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there was another knock on the front door, a loud one this time, repeated almost immediately. Lizzie went to open it. “It’s Mr. Cuttler, Mam!” she called from the hall, to give them warning.
    The rent man came in. “Sorry about your trouble, Mrs. Kershaw. I need to know if you’ll be staying on here or wanting somewhere smaller? I have another place just come empty down in Mill Road. Cheaper than this.”
    â€œWe’ll be staying here, if that’s all right, Mr. Cuttler? I’m going to take in lodgers, so we’ll need the extra space.”
    He shrugged. “All right by me.” He jingled his leather satchel meaningfully. “Might as well collect the rent while I’m here, eh? It’s due today.”
    Meg went and put her hand up on the mantelpiece, feeling for the coins, frowning when she didn’t find them. “I know I put them up here.” She fumbled further along for her purse and couldn’t find that either. In sudden panic, she turned to Percy. “I did put the rent here! And my purse has gone, too.”
    He went to search the mantelpiece, but shook his head.
    Lizzie stood up to watch. “Ooh, someone must have took them!”
    Meg’s face crumpled. “No! They wouldn’t! Surely they w-wouldn’t, not on the d-day of the funeral?” Suddenly it was all too much for her and she sank down on her chair, head in hands, sobbing.
    Percy fumbled in his pocket, but found only a couple of shillings and a few coppers, after the various expenses of the past day or two. He held out the silver coins. “Here, Mr. Cuttler, take this on account. I’ll get the rest to you on Monday. I’ve got some money in the savings bank.”
    Meg’s weeping grew louder and even through her handkerchief the words, “Never been late with the rent. Never!” could be distinguished.
    There was another knock on the front door. With an exclamation of annoyance, Lizzie stamped along the corridor again. “What do you want now?” she asked Sam, still furious with him for trying to get her a job at Pilby’s.
    â€œI forgot my hat.” The sound of Meg’s weeping echoed down the narrow hall. “Summat wrong?”
    â€œSomeone’s took the rent money off the mantelpiece an’ Mam’s purse as well. An’ Mr. Cuttler’s here wantin’ the rent. Only our Percy didn’t have enough to pay him, so Mam started cryin’.”
    Sam fumbled in his pocket. “How much do you need?”
    She looked down at the big callused hand, not wanting to touch him for some strange reason. “Percy’s got some money in the savings bank, thank you. We don’t need anything.”
    â€œDon’t be daft! Better owe me than Cuttler. How much more does your mam need?”
    â€œTwo an’ six. It’s four and six a week.”
    He took hold of her hand and dropped the coins into it, closing her fingers on them. “Here. Tell Percy he can pay me back any time.”
    Lizzie stared down at the coins, then up at his face. After a moment, she nodded and her expression became a shade less hostile. “All right.” She took a quick step backwards, feeling threatened by the way he was standing over her. He was such a big man. Staring up at him, she decided she’d never liked ginger hair. It looked funny against the pink of his neck. Even the hairs in his nostrils were orange-coloured. Ugh! And she wished he wouldn’t always stare at her like that.
    The feel of the coins in her hand reminded her of her manners and she managed to say, “Thank you!” in a scratchy voice as she turned towards the kitchen.
    â€œI’ll come round tomorrow night, Lizzie. Give you time to think things over. It’s not bad working at Pilby’s. There’s be other lasses to pal on with, you know.”
    Somehow, Lizzie swallowed another blunt refusal. She wasn’t going to work at Pilby’s,