For a while, the doctor was lost in the throng. When he finally came through the crowd, he was easy to identify with his black coat and top hat – a leather case in one hand and a silver-topped cane in the other. Angus was there to meet him. Mary’s face showed no reaction. Once again, the lid had been pulled over her inner feelings. I wished that he had been able to witness us earlier, chasing up the beach with the kite, and heard her laugh. I squeezed her hand as he neared us. At first, he appeared not to have recognized Mary but then he slowed.

‘Well now, Mary. This is a pleasing sight, that I should be met so keenly.’

She drew closer to me.

He gave me no acknowledgement and in the face of Mary’s lack of response, he touched his hat and continued up to Iskar.

Miss Gillies wore a dress that I had not seen before of green bombazine with sprigs of embroidered mimosa. Every fire had been lit in an attempt to raise the temperature. She and the doctor took wine together in the drawing room and Greer brought tea up to the playroom where I tried to chat lightly and engage Mary in a game, but I soon fell silent.

After a while I stepped into the corridor where Greer’s slow footfall signalled that she was ready to take Mary down. To my chagrin, the doctor did not request to see me.

Lunch was served in the dining room and I was pleased that we were joined by the Argylles. The mood was cheerful, conversation lively, and even Miss Gillies found places to laugh. It was impossible to judge how the consultation had proceeded. After that, I took Mary to the playroom and it was not till later that we heard the boat’s engine and knew he was gone.

Rain started again and the dripping of gutters filled the corridors with melancholia. Outside, the sky was a stubborn grey and the rooms seemed to swell with damp; I began to notice new areas of decay, patches in the ceiling that grew drops of water, and a smell of must and mould flowered in the air. It seemed a long time ago since Mary and I had flown the kite.

In spite of the extra fires, the temperature was chilled, and when lessons began and the weather improved, I walked up to Mrs Argylle’s where she met me with an eager smile.

She was in an exuberant mood, showing me a pretty thread that she had received in a peacock blue, pressing a further sample into my hand and insisting I have it.

‘But you look worried, Miss Swansome. Is there something the matter?’

‘If I am honest, the doctor’s visit has made me anxious.’

‘Why is that?’ she asked.