“By a stranger?” Patrick’s eyes bored into Blackie. “But Upper Armley is the safest place I know, and I traveled the world in the navy.”

“How do ye knows it’s safe, Uncle? These days anything can happen … anywhere. Only last week I read in one of yer newspapers that a girl had been taken in Harehills. Never seen again, body never was found. So far.”

“I missed that story,” Patrick replied, an undertone of worry in his voice. “Are you certain she was never found?”

“Sure and I am, Uncle Pat. There are all sorts roaming the streets, weird people in our midst, and ye are the one allus telling me it’s a dangerous world we live in these days.”

“Aye, that’s true, I am saying that and I mean it.”

Finn now volunteered, “There is one other thing, Blackie. Don’t ye remember Alf said they’d had that tiff the night before; also there was an idea passed around that she might have gone off with another lad.”

Blackie exclaimed, “That’s right! Alf mentioned that lad Ian Craig. Mebbe she’s all right. Mebbe she’s hooked up with him.”

“So why didn’t she go home?” Finn said. “Did she go back ter his house? Is she still there?”

“That don’t sound like Gwen. She is a nice girl, not a loose woman,” Blackie murmured, and said no more as Aunt Eileen appeared in the main room, removing her pinafore.

She said, “Will you all come and get yer Yorkshire puddings, please.”

The three men rose, and Patrick said in a quiet voice, “No discussion about Gwen, lads. I don’t want Eileen to be upset.”

“Quiet as two mice,” Finn whispered.

Blackie merely nodded.

From time to time, Eileen and Patrick exchanged glances. They didn’t say a word to each other, but their eyes shone with shared pleasure.

They knew how much Finn was enjoying the large, round Yorkshire pudding, now oozing gravy. And Blackie, too, was engrossed with his food, as he always was.

When they had all finished the first course, Eileen asked Patrick to bring the plates, and for Blackie to refill their tumblers with cold water.

“What else can we do, Aunt Eileen?” Blackie asked. “Can we help some more?”

“Your uncle is going to carve the leg of lamb, and I will serve the vegetables. Once the plates are ready, you can come and carry them to the table. Finn will help you.”

“Sure and we will,” Blackie responded, and glanced at Finn. Leaning closer, he whispered, “Where did ye get all yer information about Gwen? From Alf?”

“Yes, and also from Sarah. I bumped into her on Town Street. She’d been to Christ Church, ter the morning service. The neighbors had been talking to each other before and after the service.”

“Was she with her sister?”