Holly smiled in spite of the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she thought of her poor mother all alone back at the house.

‘So where are we goin’?’ Ivy asked.

Holly’s thoughts were jerked back to the present and drawing herself up to her full height she answered truthfully, ‘It all depends where the first train leaving here is bound. Wherever it’s going, we’ll get on it.’

Ivy hopped from foot to foot in her excitement. ‘Ooh, it’s like goin’ on an adventure, ain’t it?’ she chirped. ‘I ain’t never been on a train before.’

The man at the ticket desk smiled kindly at the girl as Holly approached. ‘Where is the next train bound for?’ she asked and after glancing at his timetable he scratched his whiskery chin.

‘That’d be London, Euston, miss. It’s due in fifteen minutes.’

‘Then I’ll have two tickets please. One way,’ she told him pointedly.

He looked at her curiously for a moment but then gave her the tickets and told her, ‘There’s a fire in the waitin’ room if you’d like to wait in there. It’s a bit parky out here, ain’t it?’

‘Thank you.’ She took the change he placed in front of her and with Ivy trotting along behind her like a little puppy she made her way to the platform and into the waiting room.

‘Cor, it’s nice an’ warm in here, ain’t it?’ Ivy held her hands out to the cheery blaze and glanced around. Holly, meanwhile, sat sedately on one of the benches set along the wall and remained silent.

But when the train roared into the station in a hiss of steam and smoke that enveloped the platform, Ivy’s excitement died abruptly.

‘Crikey they’s noisy things, ain’t they?’ she muttered nervously as she clutched the old carpet bag that contained the few meagre clothes she possessed tightly to her.

Holly gave her a reassuring smile as the train drew to a halt. ‘You’ll be all right, it’s quite safe,’ she assured her as the guard opened a carriage door for her.

Ivy didn’t look too sure about that, but she followed her onto the train all the same and perched on the edge of the seat, her eyes looking huge in her pale face.

‘So how long will it take us to get there?’ she enquired nervously.

‘Not more than a few hours I shouldn’t think.’ Holly reached out to pat her hand distractedly. She was so nervous that she could barely think straight. Luckily they had the carriage to themselves, which was just as well, for when the train set off again Ivy let out a fearful screech.

‘’Ere, yer didn’t warn me they went this fast,’ she groaned as the train pulled out of the station.

Holly ignored her and as the train picked up speed she stared at the familiar town, wondering when and if she would ever see it again. Soon the houses gave way to fields and Ivy’s complaints stopped as she stared in awe at the passing scenery.