‘I wonder who the fella was?’ Alfie said.

Molly had few illusions about her friend. ‘Happen there wasn’t a fella at all.’ All those who knew Sandra were aware of her vivid imagination. ‘You know how she likes to fancify.’ And yet Sandra had sounded definite enough to cause doubts in Molly’s mind. ‘On the other hand, maybe she really has met somebody she’s taken a liking to.’

Alfie nodded. ‘We’ll see.’ Giving Molly a hug, he said, ‘It’s time I was off to the gymnasium.’

Glancing at the window, Molly saw her mother looking out. ‘Our mam’s watching for me. If everything’s not shipshape when Dad gets home, there’ll be another row, and with Mam the way she is, that’s the last thing she needs.’

Reluctantly, they parted company, Alfie to Blackburn town and the gymnasium; Molly indoors to give her mam a helping hand.

She found Amy seated in front of the fire. ‘Are you all right, Mam?’ Molly thought her mother looked to be in pain. ‘The baby hasn’t started, has it?’ Excitement mingled with terror.

Forcing a smile, Amy shook her head. ‘No, lass,’ she said. ‘I’ve got a bit of a backache, that’s all.’ Her weary gaze shifted to the door. ‘It’s them little buggers upstairs, they wear me out.’ Lowering her voice she confided, ‘Sometimes I wonder what to make of our Lottie. She allus seems to be looking for trouble.’

‘What’s she been up to now?’ Molly was always wary of her younger sister. Where Sandra was foolish and vulnerable, Lottie had the makings of a really nasty piece of work.

‘She’s not been up to anything exactly.’ Amy gave a sigh as deep as her boots. ‘But she will keep asking questions…’ Realising she had said enough, Amy clammed up.

‘Questions?’ Molly detected an odd note in her mother’s voice. ‘What about?’

‘Nothing in particular.’ Amy thought it best not to mention Jack’s visit. ‘Our Lottie’s head is too old for her shoulders, that’s the trouble.’

‘Well, she seems to have worn you out, that’s for sure.’ Molly had never seen her mam look so tired. ‘Get yourself off to bed.’ She glanced at the mantelpiece clock. ‘It’s twenty to ten. I’ll get Dad’s meal.’ Throwing off her coat she hung it on the nail behind the door. ‘And don’t you be worrying about what he might say. I’ll tell him you’re feeling a bit worse for wear, and I packed you off to your bed.’

Amy was fearful. ‘No, lass. You know what Frank’s like. When he walks through that door he expects to see me ready to wait on him hand and foot. He won’t like it if I’m not there to put his food in front of him.’

‘I’m not worried about what he wants, Mam,’ Molly bristled. ‘It’s you I’m concerned about.’ She looked searchingly at her mother’s face, so grey and troubled. It hurt the girl to see how subservient her mother had become, and all in the name of peace. ‘He can rant and rave all he likes,’ she said. ‘Go on, our mam… away upstairs, eh? You look all in.’