‘It’s all right. It’s not your fault, darling,’ Molly assured her, although there was a crippling knot of fear in her stomach at hearing Sal’s ‘confession’. Oh, that Nelly had been cunning! She had not managed to worm the name of their street out of little Sal, but she might as well have done, because she knew the name Tilly Watson, and she had learned about Mick, living in a barge by Eanam Wharf. Molly suspected there was more than enough information there for her to be tracked down. By now, Mick was long gone, probably to southern parts where work was plentiful. He would not be so easily found, she supposed. Thinking of Mick brought a strange fleeting sadness to Molly.

But there was no time for dwelling on regrets. Molly realized that she was in great danger. Her family was in great danger. Her one thought now was to get them all to safety. But where? Where could they go, with only the week’s wages given to her by the devious Nelly – Judas money! Molly called herself all kinds of a fool for having been so gullible! Still, she did have fourteen shillings all told, and it was better than nothing. Ah, but there was something else, she reminded herself. There was the gold petal-clasp that old Sal had entrusted to her. As she and the girl hurried towards Dock Street, Molly dipped her fingers into the neck of her blouse, feeling for the gold droplet. She would be loath to part with it, because it had been on her person ever since the day old Sal was buried. Besides which, she had promised the old darling that it would stay with her always. Up till now, Molly had managed to keep that promise. But here was a very bad and frightening thing that was happening now. She hoped old Sal would agree that pawning the clasp was preferable to being pounced on by the Justice, when she and the children would be horribly punished, she was certain. With the money got on the clasp, Molly might go further afield in order to escape his clutches. Suddenly, Molly drew the girl to a halt.

‘What’s the matter, Mammy?’ Sal saw how Molly’s face had drained of colour and she was frantically searching in the neck of her blouse. It was gone. The clasp was gone! For the first time in a long while Molly wanted to cry. She felt desolate. Unbeknown to Molly, the clasp had been plucked from the carpet by Nelly, who, not realizing it was Molly’s, had assumed that it belonged to Emma, and had put it safely away. ‘Mammy… what’s the matter?’ little Sal insisted, her bottom lip quivering. For a moment, Molly continued to forage for the clasp, but stopped at once when she saw little Sal’s fearful face.

Realizing what a frightening experience the child had just endured, Molly got to one knee, and taking little Sal into her arms, she said, ‘It’s all right, sweetheart… it’s all right. Nothing for you to worry about.’ In a brighter voice, she added, ‘Let’s hurry home, eh? We’ve all kinds of exciting plans to make… and as you’re the eldest, I’ll be looking for some good advice from you. I know you won’t let me down, will you?’