Betsy laughed, but she thought marriage to someone who took to the drink would be fraught with problems. Aye, Pat might keep to it while he had the carrot of marrying Ciss dangling in front of him, but what about when he got that carrot for good an’ all. Might he slip back into his old ways then? But she couldn’t give any thought to it, for she wanted to talk about something that was very much on her mind.

‘I’m worried about Mags. It’s been six weeks or more now, since she were taken to that place. I’ve been too wrapped up in me own problems to think much on it, though it’s never left me. But now, with everything seeming to be solved one way or another, I can’t get Mags off me mind. I’m going to talk to Dr Lange. He told me, on the day as Ma died, that he’d try to do sommat for Mags. Surely he knaws by now how she is. I need to knaw what’s happening with her.’

They both agreed. ‘She’s a lovely lass and she deserves better, but if we don’t help her, who will? I reckon as we owe it to her to do all we can, Betsy. I’m with you on that.’

‘Ta, Bill. It helps not to have you telling me to leave well alone, as I thought you might, after what I’ve put you through. Well, there’s naw time like the present. I’ll go up to his house now and find out if he’ll see me.’

‘Right-o. But help me home first, as we can’t leave our Rosie with Mrs Bray much longer. If we fetch her home, I’ll mind her till you get back. Then I need to rest up – me leg’s giving me gip the day.’

That it should do so worried Betsy. ‘Thank goodness we’re going to see that surgeon tomorrow. It were good of him to just accept the cost of the operation and not charge for further appointments. You knaw, there’s kindness in most folk.’

‘Look, you get to Dr Lange’s house, as we’re not far from there, our Betsy. I’ll see you home, Bill.’

‘Ta, Ciss, that’ll be a big help. I’ll let you knaw how I get on.’ With this, Betsy kissed them both, then turned from them and went in the direction of Blackburn town.

Trepidation filled Betsy as her feet crunched on the gravel of the drive leading to Dr Lange’s house. Those such as her didn’t go calling on the likes of folk of the doctor’s standing.

The housekeeper opened the door, prompting the thought Betsy had had many a time that it was a wonder the doctor had never married again, after losing his wife so young. But with this ogre in charge, no young woman would stay long enough to get to know the doctor. ‘Betsy? What are you doing here?’

The question wasn’t without a touch of disdain. Betsy held her head high. ‘I have to see the doctor – it’s urgent.’