They walked up the plush carpeted stairs to the ladies’ lingerie where Peggy was now the head of the department.

‘Ella!’

Tall and slim, in a navy costume, Peggy seemed to change little through the years: perhaps there were more grey strands in her hair, maybe there were a few more lines on her face, but other than that she looked just the same as Ella always thought of her. She came towards them now with outstretched arms. ‘My dear, I think you’ve grown again since I saw you in the summer. You’re as tall as me now.’

Peggy bent forward and kissed Ella’s cheek. ‘And this is Janice?’ She held out her slim, well-manicured hand. ‘I’m pleased to meet you, Janice.’

‘Hello, Miss Godfrey.’ But the girl’s eyes were darting everywhere, wide with wonder at the models dressed in flowing satin nightwear and frilly underwear.

Peggy smiled and asked, ‘Now, what do you want to do? Do you want the house key to go home, or do you want to leave your overnight cases with me and stay in the town for a while?’

Before Ella could reply, Janice said, ‘Ooh, stay in town, Ella, do let’s,’ and Ella nodded ready agreement.

Peggy laughed. ‘Now you’ve got here at last, you’re not going to waste a moment, I can see. I tell you what. You have a look round and I’ll meet you both at the High Bridge café at one o’clock for lunch. I only get an hour so you go in and get a table. It’ll be packed today with all the last-minute shoppers.’

Ella nodded and handed over the small suitcase that had once been her mother’s and Janice’s canvas bag into Peggy’s safekeeping. ‘All right. See you later.’

The city was in festive mood: every shop window was decorated with Christmas trees and festooned with paper chains, red, silver and gold. On a corner near the Stonebow, the Salvation Army band played carols and as they stepped out of the double doors of the department store, they were lost in the bustle of the crowded pavements.

Janice clutched Ella’s arm again; it was becoming rapidly bruised with all the girl’s excitement. She was staring at a model in one of the huge plate glass windows of the store and watching a window dresser at work.

‘Isn’t that just the most wonderful dress you’ve ever seen, Ella?’ Janice gasped.

It was a royal blue A-line dress that curved over the model’s breast and into her slim waist and then out over flounced petticoats. They stood gazing at it for a long time and then Ella pulled her mesmerized friend away. ‘It’ll be far too dear for the likes of us. Come on.’