Catherine hesitated. It didn't feel right to take the girl with her without her parents knowledge. Would that be considered kidnapping? Her father hadn't asked any questions when she requested to bring 'a friend', but he probably wouldn't appreciate her getting into a legal tangle.

Then again, what did some half literate fisherman and his wife from the Crag or wherever know about the law? She was probably on the safe side. If not, she could always blame it on Miss Pennyfeather. For her part, Catherine was glad she didn't need to meet or write to Ellie's parents.

"Very well then," she concluded. "I meant to go on a Friday, but we can go on a Tuesday and return on Saturday, if you prefer to attend your local church." Probably better. Now that her mother and sisters were gone, she felt obliged to attend St. Mary's weekly. Her family owned a pew right under the chancel, and it wouldn't look good if it was completely empty. She represented her family in most social engagements nowadays and she rather enjoyed the status.

"We'll travel by train, but we'll pick you up from here, so you won't have to carry your luggage. I'll let you know what time. Bring you best dresses. Have you a decent coat?" Most fisher girls didn't have coats at all, as far as she was aware. They wore their thick woolen shawls. Catherine was mortified at the mere thought of Ellie wearing something pauper-looking like that in her presence.

Ellie had already packed her suitcase in her mind: the yellow dress because yellow was fun, her cherished green velvet dress, her fancy boots, and - oh no. She had a new, brown woolen shawl, smart and warm, but no coat.

"Miss Christine, I mean Miss Pennyfeather bought me a new brown shawl when she hired me. She wanted me to make a good impression, but I don't have a coat, no."

There were but two words Catherine registered: "Shawl" and "Brown". A suitable costume for a flower seller, perhaps, but not for her companion. "Never mind that," she was quick to comment. "I'll bring some of my old coats and we can see which suits you best." Did an extra trunk matter? Surely not. She'd tip the porters a little extra and everyone would be happy. "Very well," she concluded the matter without waiting for a reply. "I should be on my way. I'll let you know the details. Good day, Ellie."

The allure of a trip to the seaside, the instructions to pack her best dresses. The anticipation drove her to distraction in the following days, but filled her with such a positive attitude that she even greeted 'boat boy' from the bank with a warm apology that his book had still not docked in the shop. She urged him to come back again, assuring him that his book would be set aside.

She couldn't help but mention her trip, and blushed when he pointed out Harrogate was slap in the middle of the Dales, known for healing waters and not haddock. She simply had to try the toffee while she was there, a favourite of boat boy's mother apparently.

Her dress-suit case was already packed with her sunny yellow dress. Ellie had decided would wear her long green velvet dress and boots for the first day of her holiday. The dress had been gifted her by Miss Christine on their first meeting, raising her status from maid to maiden; yet would cause no scandal in its conservative style, something Miss Catherine would surely appreciate.