Lilith wagged an admonitory finger at her son. ‘The whole reason we brought her here was to help me out, what with my bunions and my lumbago giving me gyp, and the fact I’m getting older, which all means I can’t pull my weight like I used to. I know you were never keen on the idea, but needs must, and, besides, this one’s bright, which means she has other uses.’ She turned to Roz. ‘You need to be damn grateful that somebody took you in; you’re a burden, the lot of you. Do you really think the people of Britain need any more mouths to feed? We’ve barely enough work for our own without a load of foreigners coming in, all expecting to be fed, watered and housed. So I suggest you stop causing trouble and do as you’re told, and just remember, if it weren’t for folk like us, you’d be at the mercy of the Nazis, where you’d be treated no better than pigs.’

Roz stared back at the detestable woman. Of course she was grateful that people like Reggie Jones had stepped in to help rescue the children, but there was a big difference between what he’d done and what the Haggartys were proposing, and she reckoned Lilith knew it too. That’s why she’d led them to believe she was a woman of means.

‘Where’s she going to sleep?’ snapped Suzie. ‘I told you there wasn’t room for no one else, but you wouldn’t listen. Instead you go and get some holier-than-thou, stuck-up—’

‘Enough!’ growled Callum. ‘She’ll have to share your bed.’

‘No way!’ cried Roz and Suzie in unison.

‘You’ll ruddy well do as you’re told,’ snarled Callum, ‘the pair of you. If you don’t like it you can sleep on the floor.’ He pointed at Suzie. ‘And that goes for you too!’

Lilith picked up some old sacks which were currently being used to keep the draught from coming in under the door. ‘You can use them as a blanket.’

Placing her suitcase down, Roz took one of the sacks from the woman, her mouth falling open as she read the lettering on the outside. ‘Coal sacks?’ she cried. ‘I’ll be filthy …’

‘Then don’t bother,’ roared Callum. He looked at the three women. ‘Living with two of you was bad enough, but three? I need my bleedin’ head examined!’ Noticing Roz move towards the door, he called after her. ‘Oi! Where d’you think you’re going?’

‘If I’m going to live here, I may as well get to know the area,’ said Roz simply. ‘I take it you don’t object to my going out and having a look around?’

‘Not at all!’ said Suzie spitefully. ‘Whilst you’re at it, how about a wander down the docks, mebbe a swim …’