Margaret watched her sister’s proud, passionate little figure disappear back through the factory gates. Annie was always so strong, so sure, and she was grateful for that. She tried to push away her unworthy, raging thoughts that she was the one hardest done by, in the face of her father’s unjust blame.

She hurried back to eat her own dinner with Eb and Hatt, joined also by Georgie, who seemed quietly amused that Annie had gone out to work at Masters, Hogg & Co.

‘We’ll see how long she lasts, won’t we?’ Eb chuckled.

‘Oh,’ Margaret told them, ‘if Annie’s determined to do something, she’ll cling on for grim death.’

‘Sounds like my Clara,’ Georgie said wryly, rolling his eyes.

‘Now look,’ Aunt Hatt said, when the men had gone back to work. ‘Let’s sit and have a talk about what you are going to do while you’re here.’ She turned her chair to rest her feet on the fender and sat back wearily, sipping the tea Mrs Sullivan had made after dinner.

Aunt Hatt had been busy in the office all morning and Margaret had kept out of the way, feeling at a loose end, her mind full of dark thoughts made all the worse by her father’s letter. She knew she needed to be occupied. She wondered if she should do what Uncle Eb had suggested and learn to work the polishing machine.

‘I know your health is not very strong,’ Aunt Hatt began.

‘But I’m much better now,’ Margaret protested. ‘I’m sure I could work. Uncle Eb said—’

‘No, no –’ Aunt Hatt waved a hand dismissively, almost knocking her cup from its saucer. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea at all. I’ve got plenty for you. We could certainly do with another pair of hands in the office. Susan does a lot of the paperwork and Bridget’s on packing – but we’re ever so busy. There’s always the post needs doing . . .’ Aunt Hatt seemed to be going through a list of tasks in her mind. ‘And I can show you how to do some of the paperwork and you can help Bridget when needs be. Yes –’ She looked pleased. ‘I think we can squeeze you in for the time being. The more I think of it, you’d be a godsend!’

‘I hope so,’ Margaret smiled gladly. ‘Any help you want, Auntie, you just ask.’

‘Oh – and if that sister of yours stays the course, there’s her dinner every day . . . You can take it if she doesn’t want to have to come back here.’

‘I’ll do that, of course.’ Margaret had been glad of the chance to get out of the house.

‘Well, there you are. Plenty to do and you’ll earn your keep. We’ll pay you a few shillings on top of that, though.’