‘I just want to take my stuff back while I have transport. I’m after Mother’s tortoiseshell brush and comb set, my books and photos… but there are so many boxes and cases, we could run a jumble sale up there.’

‘You suit yersel’ and let me get on with ma own work. I’ve nae time to be bothering with all that junk!’ Peg turned to clear away her dishes. When she turned back Netta was gone.

It was Gus who found the dummy tucked away in a corner of the loft, covered in a lacework of spiders’ webs. ‘Look at this big doll.’ He pulled it out to examine it further. ‘Is it yours?’

Netta brushed away the dust of years and shook her head. ‘It belonged to a lady who came to stay in the war with her son who was in the big boys’ class. It’s a real tailor’s dummy. I think she borrowed it. We used to call her Mrs Sew and Sew. She could magic up the most wonderful clothes from scraps of nothing, just like Cinderella’s fairy godmother! She taught me to make dresses and cut patterns from sketches. Said I had sewing fingers. Her real name was Mrs Bloom.

‘Arnold was very clever. His head was always stuck in a book – not like yours. Where are all those picture books I sent you?’

Gus shrugged his shoulders. ‘Mammy says there’s no time for reading books in this house. Why did the blooming lady come here?’

‘They had no home of their own left and Mrs Bloom needed sea air and quiet to rest her nerves. They were refugees. You know about them, don’t you?’

He nodded solemnly. ‘Mammy says I have to eat up all ma greens for the starving refugees.’

‘Yes, and now they have to live in terrible camps or wander about. Do you know about that?’ Gus shook his head.

‘When you’re a bit older I’ll tell you all about that terrible time. That’s why we went to war: to keep our country safe. All those brave soldiers who never came home… we must never forget them.’

‘Did the lady and her son sleep in my room?’

‘Yes, but they lived in the parlour like a living room and Mrs Bloom took in sewing to earn some money. Arnold’s school was evacuated to Castle Douglas and she wanted to be near him for he was all she had left. I was at the big Academy by then, quite grown up, and Mrs Bloom let me sit and watch her sew sometimes.’