But they could and in a matter of hours, an eight-foot-tall fence of solid gum surrounded the Murray house. The only entry would be by way of a guard hut built into the corner, consisting of two rooms with a door between. Food could be pushed through a hinged flap and anyone needing to go inside could change their clothes and wash thoroughly on their way out.

Caleb volunteered to enter the house and check on Mrs Murray, although there would be little he could do. A pair of light trousers and a shirt, along with a pair of slippers procured from the Chinese, was all he needed for the second room. Being nearly a head taller and slimmer than his colleague, a similar set of clothing had to be arranged for Bowen.

He found Murray sunk in despair beside the cold kitchen hearth. The little maid sobbed in a corner and the child sat neglected on his bed, crying.

Caleb set the box of food he carried on the kitchen table and crouched in front of the sobbing girl.

‘Pull yourself together, Posy,’ he said. ‘You will do yourself no good. Get the fire going and boil some water. I’m told tea is a mighty good restorative. There’s food in that box that will see you through till tomorrow morning.’

The girl sniffed. ‘What do I call you?’ she said.

He smiled at her. ‘That’s better. My name’s Caleb.’

‘And are you really a doctor?’

For a moment Caleb’s breath stopped in his throat. The denial came so easily and so readily. Instead he said, ‘Yes, I am. Now, I’m going to see your mistress.’

Lizzie Murray had been put to bed in the couple’s neat little bedroom. She lay back on an embroidered pillow, her fingers pleating the bedclothes. Her mouth worked when she spotted Caleb and she crooked a finger, indicating for him to come closer.

‘Don’t blame him,’ she said, her gaze sliding to her husband, who still sat slumped in his chair while Posy busied herself lighting the fire. ‘It was me that insisted on coming home. If I’m going to die, I want it to be here. I loved this house.’

Caleb had no response to that. He understood the woman’s sentiments, but she had endangered everyone in the town.

The disease seemed to be following its natural course. Her mouth was full of sores and the rash that had begun on the woman’s face had spread to her extremities. Her fever had come down.

‘I’m feeling better,’ she said with a brave attempt at a smile.

Caleb returned the smile. ‘That’s good.’

She didn’t need to know that in twenty-four hours, the rash would turn to sores and the sores to pustules and her fever would rise. In forty-eight hours, she could be dead.