The market clock was striking three when, distraught and blaming herself, Bridget let herself into the house.

She was so tired she could hardly keep her eyes open, but she couldn’t sleep. How could she sleep when her only reason for living was lost out there in the night?

She splashed her face with cold water to revive her senses. She made herself a cup of tea but she couldn’t sit still long enough to drink it. She walked back and forth, peering out of the window, and sometimes taking a brisk walk down the street in the hope that Ruthie might be making her way back.

An hour later there was a knock on the door. She ran up the passageway and flung open the door. ‘Ruthie…’ It wasn’t Ruthie. ‘Oh, it’s you, Joe. What’s the matter? Have you heard anything? Have they found her?’

Inviting himself in, he closed the door behind him, gently escorting her down the passageway and into the parlour. ‘I couldn’t sleep, lass, that’s why I’m here. I were worried about you. I should never have let you go off like that.’

‘Thank you, Joe.’ He was an old friend, and old friends were precious. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

He looked about. ‘I wondered if Bob might be here. You shouldn’t be on your own at a time like this.’

‘I haven’t told Bob,’ she confessed. ‘I don’t want him searching for her.’

‘Why ever not, lass?’

‘If Ruthie caught sight of him, she would only hide.’

‘Why would she do that?’

Suddenly it was all too much and she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. ‘She doesn’t like him, Joe. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know. She’s been upset about me and Bob getting wed. I tried to ask her what was wrong, but she wouldn’t talk to me. I think that’s why she’s run away, to find Billy and tell him what’s worrying her.’

Cradling her face in her hands, Bridget cried bitterly. ‘Why couldn’t she talk to me, Joe? I’m her mammy, aren’t I? We’ve never kept secrets from each other before.’

‘Ah, well, sometimes young’uns get all manner of strange ideas in their heads. They might tell other young’uns what’s on their mind when they’ll not tell anybody else, especially grownups.’ He put his arm round her. ‘Did you go to the authorities, lass?’ She nodded.

‘Did they say they would help?’

She nodded again.

‘Then there’s not much you can do except snatch a few hours’ sleep. I’ll stay down here if you like, and when you wake, we’ll root out some help. You’ve more friends than you realise, lass.’

‘I can’t sleep, Joe. Not until Ruthie’s home safe.’

‘Eh, lass,’ Joe tutted, ‘you’ll drive yourself insane.’ Another thought occurred to him. ‘You never got to eat the ’taties from Mack’s barrow, so have you eaten anything at all since yesterday?’

‘I can’t eat.’

‘I’ll take a look in the scullery, see what you’ve got, eh? Happen I’ll make us a brew while I’m at it.’