‘I think I’d better buy a street map, because I bet the cathedral is nowhere near the overhead railway,’ Jonty said resignedly. ‘I expect it’s a huge cathedral, so I suppose I really ought to take a look. Is it very old?’

To his surprise Albert put a finger to his nose and winked. ‘That would be telling,’ he said mysteriously. ‘And now off with you, young Mr Bell, or you’ll never see any of the sights. By the way, I trust you were impressed upon meeting Tess’s gran? She’s a wonderful woman and Tess is a lucky girl!’

Jonty smiled. He had thought Tess’s gran very pretty, very young-looking and very charming, and now he said so, and was rewarded by the delight on his companion’s face.

‘Yes, she’s a grand lady,’ Albert said, just as a customer pushed open the shop door. He raised his voice. ‘Thank you, Mr Bell. See you this evening.’

Jonty emerged on to the pavement and looked around. It was all very well for Tess to reel off a list of attractions, but he had no desire to spend the morning searching for something to look at. He decided to go first to Paddy’s Market on the Scotland Road, though the only present he intended to buy was a small gift for his mother; his father and the farmhands would get cigarettes from Albert’s emporium – a packet of twenty Players for his father and packets of ten Woodbines for the farmhands – and in the meantime he would ask a passer-by how to reach the overhead railway. But of course since it ran alongside the docks he must go towards the Mersey. Halfway down the long road which led towards the river Jonty saw a figure heading in the same direction and, speeding up, touched the other’s arm. ‘Excuse me . . .’ he began, and then frowned into the face of the young man he had stopped. ‘Haven’t I seen you somewhere before? I was just about to ask you how I could get on to the overhead railway . . . I’m sure we’ve met before, though I can’t imagine . . .’

The other interrupted, grinning. ‘You’re Tess Williams’s bucolic friend,’ he said. ‘A few days ago I gave up my place in the taxi queue to the pair of you. How’s her gran? She’s a nice old bird, and I know Tess is real fond of her. But what are you doing out alone?’ He grinned suddenly, a flash of white teeth in an admittedly handsome face. ‘I’ve seen you and Tess on Heyworth Street a couple of times, but here you are, all by yourself.’ He grinned again, somewhat maliciously. ‘Does this mean that Tess has got a job to help finance her schooling?’

‘No, not exactly. She’s gone for an interview, though,’ Jonty said, rather stiffly. He had suddenly remembered Tess saying that she and this boy – what was his name? – had fallen out. Perhaps he should apologise and find out for himself how to get aboard the overhead railway, but before he could do so the other had shot out a hand to take Jonty’s, his smile now of genuine friendship.