“You have to stay at home.” Patience’s tone was firm.

“And watch the little ones go hungry?” They were already hungry enough. And now, without Twiggy’s meager income, there wouldn’t be near enough to go around.

As if coming to the same conclusion, Patience’s expression crumpled and tears began to slide down her hollow cheeks.

“I’ll come here with you—”

“No!” The word came out shrill. “I won’t let you!”

“At least then we can take care of each other.”

Another fit of coughing wracked Patience. She shook her head adamantly, the tears streaking through the grime, providing the only cleansing Patience’s face had seen in weeks. “You have to get a real job, Mercy,” she said when she could breathe again. “You can find something. I know you can.”

“I’ve tried.”

Patience’s bony fingers dug into Mercy’s hands, as if she could grasp Mercy’s soul through her skin and somehow save her.

“Don’t fret,” Mercy said softly, wishing she could ease her sister’s anxiety.

“The Columbia Mission Society.” Patience sat up taller, a light flaring in her eyes. “You have to go to the Columbia Mission Society.”

She had no idea what Patience was talking about but had the feeling it wasn’t a good idea.

“Several ladies from the Columbia Mission Society came to the workhouse last week looking for women interested in immigrating to Vancouver Island and British Columbia—”

“Stuff and nonsense!” Mercy extricated her hand and jumped up from the bench, drawing the attention of several older residents across the yard. Mercy lowered her voice into a growl. “I’m not leaving you. Don’t even think about it.”

“They want healthy young women of good repute,” Patience continued as though she hadn’t heard Mercy. “But most of the women here are too aged or sickly to qualify.”

“Patience, please stop—”

“But you’re perfect.” Patience pushed herself up and reached for Mercy’s face, holding her cheeks captive. “You’re young and beautiful, healthy and strong.”

The rare words of praise so startled Mercy that her stormy thoughts stopped raging and fell into an eerie calm.

Patience’s eyes glowed with such love and pride that a lump formed in Mercy’s throat. “The ladies from the mission society promised there’d be plenty of jobs waiting for each and every woman.”

Plenty of jobs waiting? For women? Did such a place really exist?

“You need to do this, Mercy.” Patience pressed her hands harder against Mercy’s cheeks. “You have to go to the Columbia Mission Society building at once and ask them to sign you up. Tonight. Now.”

At the anticipation in Patience’s face, Mercy held back her ready protest. Could she make herself consider something so outlandish as getting a job in another country?

“I don’t know where Columbia is—”