Susie took hers and hungrily began to gnaw on it, but Jack turned his head away as beads of sweat stood out like jewels on his forehead in the glow from the fire.

‘He really needs to see a doctor,’ Charlie said worriedly and Opal snorted.

‘I don’t even know how we’re going to eat tomorrow, let alone pay for a doctor’s visit!’ she snapped and was instantly repentant. ‘Sorry, Charlie, I’m just tired,’ she explained guiltily.

‘It’s all right.’ He awkwardly patted her arm and fell silent, as she poured the now boiling water into the old brown teapot and set it on the hearth to mash. She found the mismatched cups and poured them their tea and, minutes later, Susie was snoring softly.

Opal almost envied her. She was only a child and had no idea what a terrible position they were in. It was hard to believe now that only a few short months before they had been a close-knit happy family. True, her mother had suffered from ill health for some time, which was why Opal had given up her job in the little village shop – she was needed to help at home. But even then they had been comfortable with the wages that her father and Charlie earned on the farm. But then their hearts had all broken when their mother had died giving birth to their new baby sister, who was stillborn. And just nine weeks later their world collapsed when their father was suddenly struck down with the fever, and soon followed their ma. Now here they were, with no home, no parents, no money and no prospects.

‘What are we goin’ to do, Opal?’ Charlie’s face was fearful. Although he was only a year younger than his sister, he usually depended on her to make the decisions.

‘Whatever we have to do to survive,’ she answered. She dreaded what might be ahead.

‘I think we may well have to put the little two into the workhouse,’ he said tentatively. ‘At least there Jack will get the medical attention he needs and they’ll both be fed.’

Opal was so horrified that she almost dropped her cup, and slopped hot tea over her leg. ‘Ouch! … Over my dead body!’

‘Well, have you got a better idea?’ Tears stung at the back of Charlie’s eyes as he pictured the cold grim façade of the Union Workhouse up on the Bullring – but he pushed back his mop of thick, curly brown hair and blinked them away. Just the mention of the place could strike terror into the hardest of hearts, but what choice did they have? At least if he knew the little ones were being looked after, he and Opal could find work and somewhere to live, and hopefully they could get them back out of the place before too long.