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although he returned several times to a delicate arrangement of two emeralds and one diamond. Neither Alistair nor Manny were at all surprised, therefore, when this was the ring he finally plumped for. ‘I can’t believe it’s only thirty bob,’ he told the pawnbroker as he handed over a crisp pound note and a ten-shilling note that needed careful handling to avoid being ripped along its many creases.
    â€˜It is fairly old,’ Manny replied, without a blush, ‘and if your lady friend does not like it, she can come and choose for herself.’ After a pause, he added, gently, ‘But perhaps you would rather she did not know where you bought it?’
    â€˜I don’t think she’d mind, and thank you very much for everything, Mr Isaacson. You don’t know how grateful I am.’
    When he and Alistair returned to the privacy of their shared room, he took the worn leather box out of his pocket to admire his purchase. ‘It’s lucky your boss had this ring in stock. Look at it … two emeralds and a diamond … for thirty bob!’ His jubilation changed abruptly to uncertainty. ‘D’you think she’ll object to getting a second-hand ring? Will she think it looks cheap? Will her Dad realize …?’
    Alistair felt as if he were between two stools. Manny wouldn’t want him to let Dougal know the real value of the ring, but he couldn’t let his pal run away with the idea that it was worthless. ‘It’s not classed as second-hand, it’s called an antique, and it’s worth a lot more than thirty bob.’
    Instead of soothing Dougal, this information made him scowl. ‘So Manny pulled a fast one on me? Well, I’m not taking his charity, and you’d better give it back to him in the morning.’
    â€˜It wasn’t meant as charity.’ Alistair had to deny it. ‘He buys things much cheaper in the markets because the stallholders don’t know what they’re worth, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to sell them for that. You just landed lucky that Manny had got those three rings so cheap.’
    â€˜It was good of him to think of me, then,’ Dougal admitted. ‘I can see why you like him, Ally, he’s a kind-hearted soul.’
    â€˜Have you heard from Alistair lately?’
    It was a routine question, asked of Alice Ritchie almost every time her mother sent her to buy the groceries. ‘Mam had a letter yesterday, and he says Dougal Finnie’s got engaged, though it’ll be another year before her father’ll let them get wed.’
    Lexie Fraser nodded pleasantly. She wanted desperately to find out if Alistair had a girlfriend, but she couldn’t make it too obvious. ‘Is there any word of them …? It’s been two years since they went away, and surely they’d get some holidays?’
    â€˜Well, I suppose Dougal’s been saving his money seeing he’s going to be taking a wife, and Alistair’s happy enough to keep working. He says Manny, that’s his boss, leaves him in full charge nowadays, and he’s teaching him how to value jewellery and things like that. Besides, he’s an old man, and I think Alistair feels responsible for him, in a way.’
    â€˜But he should get some time off … it’s the law … all employees should get a week’s holidays … every year.’
    Guessing what Lexie really wanted to know, Alice took pity on her. ‘They’ve good lodgings, that’s one good thing. Ivy, that’s their landlady, she torments Alistair it’s time he got a ladyfriend and all, but he says he’s not ready for that yet. He’s happy the way he is.’ She was glad she’d made a point of it; Lexie’s relief was almost tangible.
    â€˜He hasn’t got much spare cash, of course, with his lodgings to pay, and getting his washing done, and buying fags, he says he never has anything left