‘She’s very well, thank you, Mrs Mason. She’s been busy with getting the Hall ready for Mr Stellion’s birthday at the weekend, and we’ve been making new curtains and other bits for the cottage of an evening.’

‘I might walk over with the kids in the pram before it gets dark and have a look.’

‘She’d love it if you did. You’re welcome any time.’

Audrey Mason lowered her voice. ‘Not heard owt new about your dad?’

‘We have not. I think Mum would rather not be thinking about him at all,’ said Ellen.

‘Aye, don’t worry, lass, I’ll zip my lip on that subject then. But you both know where to come if you’re worried about owt, don’t you?’

‘Thanks, Mrs Mason.’

‘Looks like a nice afternoon for your walk over there.’ Sally’s mother changed the subject. ‘Frankie, David, shush a minute, will you? Give my best wishes to Mr Shepherd, won’t you?’

‘Aye, Mum. We will that,’ Sally said. She raised her voice over the noise her siblings were making. ‘If you’re not in when I get back, I expect you’ll have gone to Highview. Leave me a note and I’ll put the tea on.’

‘Good lass. Off you go then.’

Sally kissed her mother, Polly, David and Frank in turn, and she and Ellen went out into the quiet of the village street.

‘Crikey,’ Sally muttered.

Ellen and Sally walked on in companionable silence for a few moments.

‘So, you’re pleased to be settled back at Highview?’ said Sally eventually.

‘Of course. The attic at the Hall – it was kind of the Stellions, and helped us out when things were bad, but it wasn’t a home. Mr Beveridge’s new man already lives in the village – Nathan Prentice, you’ll know him, I expect – so he and Mrs B have let us have the cottage for not much rent, and they even bought the paint; said it was helping them if we kept it updated. They’ve been so kind.’

‘They are. And you’ll be pleased to be at the end of the lane from Ed, I reckon,’ Sally suggested, looking sidelong at Ellen.

‘It’s long been our home and now Mum’s made it all bright and beautiful instead of gloomy and dark, like it had got over the years ’cos Dad didn’t see the point of improvements. It’s like a different place and she’s like a different person.’

‘I’m right glad, Nellie. So what’s happened to … to your dad’s things?’ Sally’s curiosity could sometimes get the better of her.

‘Oh, Mr and Mrs Beveridge have stored them in the back of one of the outhouses. Mum’s removed the lot. I reckon she hopes she won’t need to think about him coming back ever.’

‘And what do you think, Nell?’