Now, here was Gus offering her a way out. She reread again his words declaring that no one cared about where you grew up. Maybe it was true that out there a workhouse orphan could be accepted as ‘the lady of the house’, as he put it, without being afraid that revelations about her past could destroy her happiness. She felt a real, physical pain around the region of her heart at the thought that she would never see James again, but at the same time there was a kind of relief. It would be better for him not to be saddled with a wife he was ashamed of; and far, far better for her not to be forced to live a lie.

She looked down at the draft memorandum. It seemed she had only to present this to the offices of the White Star to be given a berth on the next ship. She got to her feet. Half her mind said that she should go back to the store; that Miss Jones would be furious with her for being late. The other half told her that it did not matter; that if she was leaving for Australia she need never go back to that workroom again. She drew a breath, straightened her shoulders and set off for the docks.

‘You’re in luck, miss,’ the clerk said when she presented the draft. ‘The Royal Standard is due to sail tomorrow on the morning tide and there’s just one berth left in First Class.’

‘Tomorrow! How long before the next ship?’

‘That’ll be another six weeks and a longer voyage. I’d advise you to take this one if you can possibly arrange it.’

Tomorrow! Tomorrow all her worries and conflicts could be behind her and a new life would open up. She would see Gus and the father she had never known and never have to sleep in a dormitory or submit to the jibes of the hateful Miss Jones. And James would be free to marry a girl from a good family who would make him a suitable wife.

‘All right. I’ll take the berth. Thank you.’

May returned to the store and went in, not by the staff entrance in the back alley, but through the main doors. She made her way to Mr Freeman’s office and told his secretary that she needed to see him urgently. The woman looked worried.

‘Oh dear! I hope it’s not more trouble.’

‘Not anything that Mr Freeman needs to be worried about, but I do need to talk to him.’

The secretary went in to Mr Freeman’s room and came back to say, ‘Mr Freeman can give you ten minutes.’