‘Can we go in there?’ Patty asked doubtfully.

‘Yes, it’s all right. Come on.’

‘I ain’t got no money.’

‘I know that. I’ll pay.’

They sat at a table in a warm corner near the fire and May ordered hot chocolate. When it came Patty sipped it cautiously. Then a smile of pure ecstasy spread across her face.

‘Oh, that’s lovely! That’s the best thing I ever tasted.’

‘Yes, it is, isn’t it?’ May agreed.

‘Hey, May,’ Patty said. ‘I meant to ask you. What’s happened to that brother of yours?’

May sighed. ‘I don’t know. He went to that Industrial School, but when I went up there a few weeks ago they told me he’d – what was the word? – absconded, that was it. Run away. I’ve no idea where he might be, but I think he may have tried to get on a ship. You know he was always dead keen to be a sailor.’

‘Lord!’ said Patty. ‘Who’d have thought it. Have you tried to find out?’

‘I went down to the docks a couple of times and asked round, but no one knew anything. I didn’t like doing it. Some of the men thought I was … well, you know.’

‘I can guess.’ Patty reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry. He’s a tough lad. He’ll be all right.’

‘I hope so,’ May said sadly. ‘But I do worry.’

The clock above the shop counter chimed the three-quarter and Patty put down her cup with a clatter. ‘Oh, my God! He’s supposed to pick me up at the church at four o’clock. There’ll be hell to pay if I’m not there!’

‘Drink up,’ May instructed. She swallowed the remains of her chocolate, paid, and they hurried out of the shop and up the hill. They reached the church as the hour struck and saw the trap waiting.

‘’Bout time!’ said the boy holding the reins. ‘I was just going to leave you to find your own way back.’

‘You remember Bill, don’t you?’ Patty said.

‘Yes, I do.’ May looked at the boy. He had seemed such a nice lad when he picked Patty up from the workhouse, that first time. She wanted to say something, to tell him to leave Patty alone, but she knew that if she did he would probably take it out on Patty for telling her what he had done. So she just said, ‘Bye, Patty. We’ll keep in touch. You’ll look after her, Bill, won’t you? I reckon you’re a good fellow, a real gent. I know you can be trusted.’

‘Oh, aye, you can trust me, all right,’ the boy said, but May noticed that he blushed.