‘There’s only potatoes, onions, carrots, lentils and chicken stock in my soup,’ Ellen said earnestly. ‘And I always wash my hands.’

Over their simple meal they discussed Anna’s options for employment, with Ellen looking after the children.

‘I was a teacher before I had my children,’ Anna said. ‘And one day, when they are older and when my English is better, perhaps I will teach again. This is a reason why we leave Poland: so we have better opportunities. We have so many, erm, restrictions in our own country.’ Her eyes filled with tears. ‘We leave behind our parents, our sisters and brothers, our friends. They say that one day it will get better, that we must live in hope. But I fear for them and we worry for our children.’

Filip took her hand and Ellen and Harry looked on in dismay. They had thought it a hardship to leave their home, but they had travelled only a few short miles. They hadn’t had to leave their homeland and families behind.

‘For a thousand years Poland was a haven for Jews, but now it is ruled by the Russian empire; it has been for many decades,’ Filip explained. ‘It is true there have always been anti-Jewish riots, but it was our country. We even had our own Parliament, but slowly over the years many communities have fled, and now we cannot call Poland our own.’ He shook his head. ‘Russia does not like Jews; it doesn’t like Roman Catholics very much either; and now they have partitioned our country. We Jews are controlled as to where we can live and what we can and cannot do. We cannot hold our own land, and we are restricted in professions. Our situation gets worse and worse.’ His eyes gleamed like fire. ‘And one day, I say Enough! If we cannot live a free life in our own country then we will find another where we can.’

‘I didn’t know – I had no idea it was so bad,’ Harry murmured. ‘I’ve been blind and deaf to what has been happening in other countries. We onny worry about our own lives.’ There was silence for a moment and a piece of wood on the fire suddenly sparked and cracked and made them all jump. ‘Well, my friends,’ he went on, ‘you are very welcome here.’

Anna wiped away her tears, and so did Ellen, who had been very affected by what Filip had said.

He was speaking again. ‘But let me tell you something. Some people still look over their shoulder. Even here in this town.’ They all looked at him. ‘This morning I tried to talk to the woman who lives above you. She works at cotton mill.’

Ellen glanced at Anna; neither of them had mentioned Mrs Johnson upstairs who had fallen out of bed.