She pointed down to the hall table where the black phone lay on a white lace doily. He went to the bathroom and washed his hands then slipped downstairs.

‘I dinna like the look on his face, do you?’ Peg was trembling and wringing her hands. Netta was moved to touch her arm.

‘He’ll tell us in a minute. Hold on, not in front of Gus, He mustn’t see we’re afraid.’

There was a tremor in her voice too. She hovered at the top of the stairs, hearing snippets.

‘Ambulance straight away… isolation ward… precautions… contact authorities… second case this week.’

Netta darted back as he came into the room.

‘Now, young man, I’m going to take you on a ride to the hospital in Dumfries to see a nice doctor who knows all about this sickness of yours. He can run a few tests and sort out what we’re going to do with you. Don’t look so worried. The nurses’ll have you on your feet in no time and you’ll be kicking nine bells out of Jamie Paterson before very long.’

Gus smiled weakly.

‘Just you lie back and rest a while longer. Don’t worry, you’ll get lots of fuss and ice cream and jelly when you’re feeling better, I promise. I just need a wee word with your mother.’ He paused, seeing the look of anguish in the other woman’s eye. ‘And Auntie Netta, of course.’

They sat stiffly in the parlour, still cool in the afternoon rays. ‘I can’t be sure at this stage exactly what Gus has contracted but it is serious. He must go into hospital. To the Infectious Ward, I’m afraid. We need to do more tests in Dumfries. His limbs are flaccid. He has feeling but no muscle action. I don’t know how much else of his body might be affected.’

‘It’s infantile paralysis, isn’t it?’ Netta’s voice was cold and calm.

Peg looked up in surprise. What did she know about that? ‘That’s a dirty disease… from the swimming baths. You didn’t take him to the public baths, did you?’ she accused.

‘Poliomyelitis can be caught from many sources, not just bathing, Mrs Nichol, but Mrs Hunter might be right. Have you come across this recently?’

‘Only last year, at an orphange near Leeds. There was an outbreak and two children died,’ Netta answered calmly.

‘Oh, dear God! Have you brought this with you?’

‘Calm down, Mistress Nichol. Last year saw many epidemics in the heatwave. I’m sorry but I have to take precautions. It may not be that at all but Gus must be in the safest place.’

‘What about Jamie? Is he stricken too.’