Harriet’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Thank you. I’ll take it to Walter.’ She folded the cutting into her purse. ‘Louisa, can I come and visit you one day?’

‘A’course tha can! I’m in most daytimes, out most evenin’s but tha won’t be coming at night, will tha? I gave thee the address in the letter.’

‘I shall come on Saturday afternoon, if that suits you, when Uncle takes the boys on the green to watch the football game.’

‘It suits me.’ Louisa squeezed her hand. ‘Come on then, Shandy. See me ’ome.’

Chapter 23

Gunson was both rattled and exhilarated from his exchange with the chairman and eager to get home to Charlotte and the easy pleasures of home life. As he stepped onto the pavement of Division Street, a woman blocked his way. She was heavily shawled despite the clement spring day. He nodded warily to her and made to pass but she put a grubby hand on his sleeve and opened the dirty cloak she wore to reveal a woollen smock stretched into holes by a heavily pregnant belly.

‘Excuse me, sir. Let me speak to you, begging your patience to indulge a wife and mother,’ she said all in a breath.

‘Are we acquainted?’

‘Aye, I should say as much, through disaster.’ Her voice shook with indignation and he saw her make a conscious effort to calm herself. He braced himself, knowing what was about to come. He was frequently accosted by townspeople in his acquaintance, the lower classes wanting financial aid; the others being gentlemen suggesting in most ungentlemanly tones that the waterworks company should not be allowed to further wreck the town in order to satisfy its shareholders.

‘How can I help you?’

‘You’re Mester Gunson.’

It wasn’t a question. Gunson nodded.

‘D’you know how many people are destitute from that flood? We are. Destitute. An’ now we’re told we’ll be unlikely to get owt in compensation from this miserable lot.’ She gestured to the building. ‘Nowt for losin’ our home, employment, all of it. I’ve got five mouths to feed. Soon to be six!’

‘Yes, I can see. Did you apply…?’

‘Turned down. Rented cottage, rented tools. Nowt were ours. Landlord found us summat, a couple o’ rooms above a shop in town you can’t swing a cat in, but he wants payin’ and we’ve not got two pennies to rub together.’ Her voice rose on a wail. ‘We’ll all end up in Kelham Street at this rate.’

Gunson took out his purse. ‘I can give you…’

‘That don’t help! What about next time the rent’s due? I want to see some proper justice gettin’ done.’

‘I’m very sorry. I’m not the correct person to ask.’ Gunson began to walk away, his gut squirming in shame. ‘You might get some restitution if you enquire at the town hall. I do wish that I could help you.’

‘Wishes are all well an’ good.’ Her voice rose shrilly. ‘You’ve made paupers o’ us! It’ll be my bairn that’ll bear the shame of a birth certificate with the workhouse address printed on it.’