‘Ah, poor lady. Mum was saying as how she was in bed again last week. It’s a shame to live in such a grand house, warm all winter and full of nice things, time to do whatever you want, but to feel too poorly to enjoy it.’

‘True.’ Gina rolled onto her front and looked Ellen in the face. ‘But it’s all rather wasted on her, isn’t it?’ she said seriously. ‘I reckon if I lived at Grindle Hall I’d be driving that big shiny car myself, or having parties in those enormous rooms, with dancing and a record player, and … I don’t know … banquets, with port to drink instead of Stellion’s beer.’

‘Port? What do you know about port, or even Stellion’s beer, for that matter, Georgina Arnold?’ scoffed Ellen.

‘Well, I wouldn’t mind giving it a try. Mum says Mrs Stellion eats only tasteless wet stuff when she’s feeling poorly – an “invalid’s diet”, she calls it.’ Gina sounded contemptuous. ‘If I were as rich as the Stellions, I’d have roast beef every single day, and Mum’s roast potatoes.’

‘Mebbe Mrs Stellion would like roast beef but she doesn’t feel well enough to stomach it,’ Ellen suggested. ‘It’s not right to be coveting other folk’s things, thinking you’re more deserving of them, just ’cos you’re in better health.’

‘I was only thinking about it, Nell, that’s all. Just daydreaming. No need to get all preachy.’

‘Everyone can dream – and it’s good to have summat to lift the spirits and even to aim for, if you work hard and are lucky with your chances in life – but there’s no sense in you dreaming of big houses and cars and … banquets, ’cos those dreams are never going to come true for folk like us.’

‘Folk like you, you mean?’ snapped Gina, suddenly angry at having the cold water of reality poured over her precious daydreams. ‘Stupid little people that can see no further than a life of drudgery on some pathetic farm in the back of beyond.’

Ellen sighed. ‘No, Gina, I mean ordinary people who have to work hard for their living and mebbe don’t have many advantages, that’s all.’

‘But, Nell, you have to dream big dreams if you want to get on in life. You have to think differently, think new things are possible. You may work as hard as you can, for as long as you can, but in the end you’ll earn nowt but more work to do, if that’s all you can see ahead.’

‘No—’

‘Yes! You have to dream bigger than this life, or this life is all you’ll ever know. Little Grindle is all you’ll ever know. D’you think Little Grindle is all there is … really?’

‘Gina, I don’t—’