Sarah’s Story: An emotional family saga that you won’t be able to put down

He hesitated. ‘I carried this with me when I knew I was coming to Northwaite, on the off-chance that I might see one of you, to pass it on.’

‘What is it?’ Ada asked, regarding the proffered envelope with some suspicion.

Daniel coloured up. ‘It’s something that’s not rightfully mine to keep,’ he said, looking embarrassed. ‘I should have given it to you when you came to nurse your family but I didn’t want to part with it after what came to pass. Now I feel that was wrong.’ He paused. ‘I have been given a better position at work, with an increase in salary, and so have been able to move out of those lodgings into more suitable accommodation. I came across the envelope when I was moving my possessions and was reminded of what I had done.’

Ada now held the corner of the envelope between her thumb and forefinger. ‘But what is inside it?’ She seemed reluctant to discover this for herself.

‘It holds the few mementoes that I had of Ellen,’ Daniel said. His cheeks were now quite scarlet, standing out in contrast to his sandy hair. ‘There’s a lock of her hair, a ribbon and … a photograph.’

‘A photograph?’ Ada and Sarah, both startled, spoke together.

‘Yes. We visited a bazaar in Manchester on Ellen’s birthday. I bought her a ticket for a chance to sit for a studio portrait and she won.’ Daniel smiled sadly. ‘I think the photographer had an eye for a pretty girl and he liked the look of Ellen. We had quite an argument about it. But she let me go with her when she sat for her portrait. Here it is.’