‘I like Princes Park, and though I can’t row I’m sure I could easily learn,’ she said cautiously. ‘Gran sent me to call on Lucy, who’s in my class at school, to see if she’d like to come back to the flat for supper this evening . . .’

‘Lucy? Do you mean that scruffy kid what lives on Mere Lane, the one with all the younger brothers and sisters? Well, of all the perishin’ nerve,’ Snowy said. ‘What’s wrong with me, eh? Ain’t I your pal?’

‘Oh, she said I could ask either you or Lucy, whichever was free,’ Tess said airily. She still thought Snowy had a cheek to expect her to hang around waiting for him, but he was easily the best-looking boy in the neighbourhood and she supposed it had made him conceited. Well, no, not exactly conceited, but he definitely thought that any girl seen in his company was to be envied. Before she could comment on the fact, however, they were diving into Mr Charles’ fishmonger shop because Gran’s list had included potted shrimps, and Tess thought that if Mr Charles had two jars she would buy them both and eat one in a sandwich instead of the paste Gran had suggested. It would cost a bit more, but Tess adored potted shrimps.

As they came out of the shop, she turned to Snowy. ‘Are you going to come to supper then? Gran’s invited Mr Payne so’s we can have a hand of cards when supper’s over. What do you say?’

Snowy was in the middle of saying that he’d definitely come to supper and to thank her gran very much, only he would have to return home to warn his mother that he had been invited out, when Tess suddenly clapped a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, Geronimo, I completely forgot! I was supposed to go round to Mr Payne’s shop to pass on Gran’s invitation. Not that I imagine he’s likely to turn it down because I think he’s got his beady eye on my gran.’ She saw Snowy’s brows rise. ‘Oh, I know she’s old, but there’s talk of the two of them . . . but never mind that, I’m sure he’s a very nice fellow. Well, I know he is, but we’d better go there next, just in case Gran isn’t his only friend. She’d be cross if I had to tell her that Mr Payne was already spoken for this evening.’

‘Let’s gerron the tram then,’ Snowy shouted as one drew up beside them. ‘This’ll take us up Heyworth Street in five minutes flat.’ He swung himself on to the platform and thumped the heavy marketing bag down before heaving Tess aboard, and very soon they were pushing the tobacconist’s door open and Tess was doing her best to give the man behind the counter a friendly smile.

‘Hello, Mr Payne. I’ve got an invitation from my gran; she wants you to come to supper after you close. We’ll eat at half past six,’ she gabbled. ‘Snowy here is invited as well, and after supper she thought we might have a hand of cards. If you’re willing, that is.’