After a while, when the clouds began to grow dark and threatening overhead, and a few isolated spots of rain warned of the deluge to come, Emma began her way down the steep incline towards the exit.

For the past twenty minutes and more, Nelly had been nervously pacing back and forth to the side window in the drawing-room. From there, the side gate leading out of Corporation Park was just visible, and now, when she saw the small familiar figure of Emma approaching, Nelly went rushing into the hallway to greet her, pausing only to poke her head in through the kitchen door with the instructions, ‘Mrs Tanner’s back. Be so good as to fetch a pot o’ tea to the drawing-room. And a plate o’ sandwiches… proper sandwiches, mind! We don’t want none o’ them silly little things as disappear with one bite!’

When Nelly’s homely face had gone from the doorway, impatient glances were exchanged between the plump, round-eyed maid and the cook – who appeared a most unlikely candidate for the position of ‘cook’, being thin as a barge-pole and so tall that she had to bend from a great height when attending to her tasks at the big pine table. She had a gaunt, sour face and an equally sour disposition. But her culinary skills were second to none, and she had never been known to panic. Her name was Miss Warburton. Nelly disliked her intensely and, much to Emma’s consternation, there was a great deal of friction between them, each one constantly looking to put the other in a bad light with the master and mistress of the house. Miss Warburton had been reduced to tears on more than one occasion, when Nelly had told her quite categorically to ‘piss orf!’

Just now there were other, more important things on Nelly’s mind. ‘Where’ve yer been all this time?’ she demanded of Emma, who took off her coat and tammy, and at once had them snatched from her hands by the anxious Nelly. ‘Two hours you’ve been gone, yer bugger!’ she chastized, hanging up Emma’s outdoor clothes while still keeping a disapproving eye on her. ‘I don’t like yer going off on yer own fer hours at a time!… Wandering about in the park. Why! There could be anybody just waiting ter jump out at yer.’ She frightened herself with such a terrible thought. ‘Robbers an’ murderers… them buggers are everywhere.’

‘Don’t exaggerate, Nelly.’ Emma smiled at the wide-eyed face that glared at her so disapprovingly. ‘I’m perfectly safe. You know as well as I do that there are no “robbers and murderers” in Corporation Park.’

‘I don’t know any such thing, my gal,’ Nelly declared firmly, ‘and neither do you.’ She touched Emma lightly on the arm. ‘There’s tea an’ sandwiches on their way,’ she said. ‘Let’s you an’ me set in the drawing-room, eh?’ She swung away, swerving towards the kitchen door where she screeched, ‘Ain’t that tray ready yet, Miss Warburton? Be so kind as to get a move on!’ When Emma cautioned her, she turned round and, squeezing her head down into her neck, she made a wicked and mischievous face. ‘It’s allus best ter keep the buggers on their toes,’ she said in a loud whisper. ‘’Er type especially needs ter be reminded who’s boss!’