‘I know, it’s not what we’re used to, Ma,’ Ellen began, ‘but—’

Her mother wagged a finger. ‘Needs must when ’devil drives. Circumstance has forced you here, so you must put up wi’ it till your fortune turns.’

Ellen nodded and sniffed. ‘Yes, I know, but I do miss everybody already, and … and I don’t know anybody here.’

‘You soon will.’ Her mother looked about the room and then headed for the scullery. ‘For goodness’ sake, you onny arrived yesterday. Get settled in and then go out walking wi’ ’bairns, and folk’ll soon talk to you.’

‘You’re right, I know. It was a shock, that’s all. I’m glad that you’re here, Ma. I feel better already.’

Her mother turned and smiled. ‘You’ll feel even better when you see what I’ve brought.’

She picked up the basket that Harry had carried in and took a clean cloth from the top of it, then took out a cooked chicken, a basin of stuffing ready for cooking, and a turnip already chopped into cubes for boiling. From the box she brought out a dozen eggs that she said the hens had laid that morning, and a freshly baked loaf.

Ellen exclaimed at how early she must have got out of bed that morning, but her mother simply said, ‘I proved ’bread last night and baked it this morning. It’s still slightly warm; and I see that you’ve no oven so you’ll have to fry ’stuffing over the fire, but it’ll taste just as good. So there’s your dinner almost ready for you. Best put ’turnip on now if you’ve a pan handy, for it takes for ever to cook.’

Her mother was so thrifty and practical, Ellen thought; that was through bringing up so many children without much money. I must learn to be the same if we’re to survive, for there’s no doubt that money will be tight.

Billy distempered the scullery walls, splattering much of it over himself and the children, who wanted to help. Then Harry, who was a much neater, cleaner worker, began on the outside walls and soon the yard and the scullery looked much brighter than they had done. Next spring, Ellen thought as she gazed at the transformation, she would beg a wooden box from a grocer and plant some flower seeds.

Ellen’s mother and brother had a pot of tea but neither would eat any of the food that had been brought, although Ellen was sure Billy wouldn’t have refused had his mother not been there. She brought out a cake tin and offered him a slice of fruit cake, which he accepted.

‘In return for your hard work, Billy,’ Ellen said. ‘We want you to come again but you won’t if we don’t offer you any victuals.’

He grinned. ‘I won’t come again until ’walls need another coat o’ paint.’