She wrapped the child in a blanket, for she was now shivering. ‘Put some water in ’kettle, Harry,’ she said, ‘but don’t overfill it.’ She tried to recall what her mother had said. Willow bark, that was it. She kept some in a tin; it was a cure-all for childish ailments and headaches too, but Mary needed to drink. ‘Put it over ’fire,’ she said, her voice trembling, and Harry put Thomas down and took Mary from her, cradling her in his arms.

‘I’ll hold her. You get whatever you need; you know where everything is,’ he said, sitting with Mary on his knee and Thomas squashed at his side so that he couldn’t escape.

He looked down at the little girl and lightly stroked her cheek with his finger. He took a breath; she was shaking, and her breathing was laboured, and he lifted her so that she was leaning into him and gently he rubbed her back. Ellen brought a cup of tepid water, but instead of lifting it to Mary’s lips he asked Ellen to bring a spoon and dribbled a spot of water on to them, and when she opened her mouth he trickled in a drop more.

‘Sit down, Ellen,’ he said quietly, and she gazed at him with wide and frightened eyes and did as he asked.

Carefully, he stood up and placed Mary in her arms. ‘Just hold her,’ he said and knelt beside her, drawing Sarah and Thomas towards them; his eyes filled with tears and his voice choked as he murmured a prayer, and added, ‘I’m going to run for ’doctor. Keep her safe.’

CHAPTER THREE

It was fortunate that the doctor lived in Holmpton village and had come home for his midday meal before beginning his district rounds; his housekeeper answered Harry’s urgent hammering on the door and the doctor saddled up his horse and set off immediately as Harry ran back home.

Harry raced across meadows and through a thin copse to shorten his journey and heard the children as he ran down the path to the cottage. He pushed open the door and saw Ellen trying to pacify Thomas, who now had a very swollen lip, and Sarah splashing her hands in the bowl of water, while Mary was lying on her mother’s knee and rasping as if she wanted to cough.

‘Doctor’s on his way,’ he said breathlessly and picked up Thomas to quieten him. ‘He said there’s measles in Holmpton.’

‘Oh, no, please. Not measles,’ Ellen moaned. ‘There’s no cure for that. But she hasn’t got spots, so—’

‘He’s here.’ Harry had heard the horse’s tread outside. ‘Come on, Thomas, let’s go and look at ’doctor’s hoss.’

He opened the door and took hold of the horse’s snaffle as the doctor dismounted. ‘Inside, sir. I’ll mek ’hoss fast.’