Ellie was too young to think seriously of the courting and marriage that the book suggested. Having someone close she could care about would be nice, but after what Anne Ward had said about boys, their intentions, not to mention those eel-guzzlers, Ellie was unsure.

"Money 'elps keeps yer belly fully and yer head dry. The more of it ye 'ave, the longer ye stay out of the work'ouse."