‘Why not? It’s been stuck close to him. It must be full of germs. I’d rather burn it than cremate ma wee bairn! Give it to me.’ Netta could not bear to watch and went inside to phone Jean Brownleys with the awful news.

‘Leave the shop to Polly. She’ll cope. I’ll go through the order book with her and cancel early fittings. Polly can do the rest. We can send up some of your sewing if needs be. Forget about Griseley, concentrate on what’s important. It’s only dresses, after all…’

‘But I don’t want to let my customers down!’ Netta cried.

‘You won’t be. Gus needs you and so do your parents. They must come first. Here’s Stirling, he’s in my office doing medicals again. He wants a word with you.’

‘Oh, Drew! What shall I do if anything happens to him? They think it’s polio.’

Drew’s voice was steady, calming her panic. ‘Look, don’t worry. Everything they’re doing is routine so far. They’ll run tests. It could be either meningitis or poliomyelitis. There’s a non-paralytic variety or, if we’re unlucky, acute asymmetric flaccid limb paralysis

‘Drew, slow down! I can’t take it all in. Which one’s infantile paralysis then?’ Netta as straining to catch his words.

‘Netta, are you still there? Remember, even if it’s the worst sort, over half recover with no permanent damage. Hold on to that hope. “Courage, mon brave”. If he’s unlucky there’s still plenty that can be done.’

‘Tell me the truth – will he die? Don’t give me false hope. Drew, he looks so ill. Will he be in an iron lung?’

‘Only his doctors can tell you that. Be patient. We’ll face what has to be faced, when or if it comes to it. He needs you to be strong and cheerful. The little chap’s going to need all the courage he can find. I’ll ring you for a bulletin later this evening. I wish I could just drop everything but I can’t abandon things here, forgive me. What a good job you turned back. This is your chance to show them your true mettle. I’ll be thinking of you and I’ll come when I can. Chin up.’

*

It took nerves of steel to walk down that long hospital corridor with its oh-so-familiar smells, not knowing what would be waiting for them in the Isolation Ward. Netta strode out briskly with a falsely confident air, trying to chivvy on Peg who shuffled to catch up, clutching parcels and gifts. All their old rivalries had vanished in the heat of such a tragic turn of events.