"Aye!" Anne said quickly, seeing her chance to further show her friend's qualities. "Ellie's a real skilled fishlass. Better than me and most lasses with knots and tangles." In other words: she'd make an excellent fisherman's wife in a few years. Her own words, although exaggerated, convinced even Anne. She gave her friend a look of admiration. She couldn't imagine Pat would be able to resist a girl who had such a sweet face, earned her family an additional income, and had so much skill.

"Pat, ye can pull, and then Ellie can deal with t' tangles and I can coil." It gave Ellie the harder work, but it also placed her closer to Pat. Anne could already see them falling in love before her eyes as they spoke. Oh! How happy she'd be for them. And she had been responsible for it!

Ellie's mouth hung open like one of these freshly caught fish. She didn't want to be a fisherman's wife, like her own mother. Not that she meant ill to her or the countless others who chose that, but it wasn't for her. The wife of a postman, policeman, publican, that would be better, but not a fisherwife. Unsteady income, hearth and home smelling of salt air and fish slop. For now, Ellie just wanted a new employer. Maybe one day she'd be a ladies maid. Then she could worry about courting boys.

"Alright."

Anne was so happy to help Ellie design her future. She turned to Ellie and gave her a knowing grin. Ellie seemed so smitten with her cousin that her mouth hung open. Wasn't it all wonderfully romantic!? She swapped places with her friend, ready to coil.