After this exchange, Mrs Lockwood barely spoke more, and took out her work. Every so often Gale glanced across at her and saw that she was attending to what was said between himself and the little girls. More than once a smile lit her features as she sewed. It was most soothing and agreeable to him to be in the society of so tranquil a lady. As before, she slipped out of the room to ask that a tray be sent up: on this occasion a Madeira cake of the softest texture was produced.

When he rose to take his leave of them, little Kitty flung her arms around his knees. ‘Oh, Mr Gale, don’t go!’ she entreated. ‘Tell us one more story, please.’

William was late back to change for dinner with his wife’s Aunt Felicity.

‘The Lockwood girls are most delightful,’ he told Alice. ‘I think it would be kind to have them out to us so that they might have a ride on a pony. Just around the orchard, on a rein.’

‘Of course,’ said Alice. ‘I’m sure your friend would have been glad to know you were attentive to his family.’

‘I do hope so, poor fellow,’ said William.

Dr Nolan joined them for dinner, to make up a four; afterwards they would play at cards. Alice prompted him to explain to the others the current ideas for the treatment of melancholia, of which he was an enthusiastic proponent. At Malvern and here in Cheltenham, the waters appeared to have a most benevolent effect: daily and prolonged immersion in the cold waters brought about a great improvement for despondency. It remained to be seen whether such a practice would be of benefit to those unfortunates of unsound mind or nervous prostration who were prone to violent agitation.

‘But is there not a danger of your subjects catching cold?’ asked Felicity.

‘Indeed it would seem that the opposite is the case,’ said the doctor. ‘It is a most curious thing.’

‘And yet we are urged never to set foot outside without a hat and fur muff!’ said Alice.

‘It would appear that the increase in the circulation of the blood brought about by cold water bathing in some way inures the patient against coughs and colds, just as it revives the spirits,’ said the doctor. ‘Dr Watson at Malvern has reported excellent results for his hydropathy. But we do not as yet entirely understand the mechanism.’

‘In the Crimea the water for bathing was often very cold. Even in the summer it was much cooled by all the rain we had. Once – this was in the weeks before the storming of the Redan – a party of us rode out to the village of Vermutka. It was a glorious, fine day and there was a deliciously cool fountain there. I will not conceal from you that we took it in turns to use it for a tub, much to the astonishment of the inhabitants.’