‘She is,’ Molly said. ‘It was very nice, thank you.’

Ruth’s visit lifted Molly’s spirits for days, especially Ruth’s parting words: ‘Do keep in touch, won’t you, Molly? It means a lot to me.’

And though Molly found it hard to believe it of herself, Ruth thought she was intelligent and capable. She had said so, hadn’t she?

But as the days passed her mood began to slide down again. Throughout the day’s routine of cooking and cleaning, the bottle of Johnnie Walker – still with a couple of inches left at the bottom – which she had pushed away at the back of the cupboard, loomed in her mind until she could think of nothing else. Whenever she could sneak up to her room for a nip of it, she did, more and more. And the next bottle, and the next.

The worst thing was thinking about what Ruth had said. That she, Molly, could do better than this. Her thoughts raced round and round, but she couldn’t find a way out. She didn’t know how.

‘Molly – I need a word with you.’

Jane Lester’s voice was very solemn. It was a month after Ruth’s visit and summer had ended. The days were already beginning to close in. Mr Lester had just gone out and the two women were in the kitchen. Mrs Lester firmly shut the door. Though only eleven in the morning, Molly had already had several goes at the bottle. Only a sip here and there, she reasoned. It wasn’t much – just a little pick-me-up, like a tonic.

Jane folded her arms and gave Molly a pitying look.

‘I’ve been putting off saying this, hoping things would right themselves, but I’ve got to say something. You may think I haven’t noticed. I’m not that much of an innocent, you know.’

‘What d’you mean?’ Molly asked. She lost her balance for a second – on an uneven bit of lino, she told herself – and swayed back against the table.

‘The drink: I can smell it on you now. It’s no good thinking that sucking a mint will cover it up. Look, Molly, I’ve been giving you the benefit of the doubt. I’m not so hard and fast about these things as Mr Lester. After all, my own father enjoyed a little drink now and then, with no harm done. But not at this time of the morning! And Bernard has strong feelings – very strong. If he finds out, you’ll be sacked and no second chances.’

Oh, very Christian, Molly thought savagely, but said only, ‘I’m sorry’ and hung her head.

She didn’t want to drink, not really. She just couldn’t seem to help it. It drew her as if it was more powerful than her and as if a strong hand was pulling her towards it. And the more she had, the more she needed it.

‘Look, dear, you’ve been a great asset to us here, especially to me. You’re a good, hard-working girl when you put your mind to it. Why must you persist in giving in to the devil’s leadings? You need to renounce it – put it behind you and ask for forgiveness. Tip the rest of it away and begin anew. Otherwise you’ll be out on the street! Bernard won’t have it – and he’s a man of his word!’