Louise’s little face creased with concern. ‘Oh dear,’ she sighed. ‘That usually bodes trouble. Is there anything I can do?’

Becky smiled. ‘It would help if you kept an eye on her until I can walk her home,’ she replied.

‘Well, all right,’ she said hesitantly, ‘but you know what she’s like, Rebecca, so don’t leave it too long.’

Becky smiled and opened the door for her. ‘Thanks, Louise,’ she murmured. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’

It didn’t take long to discover that Mary and her family had already left for their tumbledown shack on the outskirts of town – which meant that Becky would have to go over there later to make sure she was keeping her cut foot clean and that the baby was all right.

But it would also give her a chance to hold an impromptu clinic to treat the sandy blight which seemed to affect most of the children and elderly there. Brought on by the dust, lack of hygiene and the ever-present sandflies, it was a painful affliction and often caused blindness if not treated properly with warm saline solution and special eye-drops.

It took quite a while for Becky to do the rounds of the ward and the other verandas, and to check on the men, who were voraciously eating their breakfast. As they all seemed perfectly well, she told them they could leave once they’d finished their meal, and then went back to Gwyneth.

‘I’m perfectly capable of walking across the street,’ she grumbled as Becky helped her down the steps a while later.

‘I know you are, but just humour me, Gran.’

Gwyneth muttered under her breath and leaned heavily on her walking stick as she kept her weight off her damaged leg. ‘I suppose you’ll be wanting a cup of tea?’ she said ungraciously as they finally reached her back veranda.

‘I’d love one, but I really don’t have the time,’ Becky replied as her offer of help was refused and Gwyneth hauled herself up the steps and slammed through the outer fly-screen door.

‘Ups-a-daisy, old girl,’ shouted Coco from his cage. ‘G’day, g’day.’

Gwyneth checked on the joeys in their pillowcases, sank into one of the rattan chairs and looked at the drifts of sand that were strewn across her garden and veranda. ‘I see by the footprints in the dust that Danny has been over to look after the animals,’ she said grudgingly. ‘Tell him to come back this afternoon and I’ll give him a couple of bob for his trouble.’

Becky nodded. ‘I’ll ask him to fetch your grocery order at the same time.’