They suddenly came to a stop in one of the yards. It was relatively narrow, with many doors, and steps leading to doors. In the back there was a toilet house, and in the middle, three small girls with dirty aprons were rope-skipping. They stopped when they saw Pearl and stared at her.
"This way." said Rose, and she led her friend up some stone steps. They were eroded from use.
"You have pretty hair!" One of the girls called after Pearl.

Rose led her friend into the cottage. They entered a room that had a kitchener in the fireplace, a table in the middle, a bed in the corner and a room screen at the far end. The latter was decorated with images of women in pretty dresses, boys playing, dogs and cats and other things cut from newspapers and magazines. There was one window, which looked out over the yard. Just below the ceiling, wires had been strung from which items of clothing as well as fishing lines were suspended to dry. It made the room feel cramped. It did indeed smell damp. There was a door on the left, but it was closed.

Two girls were standing by the kitchener, preparing a meal. One was the girl they had encountered at the beach. She blushed when she saw Pearl. The other was older, though younger than Rose.
"These are my sisters: Alice and Anne. Alice, Anne, this is Pearl Carrington."
Both girls looked intimidated now, and Alice attempted a clumsy curtsy. "Pleasure to meet ye, Miss Carrington." she said.