Gina took Coco for his walk around the garden. It was looking very pretty and she remembered the conversation she’d had with Ellen all those weeks ago on their half-day holiday from the farm. Really, Mrs Stellion was not enjoying her lovely garden at all, and her house remained quiet and empty. The place was completely wasted on her, with her moping about feeling sorry for herself. But now Gina herself was here to enjoy it, and after Coco had been exercised this morning, she’d be moving to far nicer rooms than those she currently occupied in the attic.

Things were looking up: easy work to do with regular pay, her own rooms in this grand house, lots of good food to eat that she didn’t have to help prepare, and the favourable opinion of her employer, with little effort on her own part. All she needed now was to liven the place up a bit and meet some useful people who could help her to better herself further …

She saw Ellen in the distance, bending over some white flowering things in the big border. Ellen straightened up, saw her and waved, and Gina went over. She knew Ellen wasn’t one to bear a grudge, and once the stolen clothes had been returned, Ellen had never mentioned them again.

‘Hello, Gina. Hello, Coco.’ Ellen bent down to fondle the dog’s ears and he gave a cheery woof of greeting.

‘Sit, Coco. Nell, you’ll never guess what’s happened.’

‘Probably not. Tell me.’

‘Mrs Thwaite isn’t coming back. I’m to pack all her stuff up and move mine into her rooms downstairs.’

‘Poor lady. Her broken arm has finished her job here for her, but I’m glad for you that you’ve stepped into her shoes – and her rooms.’

Gina grinned in reply.

‘How’s Mrs Stellion this morning? We haven’t seen much of her in the garden lately.’

‘Ah, miserable. I’m trying to think of summat to cheer her up, make her forget herself, like.’

‘Gina, that’s really kind of you,’ said Ellen, looking at her quizzically. ‘While you’re being kind—’

‘I’m always kind.’

‘—Dad was in a terrible temper last night: summat to do with some walls that needed repairing, right up on the tops, and some sheep had strayed – and he was being especially horrible and turned on Mum when she said summat to try to snap him out of it. As if it was her fault! I kept quiet and went to bed early, but I could hear him going on.’