‘But the doctor hasn’t prescribed that treatment,’ Nurse Downes said feebly as the two young women were dragged past her.

But her words fell on deaf ears as Nurse Keen stamped along the corridor pushing Ruby, who was kicking and screaming, in front of her. She had cause to scream now because she knew what lay ahead of her and was genuinely terrified.

In the dining room, the young nurse stood rooted to the spot for a time, and then suddenly knowing what she must do she took to her heels and fled downstairs.

In the bathroom one nurse was filling two of the baths with ice-cold water as Nurse Keen and another nurse callously ripped the coarse gowns from Dilys and Ruby’s shivering bodies. The next thing Ruby knew, she was dumped into the bath and held beneath the water. The shock of being submerged had taken her breath away and within seconds she felt as if her lungs were on fire as she fought to get her head above the surface of the water. But it was no good, Nurse Keen was as strong as an ox and slowly Ruby felt herself drifting away. Then suddenly she was yanked up by what was left of her hair, coughing and spluttering.

‘I’ll show you what happens to folks as try to cause a to-do on my shift,’ Nurse Keen said threateningly. Her hands went to Ruby’s shoulders and once more she was forced down under the water.

Soon Ruby gave up struggling. She knew she was no match for Nurse Keen and if truth be told death was preferable to having to spend the rest of her life in the asylum. A feeling of peace was settling over her as she thought of the people she had come to love since leaving home. Maddie was there smiling at her with Mrs Petty and Nell. And there was Mrs B and Hermione and Miss Wood and Mr Pembroke. Bill was there too and as she pictured his handsome face she began to drift away.

‘Just what the hell do you think you are doing?’ The young doctor’s voice roaring from the doorway of the bathroom behind them brought the nurses jerking upright. Dilys instantly rose from beneath the water, her face chalk white as she gasped at the air, but Ruby made no attempt to surface.

‘Get that girl out and onto the floor now!’ the doctor bellowed and immediately two of the nurses hauled Ruby over the side of the bath and she dropped lifelessly to the floor.