‘You realize, don’t you, that we’ll have to leave this cottage one day? Once we’re properly on our feet and I’m earning a salary?’

‘Yes,’ she said, a little sadly, ‘and I’ll miss it. It’s been a haven for us; but one day, though not just yet, I hope, there’ll be someone else deserving of a chance of a sound roof over their heads, just as we were, and then we’ll move on. But we’re more secure now and we’ll find somewhere else where we’ll be able to thrive.’

‘Lizzie,’ Ellen said one Sunday afternoon. The sisters were alone, as Harry had taken the children to the park. ‘You’re going to be busy soon, planning your wedding and honeymoon, and Roland said he wanted you to enjoy a quiet time before the mill starts production.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘The mill is going up much faster than he anticipated. They’ll have the roof on before Christmas and they can start fitting the machinery in ’new year. Filip is hoping that Anna will have her baby before then and then he won’t have to worry that she’s on her own whilst he’s busy with ’installation.’

‘I’ll stay with her,’ Ellen said, determined that she would fit in visits to her friend in spite of the bakery work. ‘Sarah and Mary will be starting school after Christmas, so I’ll have some time. Julia says she’ll still look after Thomas, and Aron too if Anna wants her to.’

‘So – what were you going to say?’

‘I was going to ask if you’d like to come into town next Sunday. Bill Foster said he’d take us to look at where William Foster lived if we didn’t want to wait for Ma and Da to come; they’re dependent on Billy to bring them and he’s busy at ’minute. He and Florence will be getting wed too before they leave. I can hardly bear to think of him going so far,’ she added. ‘Do you think he’ll ever come back?’

Lizzie lazily stretched her arms above her head. ‘Maybe his great-grandchildren will come,’ she said. ‘Like Bill Foster did.’

Ellen shook her head. ‘I like everyone close by,’ she said.

Lizzie raised her eyebrows. ‘You left, didn’t you?’

‘That’s different,’ Ellen sighed. ‘Not ’same at all. But anyway, will you?’

Lizzie yawned. ‘What?’

‘Come with us to see ’Foster house?’

‘Yes, course I will, you goose.’

Ellen came and sat down next to Lizzie. ‘I’ll miss you when you leave here, Lizzie.’

‘I know,’ Lizzie said, and put her arm round her sister. ‘Best thing I ever did was come and live with you and Harry and your bairns. It made me realize what I was missing.’ She laughed. ‘And look what I found, an exciting opportunity to use my brain, and a handsome loving man waiting for me.’