“Eb”’ his mother said to him, as he called in with her firewood on the way back to his cottage at the end of the day, ‘I should like to see you settled while I’m yet here. You’ll miss my apple dumpling on the day you’ve to make your own!’

Eb smiled at her, and hugged her. ‘In God’s time, Mooma,’ he replied, leaving a kiss on the top of her head as he went about his way.

His mother stood in her doorway and watched him walking up the track. She thought Eb looked lonely. She trusted in God as well as he, but she thought there were times when God could do with a little help.