Albert grinned. ‘A sparrow?’ he suggested. ‘That’s what I’ll be having, a nice little roast sparrow, along with potatoes and Brussels sprouts, of course. That’ll make a grand Christmas dinner.’

They both laughed, though Tess sobered up immediately, saying that she did not mean to let Gran’s first peacetime Christmas dinner be blind scouse. Then she cast a hopeful glance at Albert. ‘I suppose you don’t need a delivery person, Mr Payne? Or someone to serve the customers on the run up to Christmas?’

Albert shook his head regretfully. ‘Sorry, queen. I’m not exactly rushed off my feet, even at this time of year,’ he said. ‘Were you job hunting this afternoon?’

Tess nodded vigorously. ‘Yes, but no luck. Well, I’d only tried a couple of shops – Deering the bakers and Gaulton the greengrocer – but they were fixed up, so—’

‘If you were looking for counter work you’ve got to be tidy and neat as a new pin,’ Albert interrupted. ‘And if you were looking for delivery work you’d need a bicycle. But didn’t you say your gran lived over Miss Foulks’s shop? Hats and such would be light enough for a kid like you to deliver, only you’d have to smarten yourself up a bit before applying for the job.’

Tess nodded. ‘I’d have to smarten myself up a lot, not a bit,’ she said. ‘But I do have a Sunday dress, and though my coat is thin it’s still quite respectable, even if one or two of the buttons are missing.’

‘Buttons are cheap; go to Miss Roberts who runs the haberdashery stall in Paddy’s Market,’ Albert advised. He glanced out of the kitchen window and got to his feet. ‘Time you were off, young Theresa,’ he said, ‘but just in case, we’ll go out the back way and I’ll walk you up to your gran’s flat.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m sure there’s no need, but I dare say we’ll both be happier once you’re safe indoors once more!’

Tess was grateful for Mr Payne’s company, for though it was only a short walk to the milliner’s shop she found that she was still nervous, fancying every shadow hid a vengeful money snatcher. However, they reached the door of the flat without incident, but when she invited her new friend in to meet her gran Mr Payne told her that he had to get back. ‘You go up and tell her all about your adventures, and face that Marilyn out; you may be surprised at the result,’ he said. ‘And pop in from time to time to let me know how you’re going on.’

Tess agreed to do so, and bade him goodnight. Pulling out her key, she unlocked the door and hurried up the stairs which led straight into the flat’s small, square hall. The smell of something good cooking came to her nostrils and she burst in upon Gran, who was stirring a large saucepan in the kitchen, eager to tell of her exciting, if perilous, day.