Glenys shook her head. ‘I’m a fair judge of character and I’d say Frank is very much on our side and just what he seems – an honest man,’ she whispered. ‘But Liverpool is full of hefty seamen with black beards. I don’t think we need worry, but it’s best to make sure.’

And presently Frank re-joined them, ruffling Mo’s pale curls as he re-entered the room and divesting himself of his outdoor clothing. ‘False alarm,’ he said cheerfully. ‘So back to business.’

Mo took Frank’s hand and rubbed it worshipfully against her cheek. ‘Thanks, Frank,’ she said, beaming up at him. ‘Sorry I false alarmed, but until we’re away from Liverpool I reckon I’ll still be scared of anyone who looks even the tiniest bit like Cyril!’

‘Right you are, chuck,’ Glenys said, standing up. ‘And if we plan to leave within the next few days, we all need our beauty sleep. So I’ll come and tuck you up and shan’t be long following you.’

When she returned to the kitchen, however, she glanced enquiringly at Frank, who smiled ruefully. ‘There’s no sense in worrying Mo, but it was him all right,’ he said. ‘He stopped me, said he’d mislaid the number of the house his young cousins were staying in, but knew it was somewhere along this road and could I tell him if I’d seen any youngsters about. He described Jimmy and Mo to a T. I told him there were no children living here as far as I knew, but he said he’d keep looking because he’s sure they’re here somewhere. So the sooner you leave the better.’

Glenys packed up some food, checked that the fire was almost out and tiptoed into her bedroom. She began to lay out Mo’s clothes, whereupon the child woke and sat up, eyes wide and black in the candlelight. ‘It wasn’t true, what Frank said about the feller I thought were Cyril, was it?’ she asked. ‘He didn’t want to scare me but I were right, weren’t I? It were Cyril?’ A hand flew to her heart. ‘Is he still out there? Is he like a cat waiting at a mousehole, ready to pounce the moment one of us goes out the door?’

Glenys shook her head. ‘Of course not,’ she said reassuringly. ‘Though you, were right about Cyril. Frank didn’t want to worry you, but we’ve decided we must leave now, whilst it’s still dark. He’s given me a telephone number where I ought to be able to reach him between shifts, so we can keep in touch. I’ve laid out your clothes, dear, so just you get dressed and go down to the kitchen. We’ll go out the back way across the yard and into the jigger. I’ve already made some sandwiches, so we shan’t starve. Frank will see us off on the milk train before going to work.’

Mo, who was struggling into her clothes, nodded. ‘I’m glad we’re off,’ she admitted. ‘Only suppose Cyril’s still lurking about somewhere and sees us leave?’