What are you doing back?’ Tom Pelton, sitting behind an old roll-top desk in a cubbyhole next to the clocking-on machine, looked surprised to see her. In charge of hiring and firing for all the departments, she would get nowhere without his say-so. Fortunately, ever since she’d first joined Southwell’s, he’d taken a shine to her and she was confident he’d give her a job. ‘I thought you were going into service?’ he said diplomatically, and she decided to play along for the time being: if he knew she’d come back with a child, she’d have far less chance of getting a job. ‘I didn’t take to it,’ she said. ‘Cleaning up after other people! I think I’d be happier back here.’ Tom Pelton was a decent foreman and he’d always treated her fairly, but now he shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Milly, but the days of walking back into your old job are gone.’ This was the last thing Milly expected and he must have seen her disappointment. ‘You could try Lipton’s or Hartley’s,’ he offered, ‘but I’m pretty sure they’ve taken on all their summer workers by now.
