‘I would have thought it was more of a case of what you wanted to do.’ Holly could barely keep the contempt she felt for the woman from sounding in her voice now. ‘Matron is more than willing to discuss his condition with you if you’d care to visit him.’

‘What? An’ risk catchin’ it meself! No thank you very much. Just keep me informed of ’ow he is, eh?’ And with that she slammed the door in Holly’s face and seconds later the sound of bawdy laughter recommenced.

All the way home Holly fumed. How could a mother be so callous towards her child? she wondered. He was just a little boy, a very sick one, and his mother didn’t appear to care at all!

Over the evening meal both her mother and grandfather noticed that Holly was even quieter than she had been ever since she returned from London and eventually her mother asked, ‘Is everything all right at work, darling?’

‘Yes, it’s just …’ And then it all came pouring out as Holly told them of Robbie’s sickly condition and the cold reception she had received from his mother. Ivy had just carried the main course in and she snorted.

‘I ain’t surprised. Havin’ come from the courtyards meself I know how badly some o’ the children are treated. Neither me mam nor me dad cared a hoot when I went off to London, they was just upset cos they weren’t gettin’ none o’ me wages any more. Matron’s right, Holly. If the little chap does get better he’d be better off in the workhouse.’

She made her way back to the kitchen then, leaving the family to serve themselves but she had to admit, what Holly had said had got her thinking. Her family didn’t even know that she’d come home. Perhaps it was time to give them another chance? After all they had a brand new little granddaughter now. How could they possibly not love her? I’ll pop round to see ’em on me next afternoon off, she decided, and having made the decision she felt slightly better. Family was family after all.

The next morning, Holly arrived at the hospital early. She was anxious to see how Robbie was but it wasn’t good news. She found the night nurse at his bedside sponging his brow and when Holly approached she shook her head.

‘He’s delirious now,’ she told her sadly. ‘Poor little chap keeps trying to knock my hand away and cowering from me. I think he must be used to being knocked about.’

‘Hmm, that would explain his bruises,’ Holly agreed. ‘But you get off now. I’ll take over.’

‘Are you sure?’ the nurse asked. ‘You’re not due on the ward for at least another hour.’

‘I know but I wanted to see how he was.’

The older nurse sighed. ‘It doesn’t do to go getting too attached, you know,’ she told Holly kindly. ‘Far too many of the children that come into this ward end up in the mortuary out the back. If we got too fond of every one we wouldn’t be able to do our job.’