Those sections nearest the front and back of the house were the grandest, with lawns and long flower borders. To one side was an area with about twenty of the elaborately fashioned bushes that Ellen was keen to learn to cut. At the side nearer the kitchen were vegetable beds, cold frames, and this huge greenhouse with a white-painted iron frame and complicated-looking hinges and cogs with winding handles to open various windows. Then there were potting sheds and storage sheds. It was like a tiny village of garden buildings but peopled only by Uncle Tom and Ellen herself, so far as she could see. Suddenly she felt nervous. Was this job as Uncle Tom’s assistant going to be too much for her? She knew next to nothing and there was such a lot of garden!

How pleased she was to see the familiar tall, broad figure of her uncle in his corduroy breeches, tweed waistcoat and checked flat cap. Tom Arnold looked up from his wheelbarrow of compost and smiled, creasing up the laughter lines round his blue eyes.

‘Nell, good to see you, lass, and so prompt, too. I’m right glad to have you come to work for me. Your mum says you’re a reliable lass when it comes to responsibility, and I know you’re a cheerful and honest one, of course. Plus, I gather from Mr Beveridge, who I see down at the Lamb and Flag, that you’re a hard worker. I didn’t tell him I was looking to poach you from him, though.’ He winked at her. ‘I reckon you’ll do just fine. Mr Stellion likes to get to know his workers and you’re to go up to the house at eleven o’clock. Oh, don’t look so worried. I’ll go with you,’ Tom reassured her. ‘In the meantime, you can get stuck in. Best to learn on the job than try to remember a lot of stuff all at once. We’ve these tomato plants to pot on. I’ll show you how, and then you can do the rest.’

‘Yes, Uncle Tom.’

‘Here, I got you these. I didn’t think you’d have brought any, and you’ll need them.’ He handed her a paper bag.

Ellen took it and pulled out a pair of leather gardening gloves. ‘My, but they’re good ’uns. Thank you, Uncle Tom,’ she beamed, putting on the gloves and holding up her hands to admire the fit. ‘Just right.’

‘And I think you should call me “Mr Arnold” while we’re working side by side. It’s more professional, like. Don’t want the others to think I’m favouring you.’

‘Others? Oh, I thought it was just us in the garden.’