Josephina and Juliana were practising a duet while she stood behind them, nodding in time with the metronome. He listened until they had finished their piece, acknowledging that they played well.They sang well too, but parlour pursuits were not to his taste and he was glad he wasn’t a girl. His mother turned and smiled. ‘Jared! you were up early this morning. I heard you moving about.’ ‘I breakfasted with Father before he went to the forge.’ ‘What were you doing in the attic?’ ‘Just looking. There’s a pile of clothes and boots up there.’ ‘You children have grown out of them so quickly. I am going to give them to the vicar’s wife for the church school.’ ‘I could take them to Mexton.’ ‘Mexton?’ ‘For the miners’ families.’ His mother gazed at him steadily.‘Your father has told me that you went to the pit when the fighting broke out a few weeks ago. We are not responsible for your uncle Hesley’s difficulties. It’s not our fault.’ ‘It’s not the miners’ fault either.
