‘Of course you’ll stay with us.’ Daisy gave him an encouraging smile. ‘I’m going to help you with your lessons.’

‘Can I join the class, too, teacher?’ Jay said, chuckling. ‘My spelling ain’t up to standard.’

Nick grabbed him by the arm. ‘You’ll behave yourself now you’re home. I’d like to know what got you in this state in the first place.’

Jay’s reply was lost as Nick propelled him out of the room and the door closed behind them. Daisy and Hattie exchanged worried glances.

‘Don’t worry about my brother,’ Linnet said calmly. ‘Jay might have got in with the wrong company at one time, but whatever happened to him I’m sure it wasn’t his fault.’

‘That’s right,’ Jack added. ‘Jay’s a good ’un.’

‘Never mind all the chit-chat,’ Hattie said briskly. ‘We’ve got work to do, Linnet. There’s water to fetch, wood to chop, and make sure the fire doesn’t go out in the front parlour. We don’t want the schoolmaster to think we can’t afford to live decently.’

Daisy took this as her cue to make herself scarce. ‘Come with me, Jack. Let’s see how far you’ve progressed with reading.’

Elliot Massey arrived promptly at five o’clock, bringing with him books and a slate for Jack to write on, together with a slate pencil.

‘Good afternoon, Miss Marshall.’ He took off his hat and long black coat and laid them on the hall stand.

‘Thank you for coming, Mr Massey. Jack will be pleased to see you. He’s in the front parlour.’ Daisy opened the door and ushered him into the room. ‘Please take a seat.’

Elliot placed the books and slate on a table in front of Jack and sat down next to him. ‘How are you, my boy?’

Jack turned his head away and mumbled something unintelligible.

‘I didn’t hear what you said, boy. Speak up as I taught you in school.’

‘I’m all right, thank you, sir.’

‘That’s better.’ Elliot looked up at Daisy and smiled. ‘He’s looking well, and much cleaner than usual.’

Daisy chose to ignore his last remark. She noticed that Elliot had slicked his unruly hair into place with Macassar oil and his shoes had been polished to a mirror-like sheen. ‘Jack has been working hard at his reading and spelling.’

‘Well, I hope he realises what a lucky fellow he is to have been taken in by Miss Marshall and her family. I hope you’re duly grateful, young man.’

Jack nodded, staring gloomily at the pile of books. ‘Have I got to read all those, sir?’

‘Perhaps not all of them, but I’ll discuss your progress with Miss Marshall and allow her to decide. We want you to keep up with your classmates, don’t we?’

‘I suppose so.’ Jack huddled in his chair, holding his injured arm and grimacing each time he moved it.

‘Are you in pain,’ Daisy asked anxiously. ‘Perhaps you ought to go to your room and rest, Jack?’

‘No, miss. I’m all right,’ he said bravely. ‘Dr Neville said I must be careful not to damage my arm, but I wasn’t to let it stop me doing things. I want to be like Dr Neville when I grow up. He’s kind and he’s clever.’