Giving her the privacy she deserved, Rosie told Molly to close the scullery door while she washed.

While Molly strip-washed at the pot sink, Rosie scraped all the leftovers on to one plate. Piling the plates one atop the other, she placed them on the corner of the dresser. She then scooped any bits of food into the centre of the tablecloth and folded it like a huge dolly bag so the scraps stayed put. This, too, she placed on the dresser, then taking the duster from the drawer, she wiped the polished table clean and replaced the potted plant in the centre. ‘Good as new,’ she said, and was proud of herself.

By that time, Molly was washed and dried. Slipping the towel round her shoulders, she thanked Rosie and quickly made her way upstairs.

Once in her room, she rummaged in the wardrobe, choosing a plain black skirt and a pink twin set. She groaned when she unrolled her stockings to discover that one had the tiniest hole in the knee. ‘Never mind,’ she muttered and put them on anyway, hoping the hem of her skirt would cover the offending hole; much to her relief, it did.

Sitting before the oval dressing-table mirror, she brushed her brown hair until it shone; next came the face cream, and then the rouge… just a dab on each cheek. A touch of mascara, and a smudge of lipstick and she was ready.

‘Shoes!’ Hunting for her brown ankle-straps, she found them under the bed next to the jeremiah. Slipping them on, she went to Lottie’s room, and finding her still asleep, gave her a good shaking. ‘I’m going out now,’ she warned. ‘If Dad comes in and finds you still abed, I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes!’

When Lottie merely drew the bedclothes back over her head, Molly was hard-pressed not to fling them back again and yank her sister out of there. Instead, she left her to it. Her patience had been tried too far. She was finished with arguing and cajoling. In light of what had happened, starting tomorrow, Lottie would have to pull her weight in this house.

Five minutes later, Alfie arrived, looking incredibly handsome in a roll-neck sweater and dark jacket, with the green cord trousers Molly had bought him last birthday.

‘I’ve changed my mind,’ she teased him with a serious face. ‘I don’t fancy going to the pictures, so me and Sandra have decided to go out on the town… girls’ stuff and all that.’ When he stared at her in disbelief, she added with a cheeky grin, ‘If we’re lucky we might even pick up a couple of good-looking blokes.’

‘You little devil!’ Diving at her, he snatched her into his arms and swung her round. ‘I’ve a good mind to tan your backside.’

Rosie laughed. ‘Not in front of the children, you won’t!’ she chided. ‘And not in front of me neither.’

‘Right then, we’d best be off, or we’ll miss the start.’ Taking Molly’s coat from the back of the door, Alfie arranged it over her shoulders. ‘It’s a good ten minutes’ walk.’