Maddie went away and returned moments later with a box full of the most beautiful glass baubles Ruby had ever seen, along with some tiny candles and holders.

Nell was still in bed following yet another late night and Mrs Petty was busy preparing the dinner in the kitchen so Maddie told Ruby, ‘You may decorate it, if you like. I have to go out for a few hours and it will give you something to do.’

‘Are you sure?’ Ruby gazed dubiously at the pretty baubles. They looked so delicate that she was afraid she might break them. They had never had a Christmas tree back at home, her father had insisted they were a complete waste of money so she couldn’t help but feel a little excited. ‘I’m just a little afraid I might break ’em. They’re so fragile.’

‘I’m sure you won’t and if you do we’ll go out and buy some more.’ Maddie gave her a kindly smile as she headed for the door. ‘Have fun and I’ll see you later.’

Ruby bit her lip as she began to lift the little ornaments from the box. Each had a tiny ribbon attached so that it could be hung on the tree and they were all the colours of the rainbow. Tongue in cheek she concentrated as she spread them across the tree and when she got to the top branches, she fetched a chair to stand on so she could reach them. Sometime later, she stood back to inspect it with satisfaction. The light from the fire was making the jewel-like colours of the baubles flash across the room and Ruby was sure she had never seen anything quite so beautiful in her life.

Next came the holders and the candles, which proved to be slightly more difficult to attach, but Ruby persevered and was so engrossed in what she was doing that she almost jumped out of her skin when Mrs Petty said, ‘Your lunch is nearly ready, bab . . . Ooh! Now don’t that look pretty, eh?’

Ruby giggled as she stepped away to look at the almost finished results. Thankfully nothing had been broken, and Mrs Petty was right. It did look very pretty indeed and she hoped that Maddie would approve of her efforts when she returned. Nell entered the room at that moment, knuckling the sleep from her eyes and yawning, and she too smiled when she saw the tree.

‘That looks absolutely bostin’!’ she said and Ruby couldn’t have agreed more and felt quite proud.

‘Maddie out, is she?’ Nell asked.

Mrs Petty nodded. ‘Yes, she is. She’s gone to visit Serena. Now come along the pair o’ yous! I’ve got a nice pan o’ stew simmering on the range an’ I don’t want it burnt.’