It had been Bridget coming on duty that had broken the impasse. Matron Henderson had brought Bridget to her and after a while Ruby had been persuaded to leave Ellie’s side. Bridget had taken Ruby through to the laundry and everyone had been very gentle with her, helping her to wash and then sponging down her coat and dress, which had Ellie’s blood on them, and cleaning her shoes. Ruby had submitted to their ministrations in a kind of vacuum. It had only been when they’d tried to persuade her to eat something that she had protested. Matron Henderson had come to see her shortly afterwards and had insisted she go home and rest and she hadn’t argued. In truth, she felt nauseous and her head was thudding.

Now, as Daisy put her arm round her, she said, ‘Come on, lass, me an’ Howard’ll take you home.’

Ruby looked across at Howard sitting holding the reins. ‘No, it’s all right. I can catch the tram.’

‘We’re taking you, lass. You’re in no fit state. Besides, I need to fill you in on what’s been happening while you’ve been at the hospital.’

It was only as Daisy helped her climb up onto the thin plank seat of the cart that Ruby noticed the back held a number of boxes and bags. As Daisy followed her gaze, she said, ‘We’re going down south, lass, to make a new start. When we got back last night Dan was ranting and raving about the mess you’ve made of his face. I reckon he might have lost the eye, it looks real bad. Anyway, him an’ Howard had a fight and Daniel said he was throwing us out an’ Howard said that was fine by him. Me an’ Howard went to get this horse an’ cart from a pal of Howard’s, paid through the nose but beggars can’t be choosers, an’ while we were out, Moll said the Old Bill turned up saying it was to do with Ellie. Did you give ’em his name?’

Ruby nodded.

‘Oh, lass, you shouldn’t have done that.’

Quite why she shouldn’t, Ruby wasn’t sure, but thinking about it she supposed in reporting Daniel it might have put Howard and Daisy in an awkward position.