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found you a few bits and pieces too. The thing is, I have the chance to borrow a horse and cart today, so we could take the things out to Milnrow without you incurring any expense.’
    ‘Oh, that’s wonderful! Thank you so much.’
    ‘I know where Mr Greenhill works and I know where Willow Court is, but perhaps it’d be best if you and your sister came with me, because I doubt his employer will want him to take time off work to help me take the things into the house.’
    He gave one of his jolly laughs. ‘I’m a good driver, I promise you. I grew up on a farm with horses.’
    Once again, being with him lifted her spirits. ‘That’d bewonderful! I can’t believe you’ve got things organised so quickly.’
    ‘We try to help one another in the chapels, and I regard it as part of my job to organise that, when people are in need. One day, perhaps you’ll be the one to offer help to another soul in trouble.’
    ‘Oh, I will. I’d already decided that.’ She smiled at Renie, who had been listening to them. ‘Won’t it be wonderful to have a home of our own?’
    ‘I can’t get away from here soon enough.’
    Her voice was loud and no doubt carried into the kitchen through the half-open door. ‘Shh!’ Nell whispered.
    Renie tossed her head, scowling.
    ‘If you can come with me straight away, we’ll start collecting the things,’ Mr Garrett said.
    It took most of the morning to collect the donations, and, as he’d said, many items needed repair. But there were household utensils too, bowls and dishes, an old knife, worn thin with sharpening, all sorts of small useful items.
    When they got to the upholstery workshop, Mr Garrett led the way in to ask Mr Rayner about giving Cliff just a little time off.
    ‘He’s not here,’ Mr Rayner said.
    Nell’s heart sank. Had something gone wrong already with the new job? If so, this would all be in vain.
    ‘He’s gone into Rochdale to get a special licence to marry his sweetheart,’ Mr Rayner added. ‘He couldn’t settle to work, so I told him to get it sorted out.’
    She had to lean against the wall because she felt wobbly with relief.
    Mr Rayner looked across to where the two young women were standing. ‘Which one of you is Nell?’
    She moved forward. ‘I am.’
    ‘I wish you well with your wedding, lass.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Can we get into the house?’ Mr Garrett asked. ‘We’ve got some pieces of furniture that people from the two chapels have donated and I’ve brought them across.’
    ‘I heard you’d been asking for stuff on Sunday. I’ve a piece or two I can let you have as well, but your man will have to fix them. The chair frames have nothing for you to sit on at the moment.’ He laughed. ‘Hard work, that’s what I’m giving him.’
    ‘We’re very grateful and we don’t mind hard work,’ Nell said quickly.
    ‘I know where the house key is. Willow Court is only just round the corner.’ He nodded to her again. ‘The lad can give you a hand with carrying things in, Mr Garrett. He’s strong in the body, even if he is weak in the head.’
    As Nell walked out of the untidy little shop, she felt a tiny thread of happiness start to unfurl inside her. But it withered the minute she saw the house they were to live in, smelt the stinking water closet near the entrance to the little court and saw the filthy walls inside the house. She wanted to turn tail and run then.
    Only she couldn’t run, could she? Not from the baby growing in her belly and not from her new life, either. The child would probably be with her for the next twenty years, till it got wed and left home, and probably there would be other children to look after too. Onlyshe intended to love her children, not drive them away. She was determined this one should have a happier life than she’d had, however much trouble its creation had caused.
    She felt as if she’d grown years older in the past few weeks, but there was no use moaning. Taking a deep breath, she turned to the