Ellie's eyes sparkled at the compliment; her hands once again smoothing out wrinkles. Being one of so many girls at home it felt hard to get noticed among her sisters. Here at the shop, Ellie could hog most of the limelight.

"A few, Miss. Miss Christine insisted if I was to help in a booksellers, I 'ad to practise my reading. Let's see, I've read Hans Anderson's stories, I loved those. I'm reading Tom Brown's School Days at the moment; that poor boy Tom. Oh and I do read the bible, but it's everso long and 'ard."