She was standing on the step of number twenty-six Chain Street, when Jack Sidwell appeared out of the sea of unfamiliar faces, at high speed, turning to come into the house.

‘Oh!’ He was so startled to find her standing there that he almost fell back down the step and had to recover himself. He pulled his cap off, revealing tousled blond hair. ‘I, er . . . Morning!’

‘Good morning,’ Annie said pertly.

Jack stood.

‘Did you want to come in?’ She stepped out of the way.

‘Er . . . I . . . Yes.’ He fled past her and she heard his feet hurrying up the stairs.

Annie stood tall and took a breath of the smoke-filled air. I must put upon me the armour of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil . . .

Full of a sense of responsibility for making disciples of all nations, she stepped out into the bustle of the street. Most people had their heads down, hurrying towards the working day. There were carts halted at various points along the road and the crowds poured past them like water.

Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory . . .

The Masters, Hogg & Co. manufactory seemed a bigger, even more imposing place than she remembered. By the time she arrived a soft rain was beginning to fall. Everything appeared doused in grey; the entrance was thronging with people trying to get inside out of the wet and for a few seconds Annie’s bullish confidence began to ebb away. She was used to being a queen bee, but here there were so many people, all strangers, that she felt suddenly small and defenceless. How was she to manage and where was she supposed to go?

Nearby she saw a gentle-looking young woman standing aside from a group of others who were cracking jokes in what seemed to Annie rough, intimidating voices. Going up to the girl, she said quietly, ‘I’m new today. Can you tell me where I’m supposed to go?’

‘D’yer know which room ye’re in?’

Annie shook her head.

‘I’ll take yer to Miss Hinks,’ the girl said. ‘’Er’ll tell yer.’

She delivered Annie inside where there was another girl waiting to start work that day; skinny and frail looking, the same height as Annie. She looked anxious, dark rings under her sad-looking blue eyes and mousey hair scrailed up into a bun.

Miss Hinks, their forewoman, was a gaunt, unsmiling person, an apron tied over her straight black skirt. She already seemed to know the other girl and called her Lizzie, though not with any particular friendliness.

‘So – you’ve not done press work before?’ Miss Hinks asked Annie in a sharp tone.

Annie was about to announce that she was sure she could pick it up in no time, but for once feeling compelled to be humble, admitted, ‘No.’

‘Right. Come with me then.’