‘What do you think?’ Mrs Breckenridge took back the letter and replaced it in the envelope. ‘I’m going to take it to Mr Freeman in person, so he can see how well valued you are.’

May scanned her homely face. ‘It’s really good of you to take so much trouble, ma’am. But I don’t know if it will work. I don’t think Mr Freeman likes going back on his word.’

‘Mr Freeman knows which side his bread’s buttered.’ Nan had listened to the conversation until then without comment. ‘I told you, it’s a matter of weighing up profit and loss.’

May looked from one woman to the other and felt her spirits lifting. ‘Do you think so? Oh, Mrs Breckenridge, I can’t tell you how grateful I am! What a clever idea!’

Mrs Breckenridge responded with a smile. ‘Ah, well, I can’t really claim the credit. It was my son, James, who suggested it. He’s a very clever boy. He’s an articled clerk to a solicitor, you know, hoping to qualify for the law himself one day. He was here, if you remember, that first day? He took quite a dislike to Mrs McBride and when I told him what Nan told me, he reckoned you were badly treated and he wanted to help. So he came up with this idea. Now, I must get on. I want to get this letter to Mr Freeman as soon as I can. And don’t worry, dear. I’m sure he will see our point of view.’

The expected summons came an hour later. May stood just inside the door, her eyes meekly lowered but there was such a long silence that finally she looked up. Mr Freeman was studying her and she thought she caught a fleeting smile.

‘Well, May. It seems you have more loyal customers than I realised.’

‘People are very kind, sir.’

‘Hmm. So I have a choice. Keep you, and lose one valued customer, or lose you and lose a dozen others. There appears to be only one sensible answer.’ May searched his face, poised between hope and doubt. He wagged a finger at her. ‘But no more escapades like last Sunday. Promise me.’

‘I promise, sir. I’m really sorry I caused you all this trouble. It won’t happen again, I swear.’

Mr Freeman raised an eyebrow. ‘I seem to have heard that before, somewhere. All right. You have one last chance – and don’t think that you are so valuable that you can get away with anything. There are limits to my patience. All right, off you go, back to work.’

‘Oh, sir, thank you. Thank you so much!’

Mr Freeman had risen and moved to the door. ‘I have a meeting to attend. Just remember, no more excuses.’