Perfectly unaware of letters that had brought bad news and lies that had been uncovered, Bill returned home, whistling a merry Tyneside tune. His face and clothes were black with soot. The threat of a rolling pin had trained him to leave his boots by the door. He entered the kitchen in socks.

“Yer mum still out?” he asked, when he found John alone. Usually, there’d be towels and clean clothes and hot water ready for him, and Lottie to shout at him if he dared leave the kitchen before he was free of soot. There was hot water at least. He made his way to the stove, took the kettle, filled a washbowl and added cold water from a jug. As soon as he dipped his hands into the clear water, grey whirls appeared.