Then he got up on a stool and called for order. Gradually, the babble of voices fell silent and all eyes came to rest on his face, ruddy now from the glow of the lanterns. Already the barn was warm from the heat of so many bodies and after the day’s exertion his wrinkled forehead glistened. ‘Family, friends, one and all!’ he announced, and threw up his arms in a gesture of welcome. ‘ʼTis my greatest pleasure to welcome you all here and to invite you to feast on this bountiful spread so ably prepared by my lovely wife and her helpers.’ In response to the hearty cheer that rang out, he held up a hand and waved a finger. ‘And to thank you all for your labours in the safe gathering-in of this year’s harvest…’ This time his words met with the thunder of stamping feet, at which, with a teasing grin, he paused, well aware that no one dare touch anything from the feast until he had made his final pronouncement: ‘We ha’ it in lads, we ha’ it in!’ ‘We ha’ it in!’ In the far corner, the musicians struck up a jig that was instantly drowned by the noisy surge towards the tables of food, and from her position seated on a pile of straw in the opposite corner, Mary surveyed the scene, happy to rest her feet and dine from a plate that George had already piled high with food for her.
