Ellen dressed the children and was relieved that the morning was sunny and dry. They took the keys, for Dennison had been true to his word and sent the locksmith to fix a lock on the hall door and a chain in the scullery as she had requested, and Harry suggested that they went round to the back of the terrace to look at the river where he had seen the lads fishing on his previous visit.

There were more fishermen there that morning and some already had catches in their trugs. ‘Will ’water be clean?’ Ellen asked. ‘I was thinking of all ’industry round here.’

‘It must be if ’fish are swimming in it,’ Harry said. ‘I forgot to look for my old rod; what do you think? Should I fish? It’s food for free.’

‘My da used to have a rod,’ she said, ‘and a trug. He used to fish from the beach when I was little. We’ll ask Billy to ask Da if you can have it.’

They stayed out for ten minutes and Harry pointed out the various seed-crushing mills, sand and lime works and tanneries. Ellen had thought it might be nice to bring the children to run around on the grassy area during the spring or summer, but now she had seen the industry on their doorstep she worried over the noxious air that sprang from the tall chimneys and kilns and what it might do to them.

A chill wind had got up and grey clouds scudded overhead. ‘It’s not very warm, Harry,’ she said. ‘Shall we go back in? We’ll tek a walk on another Sunday.’

As they walked back to the front of the terrace, they saw Billy driving the wagon towards them. With him was Ellen’s mother.

‘Good heavens,’ Ellen said. ‘They must have been up at ’crack of dawn.’ As she spoke she felt her eyes prickle. She was so pleased to see her mother, for she had wondered how long it would be before they could travel back home again to see everyone. Home, she thought tearfully. No; this is my home now, and love it or hate it I must make the best of it. I will try to love it, but right now I’m finding it very hard.

Harry helped his mother-in-law down from the cart, while she asked him to bring in a large basket and a box containing eggs, and warned him not to drop it. Ellen put out her arms to hug her mother and said how happy she was that she’d come, and the children tugged on their grandmother’s skirts, delighted to see her again so soon.

‘Come in, come in, Ma,’ Ellen said when the greetings were over, trying to sound cheerful. ‘Welcome to Hull.’

‘Hmm!’ Mrs Snowden glanced about her, and with pursed lips looked up at the house before stepping inside.