If ever Tilly Watson saw real fear and desolation in a body’s eyes, she saw it when Molly first recovered after being close to death’s door for nigh on a week. She felt then that Molly was driven by a dark secret. She felt it now. Her curiosity got the better of her. ‘I weren’t born yesterday,’ she said in a chastizing voice, ‘and I ain’t so stupid not to know when somebody’s on the run. What have you been up to? What are you afraid of, eh? Who’s after you?’ Encouraged by Molly’s astonished look, she insisted, ‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved, they say. You can trust me… I took a liking to you the same day you moved in next door with your family… though I never did think much to that bloody fellow o’ yourn! Strange though, how I don’t know all that much about you. As a rule, I like to know all about them as live next door. But you, you little sod!… You’re a right secretive bugger an’ no mistake!’ Suddenly, she was deadly serious, telling Molly, ‘But you’re in trouble. I can tell. There is something badly wrong. What is it? Somebody on your tail, is it? After money,are they? Or have you done something unlawful… is that it, eh?’ When Molly remained silent, she threw her arms out wide and shook her head. ‘All right. It’s none o’ my business, I suppose. I’ve got no right prying.’ She began to get up from the chair, looking surprised and relieved when Molly put out a hand to press her back.

‘Please, Tilly, don’t take offence,’ entreated Molly, feeling ashamed that it might appear she had thrown the older woman’s genuine concern back in her face.

‘I was only trying to help… in my own clumsy fashion,’ Tilly told her, at the same time settling back into the horse-hair armchair and looking up at Molly with a slightly wounded expression.

‘I know,’ conceded Molly gently, ‘and you’re right… I do owe you an explanation.’ After all, Molly told herself, she had turned up here with three young ’uns and taken every advantage of Tilly’s kindness. ‘No doubt you’ve been wondering where I really went when I left next door?’

‘Ah, well now… it did cross my mind that you hadn’t altogether told the truth when you said you were making a new life with your Jack… that he’d got himself a job an’ a place for you all to stay. The bugger never did strike me as a suitable provider. And what with you clearing off so quickly… like you were running away… well, it did set me wondering, I must admit. Oh, I were right glad for you, dearie… and nobody wanted you properly settled more than me, honest to God! But, well… I had my doubts if you must know. Then, when you turned up on the doorstep four weeks ago looking like you were on your last… riddled with a fever and half-starved, well!’ She pursed her lips and seemed to sink into the memory of that particular day. Suddenly she was accusing, looking at Molly sternly and wagging a finger. ‘I expect you let yourself go hungry in order to keep the children fed, didn’t you, eh?’ Without waiting for an answer she went on, ‘Don’t deny it! And, if I were to tell the truth, I’d say as how I would do the very same. Us mothers… we’re all alike, and that’s a fact.’ Without warning she fell silent, and folded her arms while keeping her attention on Molly’s thoughtful face. She was obviously awaiting an explanation of what had taken place between the day Molly left the street and the day when she came to Tilly’s door seeking refuge.