Sister Flynn quietly pointed to a pile of clothes she had laid across a chair for her and Holly scrambled into them as fast as she could, although she had to keep her own shoes on because the ones sister had found her were so big that she was nearly walking out of them.

There was a somewhat shabby skirt, much darned and faded, and a blouse of an indistinguishable colour over which she would wear a thick woollen shawl and a head square. They were not like anything Holly had worn before but were typical of what she had seen the village Frenchwomen dressed in. Once she had scrambled into them Monsieur Le’Fete and Richard appeared and she had to stifle a smile. Richard was also dressed as a French peasant with a beret on his head and worn work clothes.

‘We have decided that as Dr Parkin can speak no French we shall say that he is dumb,’ Monsieur Le’Fete told her in his own tongue and solemn again now, Holly nodded.

‘Now, are there any questions you would like to ask?’ the sister, who had just entered the room behind the men, asked her.

‘How long do you think we will be gone?’ Holly said falteringly. Nerves were kicking in now and she felt faintly dizzy.

Monsieur shrugged his shoulders. ‘There is no way of knowing, mademoiselle. It will depend on how quickly the airman recovers, or even if he survives. He ees in a very bad way.’

Holly nodded. ‘Very well. I’m ready to go.’

Richard surprised her then when he said, ‘I’m really not happy about this. You do realise that you’ll be risking your life, don’t you?’

His concern for her made her heart hammer but her face gave nothing away as she nodded. ‘Yes, I do, but I want to do it.’

‘There ees no more to be said then.’ The monsieur jammed his hat on and ushered them towards the door. ‘My wagon is parked just outside the hospital,’ he informed them. ‘Once we cross the enemy line you must be very quiet and still. Should they spot me they will think nothing of it. They are used to seeing me delivering food to the hospital but if we should be stopped and they discover you in the back of the wagon you must say nothing. Leave the talking to me, do you understand?’

Richard and Holly nodded and as they left Sister Flynn stopped Holly at the door where she gave her a swift hug. Holly was shocked and touched to see that there were tears in her eyes. ‘May God keep you safe,’ the woman said in a choked voice. ‘You are a very loving and giving young lady, Nurse Farthing. Now go quickly.’

Seconds later they were out in the bitterly cold night and the monsieur pointed to a wagon. An old horse contentedly munching on a nosebag with a blanket thrown across his back was tethered to it and as his master approached he raised his head and whinnied softly.