When she came out of the privy and had washed her hands in the sink, she decided that she would ask Filip to light a low fire beneath the outside wash tub so that they could draw off warm water to fill a jug and have a warm wash in the kitchen sink rather than a cold one.

She added twigs to the still glowing ash in the grate; when they had caught she added more kindling and then small coals and sat back on her heels to watch in pleasure as the flames licked and grew bigger and she could feel the warmth.

‘A primitive pleasure.’ Filip’s throaty voice made her turn. He was leaning up with his elbow on the floor, his dark hair standing on end as he looked towards the fire. ‘It’s where we gather, isn’t it, as we share friendship, trust and stories.’

Ellen stood up, feeling rather embarrassed at seeing him on the mattress, even though his chest was covered by a flannel shirt.

‘Yes,’ she murmured. ‘A fire has allus been an essential part of life. Mekkin’ food and keeping warm are amongst ’most important things we do, but Harry says that mekkin’ fires is a job for men.’ She smiled, her cheeks dimpling. ‘So I’m going to ask if you’ll mek one under ’wash boiler so we can have some hot water.’

‘Does it work?’ He threw off the blanket and stood up. He was wearing a pair of thin cord trousers. ‘We never used it when we lived here.’

‘Yes!’ she said. ‘It works well if there’s enough wood or coal to light ’fire, and today there is.’ She pondered for a moment. ‘I’ve just had a thought. I suppose we could even boil a ham in there – or vegetables. They take for ever on this fire.’

She was speaking without thinking and it wasn’t until she saw the whimsical grin and the raised eyebrows that she realized what she’d said.

‘Oh! Sorry! I’m so sorry, I didn’t think! How stupid of me—’

‘Don’t apologize, Ellen,’ he said, and added wryly, ‘if it is only a slice of ham that separates your tradition from ours, then we have little to worry about.’ He turned to the bed where Anna was just waking, tapped the side of his nose and lowered his voice. ‘But don’t tell my wife I said so.’

Ellen smiled and went to fill the kettle to put over the fire. She liked this man; he was open and honest, and she was sure he was a good Jewish man who followed tradition as far as he could, but wouldn’t hesitate to give help to anyone of a different faith, or ask for it in return.