‘It’s all worked out well,’ Lizzie told her. ‘And don’t worry about a thing, just enjoy being with your lovely Harry. I’ll put ’supper things on ’table and entertain ’bairns when you come back, so you don’t have to do anything. Off you go, and let Roland do the talking. He has a way wi’ words, being Irish!’

Roland, is it? When did it switch from Mr Tannerson to Roland, Ellen wondered as she climbed up next to Tannerson and settled Thomas on her knee, not trusting him with the girls at the back. Sarah and Mary wrapped themselves up in their blankets as if they were going on a long journey.

The Beverley road was busy with people walking home from work, horse carriages and hand carts, and families were streaming out of the avenue that led to the public park, which Tannerson told them was called Pearson’s Park.

‘I thought it was somewhere at ’top of Queen’s Road,’ Ellen said. ‘I’ve got it wrong.’

‘No, you haven’t,’ Tannerson told her. ‘There are two entrances. This is the main one; did you notice the arch and gates leading in? The second is at the other end, where it’s still mainly grassland; Newland, it’s called, and it’ll be built on eventually, but that will take years and years.’

What a lot he knows, Ellen thought. He has his ear to the ground all right.

‘I wanted to tell you about the boys’ funeral,’ he went on. ‘Finally we have permission for them to be buried together. I’ll speak to the vicar and arrange a simple service. Kirkwood and some of the men who knew Jim will want to come, and I wondered …

‘Yes, I would too, but not Harry.’ She made the decision for him. ‘It would depress him, I’m sure, and I want him well. He won’t notice if I say I have to slip out on an errand.’

‘It won’t be yet,’ he said. ‘I’ll let you know.’

At the hospital, visitors were leaving the premises and Ellen hoped they were not too late to be admitted. Tannerson parked the wagon and went inside and once again worked his magic, for he came back ten minutes later. ‘You can go in now, Mrs Randell. Tell anyone who says you can’t that Matron has given permission. We’ll come to the doors in ten minutes to meet you.’