‘Look at Mum, going off to Grindle Hall of a morning to clean up after the Stellions. She must see all those beautiful things in that house – see how rich folk live – and what does she do but come home, all worn out, to our cottage – which we live in only because it comes with Dad’s job on the farm – and she doesn’t even mind. How can she not mind? It’s like she’s given up.’

‘Gina, that’s enough. Mebbe I am a “stupid little person” in your eyes – and thank you very much but I don’t want your opinion – but I hate to hear you criticising Mum. Don’t you think she’s got a lot on her plate, with Dad the way he is, without you getting all envious and covetous and discontented, too? In fact, I think you’re beginning to sound a bit like Dad.’

‘No I’m not,’ Gina snapped, eyes wide with shock.

‘Yes,’ Ellen insisted. ‘You were ranting, Gina,’ she added more gently. ‘Come on now … We were having such a lovely afternoon. Let’s not spoil it with arguing.’

Gina stuck out her lower lip and looked away.

‘Come on, love,’ Ellen said again after a few moments’ pause to allow Gina to calm herself. ‘Let’s go back now. Mebbe Mum will be home and have some good news for me about the job at the Hall.’

Gina sighed dramatically and rose to her feet. ‘If that’s what you want …’ she murmured.

In silence they walked towards the field gate, brushing grass off their skirts.

As Gina lifted the loop that secured the five-bar gate to the post, Ellen suddenly exclaimed, ‘Oh, what’s this? There’s summat stuffed into the gap between the stones. Looks like a little bottle with … mebbe some kind of thread tied around the neck.’

She reached towards the dry-stone wall but, just as she had almost grasped the find, Gina hit her hand away with a loud slap.

‘Ow, that hurt. What did you do that for?’

‘Don’t touch it, Nell.’

‘What do you mean? I was only going to look, not drink it or anything.’ Ellen made to take it again.

Gina grabbed her sister’s wrist and held it away from the dark-coloured phial, the stopper of which was bound with a few strands of brown hair.

‘It’s not safe. I mean it, Nell. It’s … it looks like it’s … mebbe part of a spell,’ Gina said quietly. ‘You mustn’t pick it up or the spell could get to work on you … I’ve heard of such things.’

‘A spell? What, like a witch’s?’ Ellen tried to keep her voice light and shrug off her sister’s grasp, but Gina held on to her so tightly that Ellen realised she really meant what she said. In an instant the atmosphere became strange and foreboding.