The two children glanced at each other.
With supper over Mary ushered Emma up to bed. The little girl paused at the bottom of the stairs, reluctantly. Pushing her hands over her white pinafore she lifted her grey eyes appealingly to her mother’s face. “Please, can’t I wait to see Pa”.
Mary shook her head and cupping the small, fragile face in her hand kissed Emma on the forehead. “Go to bed…It’s late”.
“Please Ma”, Emma appealed again. “Just a little longer”.
Mary shook her head again. Placing her hands on the girls’ shoulders, she turned her round and gently patted her on the rear. With heavy, unwilling steps Emma made her way up the narrow stairs by the flickering light of a carefully held candle.
Sighing, Mary turned back to the kitchen and eased herself back into the chair, spreading her hands out on the table.“Tha’d better be going up too Willaim”.