Ivy glanced up at her admiringly. ‘You could have turned out bitter and nasty after what’s happened to you, but you ain’t.’

‘That kind of attitude wouldn’t have got me far. I could have gone along with my aunt’s plans for me, but I wouldn’t. I had to make a new life for myself, and I’ve done that.’ Jenny squeezed Ivy’s arm. ‘And I’m so glad I did.’

They walked the rest of the way in silence, and Jenny let her thoughts wander over Ivy’s statement that she seemed at ease with people like the Stannards, but still fitted in with her friends in this humble street. She was lucky, she realized: not many people had that opportunity to see the heads and tails of life. Matthew was doing it to some extent by working in the garage as an apprentice, but at the end of each day he went back to his life of luxury. So it wasn’t the same for him; but Jenny had the feeling that he understood her position more than many others.

The girls parted at their doors, promising to meet at ten the next morning to go to the hall to see if there was another day’s work to be had. The ladies were employing them only on a day-to-day basis.

When she stepped inside, eager to tell Ma about her day and show her the money she’d earned, she was surprised to see the chair empty.

‘Ma!’ she called, running to the kitchen and then to the outhouse. No sign of her. She must be upstairs, but why would she go there? Ma never slept during the day, except for a nap in her chair.

Jenny was halfway up the stairs when Glad appeared at the top, her finger to her lips. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked in alarm.

‘Ma’s had a bad turn. She’s asleep now, though.’

Jenny rushed to Ma’s bedroom and knelt beside the bed, taking the frail woman’s hand in hers. What she saw made her heart miss several beats. Ma’s face was white, and the left side of her mouth was pulled down slightly.

‘We think she’s had a stroke,’ Glad whispered. ‘She’s lost the use of the left side of her body.’

‘I must get a doctor.’ Jenny was on her feet, eyes brimming with tears. ‘I’ve earned enough today to pay for one.’

‘I think that would be best. I’ll stay with her while you go for him.’ Glad settled herself in a chair she’d brought up from the kitchen.

Jenny was in the street in a moment and running for all she was worth. The doctor’s house was about half a mile away, by a small parade of shops. With each gasping breath she prayed that he was there.