Anne sat there sobbing. She took hold of Mrs. Blacke and clung on to her for comfort. Finally, her sobs turned into sniffs.

"Anne!" Kate's face lit up when she stepped into the kitchen an saw her friend. But it immediately fell. She rushed over and sat down at the other side of her friend, putting her hands on the girl's back. "Whatever is the matter?" She looked at her mother.

Lottie's arm wrapped itself around Anne's small shoulder to provide some meagre measure of comfort. Just then, the sound of Kate's voice roused Lottie and she looked up. Her own daughter's reaction forced Lottie to regain some measure of her composure.

"Anne is a little upset about some trouble at home, I was just making her feel better." she explained in a truthful if not slightly vague manner. "But we were having some tea and spotted dick. Would you like some?"

Anne broke away from Mrs. Blacke and sat up when she heard Kate. She tried to dry her tears and stop shedding new ones. She was thankful that Mrs. Blacke answered, which gave her some time to compose herself. "Don't worry, Kate," she said, patting Kate's knee. "It'll be alright." It wouldn't. And the thought almost made her cry again, though this time she managed to control herself.

Kate looked at Anne with a pitying frown. She knew how family troubles could make one cry, though she didn't do it in other people's kitchens. When her family was fighting or the tensions grew too high, she would hide in her room or find a quiet space outside and cry quietly on her own so no one would see her.

"Aye, things will get better. You'll see." She turned to her mother. "That sounds lovely. Can I help ye, ma?"

"Oh Kate," Lottie smiled weakly "yer a grand daughter and a good friend." Lottie said somewhat wearily.

She moved to hug her offspring, a mother's prerogative. She wanted to give her own daughter more of that same kindness and closeness she had given Anne.

Bill entered the kitchen. He had just been in the pub to see some friends. "Ello," he said to his wife, daughter, and a girl who was probably his daughter's friend. Then he frowned. "Why are the special cups out? Are we expectin' someone?" He wasn't even drunk.

Lottie looked at her daughter, then Anne, and lastly at her newly arrived husband.

"No, Bill, we're not. I decided the girls would like some their tea in nice cups." Lottie said casually.

"Oh... I see..." He sat down in a chair. "Do ye have some tea left fer me, Lottie?"

Anne was glad she wasn't crying anymore when Mr. Blacke entered, but she felt that the warmth and easiness that had been there was gone. She looked up at Mr. Blacke shyly, but he didn't say anything to her, and she was a little too shy to say something to him.