It was early evening before Kate took the three children down the lane and over the Hump to the Point. The youngest boy had to be carried and was asleep against Kate’s shoulder by the time they arrived at the cottages. His brother dragged his feet with tiredness, but Rosie seemed to have boundless energy, running ahead of them to stand on top of the Hump shouting back, ‘Come on, oh, do come on,’ then running down the other side of the bank and across the grass towards her new home.

Georgie and Peter Harris were lifting the last heavy box from the cart.

‘Now then, our Rosie. Ya’ve a little bedroom all to ya’sen. Come and see.’

Rosie squealed with delight, clapped her hands and ran into the cottage.

Georgie grinned at Kate. ‘’Tis only like a big cupboard, but she’ll love it.’

Kate smiled.

‘’Spect ya’ve had ya hands full with these three all day,’ George continued as Enid came out to collect the boys from Kate.

‘Thanks ever so for having ’em, Kate,’ she said. ‘I dun’t know what we’d have done with them under us feet all day.’

Kate opened her mouth to reply but Rosie appeared in the doorway. ‘Come and see my bedroom, Katie, it’s . . .’ she paused as her darting eyes caught sight of something beyond Kate and her rosebud mouth shaped itself into an ‘oh’ of surprise. ‘Look, look,’ she pointed. ‘There’s Danny.’

Kate turned to follow the line of Rosie’s pointing finger to see Danny free-wheeling down the steep incline of the Hump on a bicycle, his legs sticking straight out on either side. He came rocketing on to the grass, hit a bump and promptly fell off, legs, arms and bicycle all in a heap.

The two girls gave cries of alarm and ran towards him, while Georgie and Peter just stood and laughed.

Kate pulled the huge bicycle away while Rosie squatted down beside Danny. He lay on the grass, his eyes closed, not moving.

‘He’s not dead, is he?’ Rosie whispered.

‘Don’t be daft, Rosie, he’s pretending.’ But a cold sliver of fear made her say sharply, ‘Danny!’

Still he did not move. Kate flung the bicycle down again, dropped to her knees and bent over him. She took hold of his hand and chafed it. As she bent closer, Danny jerked his head up and planted a kiss on her cheek. Startled, Kate fell backwards, but Rosie shrieked with laughter. ‘He kissed you! He kissed you!’

Rosie jumped up and began to pull at his arm. ‘Get up, Danny. I want a piggy-back.’

Danny gave an exaggerated groan, but winked at Kate. ‘Children!’

He made a big performance of rising, holding his back as if it pained him and bending double. Rosie giggled. ‘You’re p’tending, like Katie ses. You’re p’tending.’