For a few moments Molly could only cry, and Ruth slipped an arm round her back, squeezing comfortingly.

‘You know Molly,’ she said with a gentleness that made Molly weep all the more. ‘You’ve never told me much about yourself. Why don’t we just keep walking and you can tell me about things – um?’

Molly shook her head, ‘You don’t want to know, Ruth,’ she sniffed. ‘Honest – you wouldn’t want to know me if I told you.’

Ruth stopped and turned to Molly to face her, her expression very solemn. ‘You think I’m just a sheltered, namby-pamby girl with all the privileges, don’t you? Well, you’re right, I am. I’ve had a sheltered, comfortable life and we’re not short of money. I’ve had a good schooling and a nice house, and one brother who I get on reasonably well with, but the truth is, even if we were pulling each other’s heads off, it wouldn’t make much difference . . .’ Her voice was rising. ‘Because neither of our parents would pay the slightest attention anyway; they don’t even take any notice of each other because they’re so busy being hard-working and worthy and charitable . . . And yes, on the surface it’s all very polite and civilized . . .’ Ruth shrugged. ‘You might think you’re going to shock me – and perhaps you will. But what if I am shocked? Some things are shocking. But I can hear you out, that’s all. I’m your friend.’

‘That’s nice of yer.’ Molly wiped her eyes. She felt ashamed, as if she didn’t deserve this.

‘Nice?’ Ruth was almost shouting. ‘I’m not being nice. Just speak to me, Molly – don’t be another of those people I always seem to be surrounded by, who never say anything, until I think I’m going insane!’ Molly was touched to see that Ruth was actually trembling with emotion.

‘All right.’ Molly felt shaky herself. ‘I’ll try.’

As they walked, paddling in the shallows, she talked about Iris and Joe, and tried to explain what life with them had been like. She told Ruth about Em, and what had happened to her mom after she’d had Violet, and how she and Em had become friends; and about Jenny and Stanley Button and their deaths. One thing she couldn’t just come out with was about Old Man Rathbone and his filthy habits, but she hinted at it and Ruth didn’t pry. Molly explained it by saying that was why she had had infections and problems with her waterworks.

‘I’ve never been so well as I was in the army,’ she said. ‘They really looked after us.’

She could feel Ruth’s quiet attentiveness.

She told her about Tony and how he had died, and finally about Bert, his crooked dealings and what had happened with Aggie, the girl he murdered. I might as well, she thought. Just go the whole hog.

‘When we were posted to Dover, remember? I saw it in the paper. My brother’s name, Albert Fox, there in black-and-white. They hanged him, last July while we were still in Belgium.’ She shuddered. ‘He was never nice – not that I remember. Always cruel and mean. I suppose he didn’t stand a chance.’