Walking up the road with Glad, Matt was still reeling from the shock of seeing how much Jenny had changed. She had been a robust, if timid, young girl, now she was taller, too thin and obviously very tired. But one thing was abundantly clear: she now had a maturity and confidence that had not been there before.

Matt’s heart contracted with pain. She’d had to grow up quickly to survive, he guessed. Dear God, what a way to do it.

‘You’re very quiet, young man.’

Glad’s voice brought him back to the here and now. ‘Sorry, I was thinking.’ Matt glanced at the woman beside him. ‘How did you come to know Jenny?’

She then told him about the visit to the pawnbroker’s, and how she and Fred had been impressed with her courage. ‘We told her to come to us if she was in need, and that’s what she did when your family threw her out. Poor little devil!’

‘We’re all very sorry about that,’ Matt told her. ‘My father makes rash decisions at times, and no amount of arguing can change his mind. He’s not an unkind man, though. He regrets it now.’

‘So he should!’ Glad spoke angrily. ‘Everyone here loves her, and though she doesn’t show it much, Ma adores her. Looks on her as a daughter, she does.’

‘Jenny’s lucky to have found you —’

Glad stopped suddenly and turned to face Matt. ‘You’ve got that wrong, young man. We’re the lucky ones, and if anyone in this world tries to hurt her again they’ll have us to deal with.’

‘I believe you.’ Matt fell into step beside her as she began to walk up the street again. ‘Is that why you all denied knowing her when I came round with my brother Luke?’

‘Of course. Now, the hall is just around the next corner. Do you think your mother can do something for the people here?’

Matt saw a group of dejected men standing outside a factory gate in the hope of getting work, and gritted his teeth in anger. These poor buggers shouldn’t have to beg like this. But what choice did they have? They probably all had families to feed. The gulf between them and the way he lived hit him with such force at that moment that it made him gasp out loud.

Glad gave him a knowing look. ‘Not a pleasant sight, is it? You ought to go and see the dole queues, and perhaps stand in line with them for a couple of days, and you might begin to understand the desperation they feel. And you haven’t answered my question. Will your mother and her friends be able to help?’

‘Yes!’ The word hissed out from between his clenched teeth.

‘Well, here we are, then.’ Glad pushed the door, and, as the lock was broken, it swung open.