‘And to bring me little presents,’ Gran said smugly. ‘Last time he came he brought a bag of luscious William pears, which we shared.’ She looked through her lashes at the younger girl. ‘He likes you, Tess, honest to God he does. He likes to talk about you and he’ll be really disappointed when you tell him you aren’t bound for university after all.’

Tess sniffed. ‘My life is my own and none of his business,’ she said grandly. ‘I wonder how he’ll feel . . . but I won’t say any more. I’ll save it for when it’s a fact.’

When she returned from the hospital she decided to nip up to Albert’s, since she wanted to discuss her flat-hunting plans with him. As it happened, Albert was still in his shop and he welcomed her with a broad smile when he saw her peering at him through the glass panel in his door.

‘Gran all right?’ he asked as he unlocked the door and ushered her inside. ‘How did she take the news that she’s had a reprieve? On the flat front, I mean. It must have relieved her mind.’

‘Oh, it did,’ Tess assured him. ‘I told her Mr Egbert was awfully nice about it, more or less said he wouldn’t make too much of an effort to re-let the property while she was still in hospital. I say, Albert, you’re working awfully late. Have you had your supper yet?’

Albert had sat down on his stool again whilst they talked, but now he stretched and yawned and Tess could see the lines of tiredness around his eyes, and guessed that he had been working on his books ever since closing the shop at six. ‘No, not yet,’ he admitted. ‘But I think I’ve done enough for today. I’ll go up and have a cup of tea and a piece of toast. Care to join me?’

Tess’s conscience smote her. Albert had provided her with food on several occasions. He had put himself out not just for Gran but for Tess herself, and she had never thought to repay him. But now was her chance. Earlier in the day she had bought a meat and potato pie from Deering’s – they always charged her staff rates – and she had stewed a quantity of apples and intended to make a custard to go with them as a pudding. So now she smiled at Albert and shook her head. ‘Thanks, Albert, but you can jolly well save your toast for tomorrow because I’ve got one of Deering’s meat and potato pies which is far too big for one, so I hereby invite you to share my supper. We can talk while we eat, because I want to ask you about looking for property in the suburbs.’

Albert sighed. ‘I know it’s the sensible thing to do really, because now that Edie won’t be returning to Deering’s there’s nothing to stop you moving out of the centre, except that I’ll miss you both dreadfully,’ he said. ‘And I accept your kind invitation. I’ll just nip up to the flat and make sure I’ve not left a pan on the stove.’