She didn’t want to fight – not any more. She should have said nothing. The twins had disappeared, which meant they must have boarded the train – or she hoped they had. People were moving down the aisle, choosing their seats, and she would now definitely have to move the guitar. Sure enough, a young woman had paused, and was looking at her hopefully but nervously, as if she didn’t have the right to a seat. She was Asian, and Ayesha guessed Malaysian.

‘Sorry,’ she said – and she had the most lovely smile.

‘No,’ replied Ayesha. ‘You’re welcome. Please.’

A man was getting into the seat next to Paul, and Ayesha was now standing. It was awkward, for the guitar case was solid. The man stood up to help, but it was obvious that there was no room in the luggage rack.

‘I tell you what,’ said Ayesha. ‘Let me sit there, on the outside.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said the Asian woman, laughing.

‘No, please. You take this one, and I’ll sit there.’

‘I am a nuisance,’ she said.

‘You’re not. You’re welcome.’

Ayesha stepped into the aisle, and the woman squeezed past her into the seat. Ayesha sat down again, with her arm round the neck of the guitar case. A minute passed, as the driver waited for something – the right time of departure, perhaps? And Paul the clergyman said nothing. The conversation could not be continued now, but it had happened and Ayesha knew he was reflecting on it, aware that he had made things worse, not better.

Much worse, and he knew it.

He was a good, nice man, and the fact that he believed crazy tales should not be held against him: he probably did more good than she would ever do. In that sense, he probably did bring healing, and no doubt he would run into someone who needed his kind attention.

The Asian woman was checking something on a piece of paper.

‘This train is for Burnley?’ she said.

‘No,’ replied Ayesha.

‘No?’

‘This is a London train. It doesn’t go through Burnley.’

‘They told me Burnley Manchester Road.’

‘No. Definitely not.’

The woman blinked, and Ayesha could read her thoughts: Do I have time? Can I push my way out to the platform? Do I dare? Would I be better staying put?