She awakened next morning wondering why her whole body was aching, and for a moment she could not think where she was. Then the reality of her situation hit her with the force of a physical blow. But giving way to despair was not in her nature, and she was even more determined to prove that she could make a life for herself away from home. She dressed quickly and made her way downstairs, carrying the chamber pot very carefully, with the ewer tucked under one arm. The pump and the privy were situated in the back yard, and as it was still early Judy had the facilities to herself. She used the privy and washed in ice-cold water, sticking her head under the pump to rinse the dust and soot from her hair, wringing out her long locks and tying them back with a ribbon.

On her way back to her room with the clean chamber pot and the ewer filled with fresh water, Judy almost bumped into Aggie. A few coins changed hands and Aggie unlocked the linen cupboard, giving Judy a towel, but she stood back when she was asked for clean bedlinen. More coins landed on Aggie’s outstretched palm, and somewhat reluctantly she gave Judy two sheets and a clean pillowcase. With these hitched over her shoulder and a much lighter purse, Judy made her way back to her room.

The smell of hot toast and coffee wafted up the stairs, making Judy’s stomach rumble with hunger. It was many hours since she had enjoyed the delicious dinner in Sidney Square, but now she must face the real world, and that meant a choice between handing out yet more money for breakfast at the lodging house, and going without food until the evening. She had not yet worked out where or what she would eat, but she vaguely remembered stalls selling coffee and tea, baked potatoes and rolls filled with ham or cheese.

‘Ah, Miss Begg. I see you’re dressed and ready for the off.’ Mrs Wood appeared suddenly at her side. ‘It’s not good to go without breakfast, which is still being served in the dining room.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Wood, but I’m not hungry. I need to find work and that’s what I’m about to do.’

‘Oh, well, I suppose you know best, but this evening there’s Cook’s speciality for dinner. Boiled beef and carrots. I urge you to take advantage of our meals, Miss Begg. You won’t find such delicacies at such a good price anywhere else in London.’

‘Thank you, ma’am. I’ll think about it.’ Judy made her escape and rushed out into the street. She stood on the pavement, looking this way and that, but she had no idea which direction to take. Jack would have tossed a coin – the memory of him brought a smile to her lips and a lump to her throat. ‘Follow your nose,’ her mother would have said. Judy turned to the left and walked to the end of Fieldgate Street, finding herself in the busy thoroughfare of Whitechapel Road. Slowly memories of childhood began to emerge and she recognised places she had frequented. The street was chaotic with horse-drawn traffic of all types from omnibuses to brewers’ drays, removal carts, hansom cabs and growlers. It all came flooding back now: the dreadful poverty of Green Dragon Yard and, despite her parents’ best efforts, the hand-to-mouth existence they had endured before the accident that had changed their lives for ever.