Jeanie’s right arm was free, but her left wrist was still fastened to the far side of the bed. May stretched herself across the other girls’ body and wrestled with the knots on that side. Above her she could hear the beam creaking and the flames were only feet away. Her eyes were streaming so much that she could no longer see what she was doing and she had to work by touch alone. For a few desperate moments she thought that she might have to give up and leave Jeanie to her fate; then the knot gave way and Jeanie wrenched her arm loose.

The two of them rolled off the bed and May found that here, on the floor, it was a little easier to breathe.

‘Stay down,’ she croaked. ‘Crawl.’

Half crawling, half crouching, pulling Jeanie with her, she headed towards the door. Smoke billowed round them and at moments May almost lost her sense of direction. Feeling her way from bed to bed, choking for breath, she struggled on, until suddenly the way ahead was clear and the cold night air filled her lungs. She staggered to her feet, reached the top of the narrow staircase, and fainted.

Two

May opened her eyes. Where was she? This was not the dormitory where she usually slept with the other girls, and this was not her bed. Her body felt stiff and bruised and her hands hurt. She tried to sit up, but a gentle hand was laid on her shoulder.

‘Lie quiet, sweetheart. Everything’s all right. Just you rest.’

A face appeared above her, a beautiful face, but strange to May’s eyes. Large, lustrous black eyes were framed by curling hair as dark and shiny as the wings of the starlings that fluttered around the yards, and the skin around them was the colour of the strong tea that she had seen on Matron’s desk.

‘Who are you?’ May whispered. Her throat was sore and it was hard to speak.

‘My name’s Dorinda, honey – but most people call me Dora. I’m here to look after you. Now, drink this. Let me help you.’

An arm was slipped under her shoulders and she was helped to sit up and a cup was held to her lips. She sipped the water gratefully and lay back.

‘What happened? Why am I here?’

‘You don’t remember?’

‘No … wait … there was a fire.’ Suddenly the memory was vivid: flames approaching; the heat and crackle and the choking smoke; the struggle to undo stubborn knots. ‘Jeannie! Is Jeannie safe?’

‘Just here beside you. Look.’

May turned her head. Jeannie was lying in the next bed. Her back was towards her but she could see that her head and one arm were heavily bandaged.

‘Is she all right?’

‘Thanks to you. You saved her life, you know that?’ ‘Did I?’