‘She’s not going anywhere while she’s eating her mash,’ said Eric, turning the tap full on to drown out her voice. But Gladys wasn’t going to let the subject of Peggy and the milk drop.

‘Well, did you? Did you give our hard-earned money away? She still owes us for eight pints and you know that.’

Eric took a deep breath; there was no point in his denying it. ‘Yes, I did, but she promised me I would be paid on the collection round and I just haven’t been able to catch her since.’

‘What a surprise. Well, on Friday, it won’t be you going, it will be me.’ She glared at her husband and Eric could see the thoughts running through her mind as clearly as if she had spoken them. Gladys would take huge delight in knocking on Peggy’s door and that delight would only be increased if Peggy couldn’t pay and had to ask for extra time.

‘Gladys, they don’t have a lot in that house. Don’t you be going and making a show of her, that won’t get you anywhere.’

Gladys was impervious to his pleas, as he knew she would be. ‘I didn’t come down with the last shower like you, Eric, so I’ll be doing the Nelson Street round this Friday.’

Eric’s heart sank. He felt on the edge of despair. ‘Gladys, you can’t get blood out of a stone. If she doesn’t have it, she doesn’t have it. Please leave it to me, Gladys. I’ll get it. Everyone always does with Peggy, eventually. She’s never had the bailiffs round, so she has that much to her credit.’

Gladys snorted in derision. ‘That was only thanks to Maura Doherty. Now she’s left, and mind, who could blame her – living next to that lot, it was only a matter of time. The Nolans probably drove the Dohertys away. They are the most notorious family around here, apart from Annie O’Prey and her thieves for sons, and you, soft lad, give out the free milk like it’s a charity we run here.’

‘The Dohertys left because they had a windfall, as you often observe, ’twas nothing to do with the Nolans,’ he said and, under his breath, ‘I’d be off meself if we had one. I would and that’s a fact.’ An image of himself and Daisy Bell, walking along a shore, leapt into his mind; the sun was shining and there was someone walking along beside him, he just couldn’t tell who.

‘Leave it to you to collect it? What will you do? Take a crate with you and give her another half a dozen for free? “Here you go, Peggy, take the bleedin’ lot, why don’t you, Peggy. Have it all, go on, take the horse too, Peggy, because I’m a flamin’ big eejit I am”.’