Leaping up, she began to search through her clothes, choosing the plainest and oldest garments. The case was only small and soon full, but there was room for one more item. The dress her father had bought her for her fourteenth birthday. It was most unsuitable, of course, and there wouldn’t be an occasion to wear it in the life she was planning for herself, but she had to keep some small memory of the way things had been, and of the father she had loved so much.

After wrapping the white lace and beaded dress in tissue paper, Jenny tucked it underneath her other clothes. Now she had to find a way to raise some money. She would have to try one of those pawnbrokers she’d heard about because she didn’t know any other way.

It wouldn’t be wise to leave the house with a large package, so, after choosing a couple of good frocks, she tipped out the trinket boxes. There wasn’t much jewellery, but it was all gold and must be worth something. There was a bracelet, a heart-shaped locket on a chain, a couple of brooches, and this: she held up a fine gold chain with a small pendant, a diamond surrounded by emeralds. It was the most valuable gift her father had ever given her. After gazing at it for a few moments she made up her mind to keep it and fastened it around her neck, tucking it out of sight under her blouse. It would be wise to keep that as insurance, because she didn’t know when she might need money in a hurry.

Gathering everything together, she crammed it into a leather handbag. That could be offered to the pawnbroker as well.

With heart hammering, she crept down the stairs, hoping no one would see her, and slipped out of the front door with a sigh of relief. They’d all been too busy to take any notice of her. Now, where would be the best place to go? Somewhere she wasn’t known, she thought, as she hurried towards the bus stop.

A bus was pulling up with the destination LAMBETH on the front. She’d never been there and was sure that none of her family had either. She jumped on and made her way upstairs. All she had in her pocket were two shillings and sixpence, but that would be enough for the moment.