Thinking how he had better get a move on if he were to finish and have his load secured for the morrow, Mick concentrated his efforts and brought his thoughts back to his own heartache: the woman he adored and whom he was hardly likely ever to see again. Every night since Molly’s going, he had dreamed of her. And every morning when he woke, she was the first thought in his mind. All the day long he carried her lovely image in his heart. The longing hadn’t lessened with the passage of time; if anything, the pain of losing her was even sharper. Yet, for all that, Mick had to remind himself how Molly had freely made her choice between him and that waster, Jack-the-Lad. She had chosen her wayward husband and there was nothing else to be done. He had to resign himself to that fact, together with the belief that Molly had found happiness in her choice. All that remained now was for Mick to pray that her happiness was of the lasting kind.

Mick Darcy paused in his labours to glance at the carriage that now drew into the yard. He was surprised to see two women alight: one a dumpy, homely person with a quick, busy manner, and the other a more refined yet equally pleasant creature who had the kind of mature beauty that was both gentle and strong. When the grey eyes fleetingly smiled at him, Mick believed the woman to be the one and only Emma Tanner – no other woman could possibly answer the description by which he had come to recognize her. There was something admirable and especially lovely in her countenance.

As the two women made their way into the mill, Mick glanced up to where his employer had been standing a short while ago. Now he had gone from the window, and in a moment could be seen in the darker interior of the mill, his familiar figure rushing down the stairs that led from the office; a figure still tall and handsome in spite of the fact that he was no longer a young man. From where he stood, Mick heard Marlow Tanner call out Emma’s name, and in such a way that betrayed both his shock and delight at seeing her here. Together, Marlow and Emma climbed the stairs, with the ever-attentive Nelly only two steps behind, and eager to add her own chatter to the conversation.

Suddenly Mick’s attention was drawn by the comment of a mill labourer, who had been transporting the bales to the mouth of the warehouse. ‘Well, I’ll be buggered, mate. It ain’t often yer see Emma Tanner down here. Must be sommat important, I’ll be bound. Did you see the look on ’er face, eh? Like as not, that bloody uncle of hers has been up to his mischief again. By! He’s a bad ’un, if ever there were.’ He tipped his flat cap back and wiped the sweat from his eyes, glancing again to where Emma had disappeared into the office with Marlow. ‘I’ll tell you what, mate… I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall o’ that there office. Oh, aye!… It’s sommat urgent that’s fetched Mrs Tanner down ter these quarters… sommat terrible important, if it couldn’t wait till her husband got home!’