‘You must be the girl who sang “Over the Rainbow” at the pantomime. I was there. You performed beautifully.’

‘Oooh, thank you, but ah stwuggle a bit wi’ m’speakin’.’

Agatha stretched out a hand that resembled ancient parchment and touched Nora’s rosy cheek. ‘You will be fine. Follow your dream and don’t be scared – just live life.’

Nora nodded, recognizing this special moment. ‘Do you miss being an actwess?’

Agatha picked up the teapot and began to pour. ‘The person I miss most is me.’

Violet Fawnswater had been the first to buy a box of chocolates in the General Stores and was luxuriating in her favourite armchair with a port and lemon and a surfeit of chocolate. She was reading her Blue Cars Continental Holiday Catalogue for 1953 and considering ten days in Switzerland for 32 guineas. She cut out the advert, filled it in and put it in an envelope. She stuck on a 1½d stamp and addressed it to Shaftesbury Avenue in London. ‘Armchair comfort in a Pullman coach,’ she murmured to herself. ‘You can’t say better than that.’

There was a special moment when Doris and Nora had tidied everything away in the Tea Rooms.

‘Well done today, Nora, and thank you for dealing with Miss Makepiece so sensitively.’ She picked up a shopping bag from behind the counter. ‘This is for you for being such a good girl and a wonderful help.’

To Nora’s surprise, it was a box of chocolates.

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Ah’m weally gweatful.’ She stared at the box for a moment. ‘Ah’d like to wun over t’Miss Makepiece to see if she would like a chocolate.’

Doris smiled. ‘That’s a kind thought. Off you go and then go straight home.’

At Coe Farm Stan was not pleased.

‘There were none o’ them boxes o’ chocolates left,’ Deirdre told him. ‘When ah called in that stupid Prudence ’ad sold ’em all.’

‘She wants lockin’ up,’ muttered Stan.

‘Ah’ll go back t’morrow,’ said Deirdre. ‘She might get some more in.’

‘An’ pigs might fly,’ grumbled her brother. ‘Anyway, ah’m off out to t’pub so put y’coat on.’

‘Oooh lovely, Stan – are y’tekkin’ me out?’

‘No, y’daft mare. Fire’s gone out so you’ll ’ave t’get some more logs.’

Nora knocked on Agatha Makepiece’s door and the old lady was pleased to see the young tea-shop assistant for the second time that day.

‘I’m sowwy t’twouble you, Miss Makepiece, but would you like a chocolate?’

‘What a kind thought. Do come in.’

Nora stepped hesitantly over the threshold. ‘Jus’ for a minute.’

Agatha pulled back a curtain that led to a tiny kitchen. ‘Now, young lady, do you know what drink goes well with chocolate?’

‘Tea,’ said Nora. The answer was obvious.

Agatha gave a wry smile. ‘No, my dear, it’s coffee.’