[Primrose Bolger]

Ginger paused in her weeding. The warm sun and the heavy scents from the herbs had begun to tickle at her nose. She rubbed it on the back of her hand willing the sensation to go away. In her rush to get up and dressed and off to her work, she’d forgotten to pack a hanky in her apron pocket. For a moment, she considered using the underside of he apron, as her brothers sometimes did with the tails of their shirts. But she could just see her mother’s horrified face and hear her admonishment. ‘Ginger! Young ladies do not do such things! What would your Gammer say?!’

Well to be quite honest, Ginger thought, Gammer would probably be more practical. ‘Be discrete, my dear. And just remember next time to bring a hanky.’ Turning her back so that no one could see her, Ginger made a quick swipe at her nose with her upturned apron. She was about to pick up her little hand trowel when she heard Gwenneth calling from the front flower patches.

Ginger stood, brushing the dirt from her knees and shook the loose soil from the edges of her skirt. with a quick step she hurried to where her friend was working among the bright zinnias that poked up in clumps here and there.

‘Did you need something?’ she asked, kneeling down where Gwenneth was.