Molly was not surprised and, laughing at Tilly’s observations, she explained, ‘My Sal’s a puzzle, right enough. She can be shy and wary of strangers, but put her in amongst them that she knows, and she’ll take complete charge in a minute. There’s no denying that she’s a born madam.’ Just like her mammy before her, thought Molly with nostalgia, and just like her darling, eccentric namesake, old Sal Tanner.

‘Will you leave the lass, then?’

‘Oh, I don’t know about that.’ Molly had grown accustomed to Sal tagging along with her everywhere she went. Of a sudden, though, she was reminded of her true errand today. It was not in search of a few half-dead flowers from a market-barrow which the seller had flung to the cobbles, nor was it to land herself a few hours’ labour for a shilling or two. No! She had more ambitious things on her mind today than selling a few flowers or toiling in the market, lifting and stacking crates until her back ached. The money earned from these ventures would never bring enough to pay the rent, fill the larder, and put aside a tidy bit towards getting Tom’s leg seen to. Molly had despaired at Tilly’s warnings in that quarter, because hadn’t she already told herself that it would take years, perhaps for ever, to accumulate enough money to pay for an operation. On top of which, Molly didn’t even know whether there was such an operation that would put Tom’s leg to rights, nor that there was a surgeon in the whole of Lancashire who was capable of such a delicate thing. But she had to believe, for Tom’s sake, because how could he be a man amongst men and labour alongside them if he were a cripple? Molly had therefore set herself an enormous task. Until Jack took up responsibility for the boy, Tom had no one but her to rely on. And, God forgive her, she would employ every means at her disposal in order to see Tom become a whole being.

Realizing the dangers in what she intended doing that day, and being herself somewhat nervous of the consequences, Molly thought long about Tilly Watson’s suggestion. She came to the conclusion that it might be wisest, after all, to leave little Sal with Tilly on this particular occasion. After all, Tilly could be relied on to keep the children occupied and to see that they came to no harm. Her mind was made up.

‘All right, Mammy… I’ll stay here with the others and see they’re not naughty.’ Little Sal’s blue eyes smiled up at Molly. ‘I don’t want you to leave me behind all the time,’ she declared, ‘but I’m a big girl now, aren’t I?… So I’ll stay, if I can be in charge.’ She peeked at Tilly Watson, who was standing at the top of the stone steps that led up to the scullery. It was obvious to the two women that Sal was seeking reassurance, and, perhaps, in her own small way, issuing an ultimatum.