May was on her feet by now, about to grab Angel and join the scramble for the stairs. An image flashed into her mind – her own shawl ablaze from a spark from the fire, her mother flinging her to the ground and covering her with the rag rug, beating out the flames. Without conscious thought she seized the blanket from her bed, and as the girl reached her she grabbed hold of her and pushed her to the floor, then threw the blanket over her and fell on top of it, using her own weight to suppress the flames. Staggering to her feet, she dragged the now-naked girl up with her and shouted ‘Out! Go!’ Then she picked up Angel, who was screaming, and ran for the door.

As she reached it, she was suddenly stopped short by a piteous cry from behind her.

‘Help me! Please, somebody help me!’

It was Jeanie’s voice and May realized with horror that she was still tied to her bed. She looked back. The flames were roaring now and smoke filled the far end of the room. The roof timbers had begun to smoulder and the fire was creeping ever closer to the bed where Jeanie lay helpless. A few more figures emerged from the smoke and staggered towards her. There was no sign of either of the nurses and no one paused to heed Jeanie’s desperate appeals. May looked round. Patty was waiting at the door, urging her to hurry. She thrust Angel into her arms.

‘Get her downstairs. Keep her safe.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Back – for Jeanie.’

Smoke stung her eyes and made her choke as she stumbled back towards Jeanie’s bed. The heat scorched her skin and she saw that the roof beam immediately above the bed was on fire and could collapse at any moment. She pulled her nightgown up and held a fold of it over her mouth and nose and forced herself to go on. Jeanie was screaming now.

‘It’s all right!’ May choked out. ‘I’ll get you undone.’ She dropped to her knees by the bed and fumbled with the knots holding the rope to the frame. Her hands were already burnt from her earlier efforts and Jeanie’s struggles had pulled them tight. Try as she might, she could not prize them loose.

‘Keep still!’ she begged. ‘You’re making it worse.’

Jeanie subsided, sobbing, and at last the knot gave.