she might go to live and work in a large town like Hull.

He gave notice to Charlesworth. He had found his original contract with Oswald, which had never been changed, not even when Charlesworth had taken over, and so in theory he could stay on until 11 November, Martinmas, the traditional hiring day. As they were still in September, he had plenty of time to seek work.

The carrier called at Patrington and Hedon on Tuesdays and Fridays, returning on the same days, and the Tuesday after giving in his notice Harry rose early to walk to the Patrington road and catch the carrier on his way into Hull. He hoped to find work immediately, otherwise he would have to stay in a hostelry until Friday to come home again. There was the option of the railway train, but he didn’t want to spend the money. The carrier was much cheaper.

Ellen had packed him beef and cheese and several slices of bread, and he had put them on top of a small bag of money tucked into the bottom of a knapsack.

‘Be careful, won’t you?’ she said, as he opened the door to leave.

He smiled. ‘I’m not going to ’ends of the earth, Ellen,’ he joked, though unsteadily. ‘It onny feels like it.’

Ellen turned back into her kitchen; though the cottage was small, just one room, a scullery and a bedroom, it had been theirs. A good fire burned in the range, and the kettle hung on the hook above it. She felt sad to be leaving, but it had to be. She would begin her packing later, but now she would visit Harry’s mother in Holmpton and tell her of their proposed plans, and then she would call on her own mother and do the same there.

CHAPTER FIVE

Harry had mixed feelings as he strode out towards the main road along which the carrier made stops at some of the villages between Patrington and Hedon – Ottringham and Keyingham were two, he knew – before heading into Hull itself.