Kate, full of importance, said, ‘I must go and find Danny and tell him.’ In the next moment the child had rushed from the house and Esther had not the strength to stop her.

The following day, Esther opened her back door in answer to a knock and was surprised to find Tom standing there.

‘Tom – come in,’ Esther invited, her voice still croaky.

Tom hesitated a moment and then eased his bulk through her scullery and into the kitchen.

He pulled his cap from his head and stood twisting it in his huge hands. ‘Esther, lass,’ he began, ‘Eland told me what happened yesterday. I want you to know – I’m sorry.’

‘Tom . . .’

‘No, lass. Hear me out – please. They’ll not bother you again, I’ve seen to that. But I’d just ask ya to keep away from me farm for a while – an’ mebbe church an’ all. Just for a time, like.’ The cap was still revolving through his restless fingers. ‘I’ve never in me life raised me hand to me wife an’ I dun’t intend to, but, by God, when Eland told me – I came close to it, lass.’

Esther shook her head sadly. ‘Tom – I’ve told you before, I never wanted to cause trouble between you and your wife . . .’

‘I know, I know.’ He shook his head, wonderingly. ‘I just dun’t understand her mesen. You’re like a red rag to her, Esther, an’ that’s a fact.’

‘Tom,’ Esther asked, suddenly remembering, ‘were you related to Sam Brumby? Is that what started it all?’

‘Oh, aye, but years back. Now let’s see – my grandfather’s sister was Sam’s mother.’

Esther nodded. ‘There’s an entry in Sam’s old family Bible. I did wonder.’ She sighed. ‘Martha thinks all this – ’ she waved her arm to encompass all Sam’s belongings in the house – ‘should have come to you.’

Tom shrugged. ‘Mebbe, Esther. To tell you the truth, I never give it a thought.’

Esther believed him. It was only Martha and her grasping sister who resented her.

She also believed Tom when he said that their persecution of her was at an end. For that, she was thankful, yet his advice to stay away, not only from his farm but from the church too, would isolate her from the community more than ever.

Like Ma Harris, but not as bluntly, Tom was saying they wanted no more to do with Esther Hilton.

A few days later, when she had fully recovered, Esther went to the point in search of Robert Eland.

‘I came to thank you, Robert. You saved my life.’

The man looked up at her from where he was sitting on the river bank, mending his fishing net. He nodded briefly in swift acknowledgement of her thanks. Then, looking back down at his nets, he said, ‘I reckon we’re equal now, then. For yar man saved my life that night.’