She looked instantly guilty. ‘Well, don’t blame me, Eric, it’s not our fault. I mean, we can’t refuse to serve them, can we? I had to push Paddy Nolan out of the door meself last night. Cadged a bob off Ena, he did, because he said there was no money for the leccy at home and Peggy and the kids were in the pitch black, then moved into the back bar and spent it on Guinness as soon as Ena started singing “Danny Boy”. It’s Peggy and the kids I feel sorry for, but what are we supposed to do, close the bleeding place down?’ Without waiting for an answer, she continued, ‘And if we did, the buggers would only go and spend it down at the Sylvestrian and put their money over the bar there. At least in my pub it’s not as far to stagger home and there’s no prossies on the street to take whatever the soft buggers have left.’ Babs took a long pull on her cigarette and flicked the ash out of the door.

Now it was Eric’s turn to feel guilty. ‘I’m sorry, Babs, I didn’t mean to suggest…’ he began.

‘Oh Eric, no love, no, I know you didn’t. It’s just harder now that Tommy Doherty isn’t around. If he thought anyone was drinking too much and the kids were going without, he’d march them back home. I’ve seen him many a time taking what was left of the pay packet from some soft sod and then their Maura would take it round to the wife the next morning. It’s not the same since him and Maura left; the four streets are going to pot without them.’

Eric shook his head in dismay and changed the subject. ‘I was thinking of painting the float for the Dock Queen Carnival. Is it starting off on your front yard as usual?’

Babs’s face lit up. ‘It is. I went to the first meeting with Sister at the convent – and honest to God, the whole time I was there I was waiting for lightning to strike, or the doors to slam shut and lock me in.’ Babs, who lived in a warm public house with a large fire, had no need of a welcome dry hour in mass, three times a day for seven months of the year and was not a regular attender, laughed. ‘Sister said, “So, ladies, who is organising the bunting?” Well, not one bugger answered. It was Maura did all that before she left, so I nudged Peggy who was sat next to me and said to her, “Peggy, can’t you do that? Didn’t you used to be the one helping Maura before she left?” and she just gawped at me.