Chapter Eleven

After Hannah had gone, Jennet thought more about the idea of a place where women could take their clothes and bedding to lather them with soap and boil them in a copper. She was sure that it would help combat the cholera. If she’d still been on good terms with Mrs Whittaker, she would have had no qualms about raising the idea with her, but the vicar’s wife had seemed cold towards her since the time she’d refused her any help from the Ladies’ Charity because Titus wouldn’t take work on the road-building scheme.

‘Maybe I could catch her after morning service on Sunday,’ she said to Titus after she’d asked him what he thought of the idea.

‘I don’t know that she’d be interested,’ he said.

‘No. But I could still ask. Summat needs to be done. Now that word’s spread that I’ve been lending out my mangle and the copper, there’s folk coming round at all hours askin’ if they can use ’em. And whilst I know how desperate they are, I need to get my own laundry done. I hate turning ’em away, but the town should be doing summat for folk with all this illness goin’ round. I shouldn’t have to be providing facilities.’

‘Perhaps it’s time to start chargin’ ’em,’ suggested Titus. ‘Run it like a proper business.’

‘How can I start chargin’ when they’ve no money, or barely enough money to feed and clothe themselves? Take Molly next door. She’s had to stop work to look after her little ’uns. Three youngest are all sick now and she’s washing day and night because she’s havin’ to change the beds that often. They’ve only got Harry’s wages and that’s not enough. She said she’d pawn bedding if she had any to spare, but she needs it all and everything else of worth has already gone to Mr Starkie. They’re only left with a couple of boxes to sit on.’

After Titus had gone back to the mill, Jennet was waiting for her irons to heat up so she could finish pressing the laundry when she noticed how quiet it was. There was no noise coming from next door. It seemed that the children were all too poorly to even cry, and she thought she’d nip round and see if there was anything that Molly needed.

She left Bessie having a nap on the big bed upstairs and went round to tap on her neighbour’s door. Molly was holding one of the children on her knee. The child was dozing, but her little face was white and she was whimpering.

‘No better?’ said Jennet.

‘Worse, if anything. I’ve done all t’ doctor said and not let a drop pass her lips. It’s stopped the runs, but she’s that lifeless I’m right worried.’

Jennet put the back of her hand to the child’s forehead. She felt feverish. ‘I’d take her back if she’s no better by the time the Dispensary opens for evening surgery,’ she said. ‘I reckon she needs a few drops of summat to bring her fever down. I’ll listen out for the others if Harry’s not back.’