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friend, but instead he took some money and silver. Mama was furious.’ She took off her hat. Her hair was tied back with a large floppy white bow.
    The kitchen door opened and in walked a very smart-looking woman. Her brown hair, greying at the sides, was piled up on top of her head. She was wearing a long dark blue frock and her tiny waist was held in with a wide leather belt. She looked very regal. ‘Jane, I told you to be back before ten. Miss Dance is waiting to meet you.’ She looked at Milly. ‘And who are you?’
    ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Green. Jane insisted on bringing the young lady home.’
    ‘Don’t worry, Walton. We haven’t time for this at the moment.’ She turned to Milly. ‘I’ll talk to you later.’ With that she pushed Jane out of the room, with Walton following.
    Betty looked at Milly and said, ‘Who’s this aunt of yours, then?’
    Milly could feel the heat from the large stove. On top of it stood a black kettle, its lid bobbing gently up and down.
    ‘You’d better take yer coat off and sit down. I expect you’d like a cuppa.’
    ‘Yes please.’ Milly sat on one of the chairs that matched the long deal table in the centre of this large bright room. All the chairs were the same.
    ‘So, tell me about yourself and this aunt.’
    When the tea was put in front of Milly, she clasped her cold hands round the delicate china cup and told Betty about Doris. She was very careful what she said, as she didn’t want them to send her back home.
    ‘So you don’t know where she lives or what her surname is?’
    Milly slowly shook her head.
    ‘Well that ain’t a lot to go on, is it?’
    ‘I know. Please don’t send me back home.’
    Betty looked at the sad face. Somehow she knew that this girl must have suffered to make her run away. ‘What about your mum and dad?’
    ‘Me dad sometimes gets annoyed with me. Me mum’s frightened of him and just does what he says. Me little sister died a while ago.’
    ‘So your mum’s on her own, then?’
    ‘No. I’ve got six other brothers and sisters.’
    Betty didn’t comment on that. She could see that this child had been put upon. Her life must have been a misery and her clothes were shabby and worn. ‘Mrs Green will be in in a mo. She’s just seeing to Jane’s new teacher.’
    Milly’s face lit up. ‘Jane seems ever so nice. Why is she in a wheelchair?’
    ‘She can’t walk.’
    ‘What happened?’
    ‘She—’
    The kitchen door opened and Mrs Green came in. ‘Now, what’s all this about?’
    Once again Milly went through what she had told Betty.
    ‘Well, Jane certainly seems to be taken with you.’ Mrs Green smiled. ‘And she can be very persuasive. So until you find your aunt, you can stay here for a few days and keep Jane company. She needs to be with someone of her own age. First of all I expect you would like a bath, and then I’ll find you something to wear.’ She began to walk away but stopped at the door. ‘I don’t suppose you have any clothes of your own?’
    Milly shook her head and clutched at her bag. She wasn’t going to show this woman her rags.
    ‘I’m sure Betty can find you some jobs to do while Jane has her lessons and her afternoon nap. I’ll bring in a few things of Jane’s you can wear.’
    ‘Thank you, Mrs Green, for letting me stay, just till I find me aunt,’ she said hurriedly. She didn’t want her to think that she would be here for ever.
    ‘Well that’s settled then,’ said Mrs Green, and she left the kitchen.
    Betty smiled. ‘Welcome to the household.’
    Milly couldn’t believe her luck. Her she was in this big house and she had a friend. She was so happy she wanted to cry.
    Betty was watching her closely. She was right. This child had had a terrible life. ‘Come on, I’ll show you where the bathroom is.’
    A bathroom! Milly hadn’t known that houses had bathrooms. She had always brought the tin bath from off the big hook in the yard and they all took turns on a Friday night in the same