Read Forgive and Forget for Free Online

sure yet, but I think it could be the typhoid, Mr Longden.’ Dr Fenwick turned to Polly. ‘Now, my dear, just keep him on fluids. Even if he protests he wants more, you take no notice.’
    Polly nodded vigorously.
    William, still sitting in the chair, looking hotter by the minute and yet shivering violently, muttered, ‘Her mam’ll be down soon. She’ll look after me. Sarah’ll look after us all . . .’
    Polly let out a startled cry and then clapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the noise. Dr Fenwick’s face was grim. ‘Mm. Mental confusion.’ He sighed. ‘That’s another sign.’ He watched the patient for another moment before saying, ‘Perhaps it would be best if I arranged for him to go into hospital now, before he gets any worse.’ He glanced at the young girl standing beside him. ‘At least it would be one less burden for you, child. Can you manage the rest of the family or do you want me to – ?’
    ‘We’ll be fine, sir. Honest. Mrs Halliday will help us. I know she will.’
    ‘And your other neighbours? Will they lend a hand?’
    There was a brief hesitation before Polly answered. She was not a good liar. Sarah had not been on particularly good terms with her immediate neighbours – the ones who shared the water tap and the privy. They regarded Sarah’s efforts to be hygienic as high-handed and offensive and there’d been many a row in the backyard. Polly didn’t think she could count on them now.
    Instead, she said again that Mrs Halliday would look out for them.
    Seeming satisfied, Dr Fenwick said, ‘Then I’ll arrange for him to be taken in. It’ll most likely be the Drill Hall, child. They’ve opened up several places to take patients and the Drill Hall’s one of them. The Infectious Diseases Hospital, where your mother went, is full, as I believe is the ward at the County Hospital.’ He fastened his bag. ‘So get a few things ready for him and I’ll arrange for the ambulance to fetch him. Meanwhile, like I said before, if any of the youngsters – or you – feel ill, let me know. At once, mind.’
    As the doctor had said, things were a little easier for Polly once her father had been taken to the temporary hospital accommodation. Now she had only the young ones to look after. But it didn’t stop her worrying about her father too.
    The baby and Stevie were easy. Though Miriam cried when she was hungry or needed changing, she was a placid little thing and the little boy played quietly on the hearthrug with his bricks. It was Violet and even more so, Eddie, who caused Polly her biggest headaches. Violet was obstinate and difficult, refusing to do anything about the house to help. There were little jobs that the ten-year-old could have managed, but no, Violet took the absence of both parents as an opportunity to do just what she liked. She even refused to go to school until Polly threatened to seek out the attendance officer herself.
    ‘You wouldn’t?’ Violet blinked in the face of her sister’s anger.
    ‘Try me,’ Polly flashed back. ‘What’ll Dad say when he comes home? And – and what would Mam have said?’
    For a while those words subdued the rebellious girl, but they didn’t work on the tougher Eddie.
    ‘You’ll be in at eight o’clock and no later,’ Polly ordered.
    ‘Fat chance,’ the boy sneered. ‘Gonner make me, are ya?’
    ‘No, I can’t make you, I know that.’ Polly’s eyes narrowed. ‘But there’s those that can.’
    Eddie laughed. ‘Oh aye. Who?’
    Polly pursed her lips. ‘You’ll see, if you try it, Edward Longden. You’ll see.’
    And, of course, Eddie did try it.
    By half-past nine on the very same evening that Polly had issued her warning, there was still no sign of her brother.
    ‘Right, he’s asked for it,’ she muttered reaching for her coat from behind the door.
    Violet’s eyes were wide. ‘What are you going to do, Poll?’
    ‘Never you mind. The less you know, the better.’ As she pulled on her coat and wrapped a scarf