Maisie wished there were a few more Mr Craddicks around, but she never allowed Harry to suspect there was any reason for concern, even though Mr Holcombe reminded her that her boy would be at Bristol Grammar School for the next five years. The first member of the family not to leave school before the age of fourteen, she told him.

Maisie braced herself for another visit to T.C. Marsh, Tailors of Distinction.

By the time Harry was fully kitted out and ready for the first day of term, Maisie had once again begun to walk to and from work, saving five pence a week on tram fares, or as she told her mother, 'A pound a year, enough to pay for a new suit for Harry.'

Parents, Maisie had learnt over the years, may be considered an unfortunate necessity by their offspring, but more often than not they are also an embarrassment.

On her first speech day at St Bede's, Maisie had been the only mother not wearing a hat. After that, she had bought one from a second-hand shop and, however out of fashion it would become, it was going to have to last until Harry left Bristol Grammar School.

Harry had agreed that she should accompany him to school on the first day of term, but Maisie had already decided that he was old enough to catch a tram home in the evening. Her main anxiety was not about how Harry would get to and from school, but what to do with him in the evenings, now he was a day boy and would no longer be sleeping at school during term. She had no doubt that if he went back to sharing a room with his uncle Stan, it could only end in tears. She tried to put the problem out of her mind as she prepared for Harry's first day in his new school.

Hat in place, best, and only, overcoat recently cleaned, sensible black shoes with the only pair of silk stockings she possessed, Maisie felt ready to face the other parents. When she came down the stairs, Harry was already waiting for her by the door. He looked so smart in his new uniform of claret and black that she would have liked to parade him up and down Still House Lane so the neighbours would know that someone from the street was going to Bristol Grammar School.

As they had on his first day at St Bede's, they caught the tram, but Harry asked Maisie if they could get off one stop before University Road. She was no longer allowed to hold his hand, although she did straighten his cap and tie more than once.

When Maisie first saw the noisy gathering of young men crowded around the school gates, she said, 'I'd better be off or I'll be late for work,' which puzzled Harry, because he knew Mr Frampton had given her the day off.

She gave her son a quick hug, but kept a wary eye on him as he made his way up the hill. The first person to greet him was Giles Barrington. Maisie was surprised to see him, as Harry had told her he would probably be going to Eton. They shook hands like a couple of grown men who had just closed an important deal.

Maisie could see Mr and Mrs Barrington standing at the back of the crowd. Was he making sure he avoided her? A few minutes later, Mr and Mrs Deakins joined them, accompanied by the Peloquin Memorial scholar. More handshakes, left-handed in Mr Deakins's case.

As the parents began to take leave of their children, Maisie watched Mr Barrington as he shook hands first with his son and then with Deakins, but turned away when Harry offered his hand. Mrs Barrington looked embarrassed, and Maisie wondered if she might later ask why Hugo had ignored Giles's closest friend. If she did, Maisie felt certain he would not tell her the real reason. Maisie feared it couldn't be long before Harry asked why Mr Barrington always snubbed him. As long as only three people knew the truth, she couldn't think of any reason why Harry would ever find out.

16

MISS TILLY HAD BECOME such a regular at the Palm Court that she even had her own table.

She would usually arrive around four o'clock, and order a cup of tea (Earl Grey) and a cucumber sandwich. She always declined to take anything from the large assortment of cream cakes, jam tarts and chocolate eclairs, but would occasionally allow herself a buttered scone. When she popped by just before five one evening, unusually late for her, Maisie was relieved that her usual table was free.

'I wonder if I might sit somewhere a little more discreet today, Maisie. I need to have a quiet word with you.'

'Of course, Miss Tilly,' said Maisie, and led her to Mr Holcombe's preferred table behind the pillar at the far end of the room. 'I'm off in ten minutes,' Maisie told her. 'I'll join you then.'

When her deputy Susan arrived to take over, Maisie explained that she would be joining Miss Tilly for a few minutes, but didn't expect to be served.

'Is the old duck unhappy about something?' Susan asked.

'That old duck taught me everything I know,' said Maisie with a grin.

When five o'clock struck, Maisie walked across the room and took the seat opposite Miss Tilly. She rarely sat down with a customer, and on the few occasions she did, she had never felt at ease.

'Would you care for some tea, Maisie?'

'No, thank you, Miss Tilly.'

'I quite understand. I'll try not to keep you too long, but before I tell you my real purpose for wanting to see you, may I ask how Harry is getting on?'

'I wish he'd stop growing,' said Maisie. 'I seem to be letting down his trousers every few weeks. At this rate his long trousers will be short trousers before the end of the year.'

Miss Tilly laughed. 'What about his work?'

'His end-of-term report said - ' Maisie paused, trying to recall the exact words - '"A most satisfactory start. Very promising." He came top in English.'

'Somewhat ironic,' said Miss Tilly. 'If I remember correctly, that was the subject that let him down in the entrance exam.'

Maisie nodded, and tried not to think about the financial consequences of Harry not having read enough Thomas Hardy.

'You must be very proud of him,' said Miss Tilly. 'And when I went to St Mary's on Sunday, I was delighted to see that he's back in the choir.'

'Yes, but he now has to be satisfied with a place in the back row with the other baritones. His days as a soloist are over. But he's joined the theatre club, and because there are no girls at BGS, he's playing Ursula in the school play.'

'Much Ado About Nothing,' said Miss Tilly. 'Still, I mustn't waste any more of your time, so I'll come to the reason I wanted to see you.' She took a sip of tea, as if she wanted to compose herself before she spoke again, and then it all came out in a rush.

'I'll be sixty next month, my dear, and for some time I have been considering retiring.'

It had never crossed Maisie's mind that Miss Tilly wouldn't go on for ever.

'Miss Monday and I have been thinking about moving down to Cornwall. We have our eye on a little cottage by the sea.'

You mustn't leave Bristol, Maisie wanted to say. I love you both, and if you go, who will I turn to for advice?

'Matters came to a head last month,' continued Miss Tilly, 'when a local businessman made me an offer for the tea shop. It seems he wants to add it to his growing empire. And although I don't care for the idea of Tilly's being part of a chain, his offer was far too tempting to turn down out of hand.' Maisie only had one question, but she didn't interrupt while Miss Tilly was in full flow. 'Since then, I've been giving the matter a great deal of thought, and I decided that if you were able to come up with the same amount he has offered, I would rather you took over the business than I hand it over to a stranger.'