‘Jarvis!’ Marshall called across a row of looms to where a man was speaking to one of the women. He waved a hand to him. ‘Have you got a minute? You’re wanted.’

Filip saw the woman bob her knee to Jarvis, who turned away and came towards them. ‘Yes?’ he said brusquely.

‘This is Mr Bosco,’ Marshall said. ‘He’s an engineer.’ He nodded to Filip. ‘Good day to you, Mr Bosco,’ he said, and turned to go back where he’d come from.

‘Yes, sir?’ Jarvis said. ‘What can I do for you?’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Harry came home from work that evening as pleased as punch. He gave Ellen a big squeeze and kissed her; then he looked down at all the children who were fast asleep in bed.

He rubbed his chin. ‘I’d swear we onny had three bairns when I went out this morning; what have you been up to since I left? Where have these others come from?’

Ellen laughed and explained about meeting Anna and the children on the way to the baker’s. ‘We formed an instant friendship, isn’t that strange? I’ve known all of my other friends since I was a child, but Anna and I seemed to have such a lot in common, so I asked her back here and we got talking and now she’s gone back to their room to mek a fire before her husband Filip comes home. Bairns were very tired by then so I popped ’youngest into bed and they were asleep in minutes, and then the others climbed in with them.’

‘She must have thought you very trustworthy to leave ’children with you when you’d onny just met!’ he said incredulously.

‘I know,’ Ellen agreed, and then went on to explain that Anna was going to apply to the baker for work, if Filip agreed. ‘And I said that I would look after their children if she was taken on. She will pay me in food and bread from the bakery.’

Harry was smiling. ‘You won’t believe this, but I met him on my way out this morning. He was looking for work.’ He stretched out in one of the fireside chairs, where a fire burned merrily in the grate. ‘I liked him,’ he said, and then looked round the room, his gaze falling on the sleeping children in their bed. ‘I have to say, Ellen, you’ve made it look very cosy, but have you thought about where we’re going to sleep?’

‘Anna’ll come back to collect ’children when Filip gets home.’ But she looked at them all sleeping so well and wondered if she could bear to disturb them. ‘So tell me, how did you get on, Harry?’

‘Well, I’ve been gofer today,’ he grinned.

‘Gofer? What does that mean?’