"I am sorry Anne, dear." Lottie could see how the unhappiness of Alice's married life was affecting young Anne. Lottie herself had seen her one of her own sisters in a similar problem, so there was was sympathy along with the tea and the cake. She felt so helpless, so trapped. The thought made her sick to her stomach. What could she do? Wife of a railway worker who could read the bible, write her name, and add a shopping bill?

Lottie herself had walked past the odd middle class woman protesting something like being equal or votes for women in her time. Right words, but talk was cheap. And what of Alice and god knows how many others like her out there living in world that scorned them. like some endless bad dream. Lottie's shoulders slumped and shook her head.

"Anne," Lottie began "Yer growin' up. Soon enough ye'll a young lass yerself. When yer grown, you'll find there are rules that 'ave been made and I'm afraid, with Alice yer seeing things they way they are now. Doesn't make it right and it doesn't mean it won't change, it's just the way it is right now and there's nowt much ye can do."