With her justifiably narrow and prejudiced view of the gentry, Molly found it hard to believe that any one of them – even someone like Emma Tanner who had been reduced in fortune for a while – would actively seek out a pickpocket, in order to ‘help’ her. Oh, Molly had heard the rumours of a terrible rift between Emma Tanner and the Justice. But two things warned her not to be too easily fooled; firstly, the Justice was Emma Tanner’s kith and kin, and it was a known fact that every family had its rows, and quickly made up again. Secondly, when it all came down to it, blood kin tended to stick together against outsiders; especially when that outsider was thought to have snatched one of their children, in order to demand money.

Molly had survived by following her instincts. She had to follow them now. So, with regret she told Nelly that yes, under the circumstances, it would be best if she and little Sal left straightaway. It suddenly occurred to her, however, that Emma Tanner and Justice Crowther might not give up so easily. She must be very careful to put them off the scent; there might be just one way. Quickly, she added in a convincing voice – even putting a little smile on her face – ‘Anyway, I would have been leaving soon,’ she lied, ‘because my husband doesn’t want me working no more.’

‘Oh!’ Nelly could not hide her astonishment. ‘I was under the impression that yer fella had left home a long while since… Are yer saying he’s back?’

Molly rebuked herself for having revealed that she was a woman on her own, although she had never told Nelly the circumstances of Jack’s leaving. In fact, she had closely guarded all information concerning her life outside of these four walls, and had instructed little Sal that under no circumstances was she to talk to Nelly about where they lived, or tell her anything at all about the family. The girl appeared to have done as she was told, except on one occasion when she had mentioned how her sister Peggy had hid in Tilly Watson’s cellar and ‘frightened everybody to death, because they all thought she’d got lost’.

‘He’s been back some time,’ Molly went on, desperate that Nelly should believe she was telling the truth, and sad that it was sometimes necessary to deceive people with a lie. ‘He’s brought good news too! My man’s been offered a job down south… with a little house besides. So we’ll be moving away in no time at all.’ She painted a happy smile on her face, but her dark eyes remained troubled.

A great silence fell over the room and for what seemed an age Nelly showed little response to Molly’s words, other than to look out of the window to where little Sal’s fair head was bent over her picture book. As though sensing that someone was looking at her, she raised her head and, seeing that it was Nelly, she waved her hand again, before returning to the book which Nelly had given to her. ‘I’ll be so sorry to see the young ’un go,’ Nelly murmured, looking at Molly with regret, ‘and you too, Molly.’ Suddenly, there was a smile on her face, and coming back into the room, she astonished Molly by grabbing hold of her in a rough embrace. ‘But I’m glad at yer news, child,’ she said in a curiously gruff voice. Suddenly, as though embarrassed, she thrust Molly from her, saying a little too loudly, ‘O’ course yer must go with yer fella… and find happiness where yer can. There ain’t enough of it in this world, and that’s a fact.’