Mrs Johnson didn’t answer, but turned her gaze on to her son and daughter. She spoke to them in her own language, but again Ellen understood. She was telling them to go upstairs and settle their differences once and for all.

In the upper room, Ezra closed the door and turned furiously to his sister. ‘What are you thinking of? You do not know these people and yet you sit by their fire, drinking their coffee.’

‘It is our coffee, if truth be known,’ Edyta answered defiantly. ‘Mrs Randell was kind enough to invite our mother to sit by her hearth, in which incidentally,’ her voice shook, ‘was burning coal that I supplied. That young woman goes out every day to collect firewood to keep her children warm and cook soup for her family; the least I can do is give her coal and wood which will not burn in our small fireplace. Think of that when you next sit comfortably by your own fire, and know that we are being neighbourly.’

‘Mutter could sit by it also, as could you if you were not so stubborn.’ The colour rose in his cheeks as he spoke angrily. ‘If you did not choose only to suit yourself.’

‘Instead of obeying you,’ she shot back. ‘Do you not think, Ezra, that I would like my own hearth and home and not share yours and your wife’s?’

‘Which you could have if you married Paul Kline.’

‘I do not want to marry Paul Kline! I know who I want to marry and who wants to marry me.’

‘Then marry him and know that you will not see your mother again.’

‘What have you got against Karl apart from the fact that he is not of our race?’ A sob cracked in her throat. ‘Do you not see that he is a good man? He will allow me to bring our children up, God willing that we should have any, to follow Judaism.’

Ezra sank into the chair that was set against the small fire and put his hands to his forehead, covering his eyes. ‘I’m weary of this, Edyta,’ he burst out. ‘I know he’s a good man, but I am only doing what I think is for the best; what I think our father would have done.’ He lifted his head to look at her and she saw tears in his dark eyes. ‘Don’t you see, I am trying to be both father and brother to you?’

With a jolt, she understood. He was missing his father. He had been thrown into the role of head of the household, both spiritual and domestic, before he was ready, and he was too proud to admit it.

‘Our Vater is gone, Ezra,’ she said softly. ‘You must speak to our Mutter; ask her advice as a son, and she will enlighten you. And then you can be my loving young brother again, as once you were.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE