She had just started her shift one day when Matron informed her that she was to report to Mary Ward for an admittance – a six-year-old boy, badly malnourished with a hacking cough.

Holly hurried off to meet him and stared at him in dismay. Even from a distance she could see head lice running across the parting in his hair, which looked as if it had never had a proper cut in the whole of his life, and what she could see of his body was covered in sores.

She smiled at him and after lifting his notes she said, ‘Hello, Robbie. How about we get you bathed and made more comfortable?’

He glared at her suspiciously, crossing his thin arms across his chest. ‘I ain’t goin’ in no baff,’ he told her stubbornly. ‘I ’ad a wash last week.’

‘Even so, I’m sure you’ll feel much better when you’ve had one.’ She took his hand and he begrudgingly followed her along the corridor to the bathroom. However, when she turned the taps on and he saw the water gushing into the bath, he stubbornly dug his heels in and refused to enter the room.

‘If you fink I’m gettin’ in there you’ve gorranoffer fink comin!’ he declared with a mutinous expression on his face. ‘I’ll kick yer bloody arse if yer try an’ make me!’

Holly’s mind raced as she tried to think of a way to persuade him and then it came to her. ‘Well, that’s a shame. All the new admittances get a glass of milk and cake when they’ve got this bit over with.’

‘What sorta cake?’

She could see that he was interested now. ‘Hmm, I think I heard the cook say that it was cherry cake today. Ooh, I can tell you it’s absolutely lovely. I had a piece myself yesterday and it’s delicious … Still, if you’re not hungry …’

He stared at her for a moment then cautiously entered the bathroom and dangled his hand in the water.

‘That’s too ’ot,’ he said truculently.

‘Oh, is it? Then let’s put a little more cold in.’ Holly quickly turned the hot tap off and now that he was close to her she heard his stomach rumbling ominously. Goodness knew how long it had been since the poor little chap had eaten.

‘I ain’t gerrin undressed wi’ you in the room,’ he growled and she nodded.

‘That’s fine. I’ve got to go and find you some clean pyjamas anyway. Then when I get back you’ll be already in there.’

‘An’ ’ow long will I ’ave to stay in?’

Holly shrugged. ‘Only as long as it takes for us to give your hair a good wash and get you clean,’ she answered cajolingly.

She could see the indecision on his face but in the end the temptation of food was too great.

‘A’right then. But when yer come back you ain’t to come in till I say so.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ Holly agreed and hurried away.