The girl had been one of the many Irish workers in the mill and their home was even more of a hovel than those of the locals. On entering the room, Ann had noticed, apart from the odour of bodies, that there were at least eight people there. They all looked at Robert, standing incongruously in his frock coat and top hat at his side, as he explained that the girl, who was only fourteen, had become entangled in a carding machine and sustained such terrible injuries that she had died. He was socially ill at ease at the best of times but this had tested him and so Ann had tried to comfort the mother while he watched from the door.

What a terrible death the girl had suffered, but of course life for most of the workers was short. Living in overcrowded squalor, disease was still rife, even though the council had tried to improve the health of the community by introducing cleaner water. She recalled Archibald saying that the life expectancy of a Dundee worker was just twenty-four years. Ann shuddered as she thought of the dire poverty all around. Thank the Lord her own children would never know such deprivation. Of that she was sure.

‘Where are you wanting to go now?’ the driver shouted to her as he turned out of Smellies Lane onto Lochee Road.

‘Go up to the Market Cross and stop when you see someone on the street for me to ask.’

‘Whoah!’ he called and drew the horse to a halt.

She leant forward and saw a couple standing by the road, both dressed in black. The man whipped off his cloth cap when he saw the carriage stop.

‘Excuse me,’ Ann said, leaning out. ‘Can you tell me where Blind Mattie is today?’

They stared at her then the woman spoke. ‘Who’s wanting her? No trouble, is there?’

‘No, there’s no trouble, just someone who seeks her company for a moment.’

They looked at each other then the man said, ‘She’s not out on the streets the day, she’ll be at home. She bides in the next close from us. Round the corner at Logie Street then up to Paddy’s Brae. Ask there.’

Ann gave the driver instructions and, once the carriage had halted at the close, she alighted. ‘Wait here. I shall not be long.’ As she started to walk off, she saw two small boys, barefoot, running towards the horse. She heard the driver tell them to hold their hands out flat so they could help feed the horse.