She had come straight from work, even though it was getting late, and she made her way through the detritus that littered the narrow pavement, almost treading on a tabby cat. It spat and hissed before disappearing through a hole in one of the front doors. She found the house number that Hilda had given her and knocked, but it was some time before anyone answered. Daisy had a feeling that she was being watched and she glanced round anxiously, wondering if there was anyone lurking in the shadows, but the noise of traffic from Whitechapel Road would have drowned out any sound of approaching footsteps. She held her breath and knocked again.

This time she was answered by a small voice. ‘Who’s there?’

‘Is that Judy?’

‘I don’t speak to strangers.’ The child’s voice quavered and sounded on the verge of tears.

‘Are there any grown-ups in the house, Judy?’

‘It’s just me and me sister, Molly, and the two little ’uns; Pip and Nate.’

‘Please open the door. I have a message from your mother.’

There was a scuffle and the sound of younger children crying and the door opened just an inch. A large brown eye underlined by a bruise-like shadow peered nervously at Daisy. ‘Who are you?’

‘My name is Daisy Marshall and I’m a nurse at the London Hospital.’ The moment the words left her lips Daisy knew she had made her first mistake. A loud howl was followed by sobbing.

‘Ma’s in hospital?’

‘Let me in, please, Judy. Your mother is in hospital because she broke her leg, but she’s on the mend and she asked me to come and make sure that you are all right.’

This seemed to convince Judy and she opened the door just wide enough for Daisy to slip into the narrow hallway. The first thing that hit her was the stench of damp and the overpowering smell of an overflowing privy. It was too dark to see very much, but Judy was standing with her arm around a smaller girl and two younger children, still in petticoats, were hiding behind them.

‘You ain’t going to take us to the workhouse,’ Judy said fiercely. ‘My pa will be home soon and he’ll tell you that for nothing.’

Daisy glanced into the darkness of the hall beyond them. It was colder in the house than outside. ‘Can we go into the living room?’ she asked tentatively. ‘I came to make sure you are all right. Have you had anything to eat?’

‘Ma went out to get what we needed, but she didn’t come back. Pa will be home before long.’

This was going to be much more difficult than Daisy had first thought as she entered the living room. She peered into the shadowy recesses, but she could see very little in the dim light of a single candle. She could feel the damp rising from the floor and ash spilled from the grate. It must have been a day or two since the fire had been giving out warmth, and one thing was clear, this was not a fit place for anyone to live, let alone young children.