‘Drink your tea.’ In a silence that was painful he did just that, much as a bairn would obey its mother, and as Vera watched him she thought, He’s in a bad way sure enough. Oh dear, oh dear, what a tangle, and the pity she had felt when she had first seen him on the doorstep increased.

At length, when he’d drained the mug, he said quietly, ‘Where has she gone, Mrs Walton? I have to see her.’

‘It won’t do any good, lad. Her mind’s made up. Believe me, I tried to persuade her to stay.’

Aye, he could believe that. Mrs Walton thought the world of Ruby.

‘Listen, Adam.’ Vera sat down beside him. ‘What’s done is done and there’s no going back. Perhaps if there hadn’t been a bairn on the way it might have been different, I don’t know, but if you love Ruby, and I think you do, you have to accept her decision.’

‘I can’t.’ It was a helpless little whisper.

‘You can. In fact, you must. It would be too cruel not to allow her to try and find some peace of mind.’

‘All this is Olive’s fault.’

‘Olive played her part. A large part, I grant you that, but you must take some responsibility too.’

He shook his head, whether in repudiation of her words or in despair, Vera didn’t know. There was quiet in the room for a few moments, and then Adam wetted his lips. ‘Father McHaffie came to the house last night. He told my da I had to marry Olive and as far as my parents are concerned, that’s that.’

Gently, Vera said, ‘I don’t know Father McHaffie. I’m not a Catholic, as you are probably aware, but forgetting him for a moment, I can’t see you have any other choice. There is the bairn to consider, lad. The innocent one in all of this. From what Ruby intimated to me, she made it plain she couldn’t see the child born out of wedlock, as much for her parents’ sake as the baby’s.’ She paused for a moment. ‘Adam, Ruby’s gone and she isn’t coming back, and to be brutally honest, even if she did, it’s over between the two of you.’

‘I know,’ he whispered. ‘In my head I know, but my heart . . .’

‘I’m sorry, lad.’ And she found she was as concerned for him as much as Ruby, which she hadn’t expected. ‘Can I get you another cup of tea?’ The panacea for all ills, Vera thought ruefully, but not this one. There was no remedy for this.

‘Thanks all the same but I’d better get going.’ He stood up and Vera rose too, whereupon they looked at each other for a moment in silence.