‘I wish I’d never started working with sheep,’ he muttered. ‘’Course it’s not my fault, but sheep have a death wish like no other creature and they bring nowt but misery. I don’t doubt I’ll find the rest have followed the first to their Maker by morning …’

There would be no bringing him round that night, so Dora left him to stew in his own pessimism and tried to find a comfortable spot on her side of the bed where she couldn’t hear him fretting quite so loudly.

When she woke in the morning, her husband was nowhere to be seen.

‘I’ll cook you some of these eggs,’ she said, when she came down to find Philip was pacing the kitchen, waiting for the kettle to boil. She was bone tired and her back ached, but she was determined to show a brave face. He looked wrecked and was making the most of it.

‘No, I’d best get up there and learn the worst,’ he said pitifully.

‘I don’t expect it’ll be the worst, Phil, but even if it is it can wait while you come,’ she replied stoutly, and started breaking some of the eggs Mrs Beveridge had given her into a bowl.

In the end, Philip saw sense and stayed to eat his breakfast.

When the girls appeared, damping down their excitement at their new jobs in the face of their father’s black mood, they found their parents sitting silent and weary over cups of strong tea.

‘Give us a fill-up, there’s a good lass,’ said Dora, and Gina obeyed while Ellen cut bread to toast and scrambled the eggs.

‘Not for me,’ said Philip. ‘I’m away to the farm to see what disaster has struck this morning.’

His wife and daughters exchanged glances.

‘Might be all right, Dad,’ Ellen ventured.

‘Aye, but I have my doubts, the way my luck’s playing these days.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake,’ muttered Dora, glad to see the back of him. ‘Off you go, Phil, and then you’ll know how it is and you can stop imagining the worst.’

Philip put on his cap and jacket and left without saying goodbye, shutting the door noisily behind him.

‘Good grief,’ Gina muttered.

‘He didn’t even ask how I got on yesterday,’ said Ellen.

‘No, love, but he will when he comes round,’ Dora assured her. ‘There’s no reason to think all the sheep will be dead, but you know what your dad’s like.’

‘Aye, we all do,’ said Gina heavily. ‘It was nice to get away before tea yesterday. I wish I’d stopped out longer.’

‘Was Nancy Beveridge all right about you not working there any more?’

‘Fine …’

Ellen gave Gina a hard stare but she just shrugged and concentrated on eating her breakfast.

‘What time are you due up at the Hall?’ Dora asked her.

‘Said I’d be there about nine o’clock.’