‘Such as?’

‘Well, they rarely if ever get a day out for a start-off and most of them have never even seen the seaside.’

‘But that’s awful.’ Emma had always ensured that Holly had a week at the coast at least once a year, usually in Skegness or Southend in a boarding house.

‘I was thinking that we might be able to form some sort of committee to raise funds for that sort of thing,’ Holly said.

Emma thought it was a wonderful idea and nodded. ‘I agree, but we can talk about it later when you’ve had a rest. Now get some sleep.’

Holly yawned, drank her tea and minutes later she was fast asleep.

It was mid-afternoon when she woke and after washing and dressing she went downstairs to find Verity Lockett, Sunday Branning and her mother all having a tête-à-tête in the drawing room.

‘Ah, here you are, darling, we were just having a chat about you.’ Emma rose to greet her and after drawing her into their little circle she passed her a plate of Cook’s home-made scones. Holly suddenly realised she was hungry and bit into one.

‘So what’s this?’ she teased. ‘A mother’s meeting?’

‘Actually I was just telling them about what you told me this morning – that most of the children at the workhouse have never seen the sea.’

‘Yes, and it’s made me feel ashamed,’ Sunday admitted, helping herself to another scone. ‘My mother and I have worked really hard to ensure that the little ones are treated with kindness and are adequately clothed and fed but we never gave a thought to day trips or holidays.’

‘And so,’ Verity Lockett piped in excitedly, ‘we’ve come up with a few ideas to raise funds. For a start, we thought that we could visit the better-off members of the community to beg anything they have that they don’t use any more. It could be clothes, knick-knacks, furniture, anything at all really, then we could put the items up for sale in the parish hall. I’m sure Edgar wouldn’t mind.’

‘Yes, and I thought that if I craftily put the word out that certain people have made healthy donations to a worthy cause I’m sure others would follow suit. Some of these ladies of leisure don’t like to be outdone,’ Sunday added with a wicked little smile.

Holly chuckled. ‘You really have had your heads together, haven’t you? And I think they’re marvellous ideas.’

‘In that case, we’ll start just as soon as we’re able to,’ Sunday said and Holly had no doubt whatsoever that she would follow the ideas through.

Eventually the women drifted away back to their families and in no time at all Holly had to prepare for work again.

‘So when are yer goin’ to have a day off?’ Ivy enquired as she jiggled a fractious Alice on her hip. The poor baby’s cheeks were rosy red and she was grizzling, which was quite unlike her, she was usually such a happy little soul. ‘You seem to have been workin’ flat out for days on end.’