Now, as Mary removed her coat, she glanced up at the clock. She had been at Malcolm’s since six for early breakfast for the crew who were leaving on the morning bore at ten past eight so she had been up since half past five and felt tired and in need of her bed. But looking around the mess in the kitchen she knew it could not be left, so she rolled up her sleeves and, turning on the tap, filled the kettle ready to wash yet another bowl of greasy dishes.

Chapter Ten

Peggy had been given short shrift at the rent office as she handed over her rent book to Mr Keeble there. It had been given back to her just as quickly, a gesture which came as something of a surprise to her.

‘Mrs Nolan, you have given me the book, but there is no money in it,’ said Mr Keeble.

‘Yes, I know,’ said Peggy, looking behind her to see if anyone had followed her in. ‘I wondered if we could have a bit of time, like. You see, it’s just that my husband, he has a bad back and he’s under Dr Cole at the minute.’

The rent man raised his eyebrows. ‘Really? Knowing the size of your husband, that must be very uncomfortable for Dr Cole. Now Mrs Nolan, you know as well as I do, all arrears have to be dealt with by Mr Heartfelt. I have no authority in this area, I’m here to take the money, record and bank it, that’s all.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Peggy had stammered; she would try anything to avoid a meeting with Mr Heartfelt, who might be so in name, but was certainly nothing like it by nature. Peggy’s voice dropped. ‘Mr Keeble, is there a way it would be possible just to wait for that for just a week? You see, I’ve sent a letter to a friend for help and I know she will reply just as soon as she can. My husband, he’s waiting for an appointment at the hospital to come through, but you know what the post is like, it’s shocking, and he can’t go back to work until he’s been seen by a specialist. Dr Cole said it’s the worst case of a bad back he’s ever seen in all his years as a doctor and if he did go down to the docks, it would kill him stone dead…’

Her words trailed away as Mr Keeble, who appeared to be a man for whom no excuse would hold the remotest element of surprise, gave her the courtesy of his ear, but not his attention as he opened a letter and began to read it. Peggy sensed she was not being listened to and rambled on to an uncomfortable stop. Mr Keeble peered at her over the top of the letter.