‘She’s got herself another man – another life. That’s what she said in the letter.’ Molly hated the pain she was causing and tried her best to lessen it. ‘No, Lottie. Of course it wasn’t because of you.’

Suddenly, the girl was in Molly’s arms, sobbing as if her heart would break. ‘I don’t want her to run away. I want her to come back. Please, Molly, make her come back. I’ll behave myself, I promise I will!’ Then she couldn’t talk any more, and Molly held her close, her own tears rolling down her face.

Life was so cruel.

The mantelpiece clock was striking two o’clock when Frank Tattersall finally came home. It was a wonder he managed to get up at six of a morning, Molly often thought, with the hours he kept.

Her heart in her mouth, she had waited up for him after Lottie had cried herself to sleep. If she didn’t tell him tonight, he would find out another way, and life wouldn’t be worth living.

Red-faced and merry, he came through the parlour door, visibly taken aback to see Molly there. ‘Time you were in bed, my girl,’ he grumbled.

Having dozed intermittently, Molly stared at him through bleary eyes. ‘I’ve been waiting up for you.’

‘Oh, have you now?’ Turning aside, he beckoned, and a scrawny redhead appeared. Gesturing at his daughter, he told the woman, ‘This silly little bitch thinks I’m some snotty-nosed kid to be told off when I’m home late.’

He swaggered into the room. ‘Well, I’m home now,’ he hissed, ‘so you can sod off to bed, and be quick about it.’ With his arm round the woman he said, ‘Can’t you see I’ve got company?’ And the two of them started giggling.

Calm and collected, Molly got out of her chair. Perhaps it would be easier with a stranger present. ‘I have a letter for you,’ she said, and taking it from the table, she held it out to him.

Frank stared up at her, his face creased in a frown. ‘What the devil do I want with a letter! Have you gone mad, girl?’

‘It’s from Mam.’ She thrust it closer to him, her eyes never leaving his. ‘I think you’d better read it.’

Seeing she would not leave until he took the letter, Frank snatched it from her. ‘She must have gone off her head!’ he sneered. ‘What’s the idea anyway? Bleedin’ letters. I thought she were due out any day now, and about time, too, the lazy whore.’ Squashing the letter under the cushion, he said, ‘I’ll read it later. I’ve more pressing business for the minute.’ Winking at the woman he added slyly, ‘It can wait till me company’s gone.’

Molly was adamant. ‘I think you should read it now.’

‘I don’t give a toss what you think,’ he growled. ‘Are you bloody deaf or what?’ Making a move towards her he threatened, ‘I thought I told you to get upstairs!’

‘Please yourself,’ Molly retorted. ‘I just thought you’d like to know about it before the whole street starts gossiping. I didn’t want you to find out that way, but if you’re not bothered about folks knowing your business before you do, that’s fine. Tear it up. Burn it. What do I care?’ With that she departed the room, and left him to his giggling company.