He looked at her and smiled. ‘What work did you say you do at present?’ he asked.

She pointed up the road towards the villas. ‘I help with washing on a Monday and on two other days I scrub ’steps or scullery floors; I’ll do anything I’m asked to as long as I’m home in time to see to ’children. My sister is staying with us at present so she washes and dresses them when they wake, and when I get home I prepare breakfast for them and my husband; I think I told you he’d been in hospital, but he’s much better now.’

‘You’d still have to get up very early to make bread,’ he said.

‘I know,’ she said, ‘but we could prove it ’night before. Isn’t that what your wife did?’

‘Come to think of it, that’s right, she did.’ His face broke into a grin. ‘She’d be thrilled to think someone was using her precious range.’ He wiped his eyes. ‘She really would.’

‘So could I bring Anna to look at it? And how much would you charge us to rent it, Mr Foster, and for selling ’bread? Neither of us has much money coming in yet, but we’re hoping that Harry will be back at work soon, and her husband has got work already. He’s very clever. They’re Polish,’ she added, ‘and they haven’t lived here for very long.’

It was quite a lot to explain, especially about the Boscos, but it needed to be said. Some people were prejudiced against foreigners.

‘Well, shall we wait until your friend has seen it?’ he suggested kindly. ‘She might not like the idea. And maybe her husband would like to take a look at it too, as you say? It’s a few years since it was in use. And I’d need to consider the scheme carefully too.’

‘Oh, of course!’ I’m getting carried away with the notion of it, she chastised herself; but it seems such a worthwhile venture and we must do something to bring money in until the men are able to. But then she began to have doubts. How would they finance a bakery? They’d need money for coal for one thing; then flour, baking bowls and accoutrements, for hers wouldn’t do and she knew that Anna wouldn’t have any either.

Oh, it’s pie in the sky, she thought as she trudged home; I’m such a dreamer, and now I’m late and Lizzie will be worrying where I’ve got to. I won’t mention it to Harry yet. He’s got enough on his mind, wondering what this special meeting will mean for him.