Dot turned to look at her sister and Tilly could see that her eyes were full of tears. She had obviously been crying for some time. Her hand, tightly gripping a pen, was poised over a child’s exercise book. She had started writing a comment and the ink had trailed off in a line down the page. Her tears had made watermarks on the paper and had smudged the writing. Tilly took the pen gently from her and replaced it beside the inkwell.
‘Come on, Dot,’ she said, lifting her under the elbow. ‘Time to go and get something to eat.’
Dot didn’t respond, but continued to gaze ahead of her.
With some more encouragement, Dot finally got onto her feet and accompanied Tilly across the playground and into the kitchen. She helped Dot to sit at the table and then went outside to talk to Amelia.
‘I think you should come inside and see Dot,’ Tilly said. ‘I’m worried about her. She was just sitting at her desk staring at nothing. She’s come into the house, but I can’t get her to say anything at all.’
Amelia put down her gardening tools and the two women went into the kitchen. Dot was still sitting where Tilly had left her. Amelia sat down opposite Dot.
‘You must be hungry, Dot,’ Amelia said. ‘It’s been a long day. Good thing it’s Friday and we have the weekend ahead. What would you like to do?’
Dot looked at Amelia, but didn’t reply. There was a blankness in her expression.
Amelia and Tilly exchanged glances.
‘I’m going to dish the dinner,’ Tilly said. ‘Do you want to wash first?’
Still no response from Dot.
‘Let’s go together,’ Amelia said. ‘I’ve managed to get an awful lot of dirt under my fingernails. Did you get all your marking done?’
Dot remained silent; she didn’t even nod or shake her head.
They washed their hands and sat down to eat their meal together, but Dot only picked at hers. Eventually she pushed the plate to one side and stood up. She moved towards the staircase.
‘Going for a lie-down?’ Amelia asked.
Dot turned and gave Amelia a weak smile. There was no heart in her effort to communicate.
As soon as she had left the room, Tilly and Amelia sat looking at each other, neither of them entirely sure of what they had just witnessed or what to say.
‘I’m worried about her. Do you think we should call the doctor?’ Tilly asked.
‘I’m not sure what to do,’ Amelia confessed. ‘She’s not unwell as such. I’ve been expecting her to collapse under the strain of everything that’s happened, but she seemed to be coping as well as anyone can under the circumstances.’
‘I think she’s been holding on to her grief,’ Tilly said. ‘She’s not really let herself show her emotions. I think that she’s been holding back for the sake of the children.’
‘What could the doctor do to help? The medical services are so over-stretched at the moment. You must have seen many cases of mental disturbance in France, Tilly. Do you think the doctor would be able to suggest anything to help her? It’s normal for people to grieve. That is what she is going through. We need to help her as much as we can.’
‘There is so little known about the mind, Amelia. The medical profession is learning all the time about diseases, but disturbances of the mind are so under-researched and right now, in the middle of a war, there are thousands of men out there needing help with shell shock,’ Tilly replied.
‘So, what shall we do? What are you saying? That there is nothing we can do?’ Amelia asked.
‘I’m not for one minute suggesting that we give up on her,’ Tilly said. ‘I’m just saying that the doctor may not have the answers. Perhaps the best thing we can do at the moment is give her time to recover. Give her a break from teaching. It’s all been too much for her.’
‘I’m not sure that spending hours by herself is going to help. I thought the job was providing a distraction for her, that thechildren would take her mind off things,’ Amelia said. ‘That’s why we agreed she should stay on.’
‘It has to a degree,’ Tilly replied. ‘But I think that she’s not coping now.’
‘All right. I’ll ask a young trainee teacher I know to replace her right away. I’m sure she won’t mind.’
‘What Dot needs is the healing powers of the countryside,’ Tilly said. ‘She needs fresh air and family. She needs to return to Micklewell. Kate and Sarah will be the best people to look after her.’
* * *
Tilly and Dot arrived at 2 Mead Cottages unannounced. Dot was completely exhausted from the journey and looking quite pale. The decision had been made not to wait for letters to go back and forth, but to get Dot off the island and back to Micklewell as soon as possible. The house was a hive of activity. Kate and Sarah had their sewing spread out across the kitchen table and the black-and-gold Singer sewing machine was trilling away with a happy tune as they pushed open the kitchen door. Tilly and Dot stepped inside and picked their way carefully across the floor, which was adorned with reams of carefully folded cloth in rainbow colours and busy patterns, sewing baskets and boxes loaded with useful sewing equipment like tape measures, scissors and fasteners. Dot stood immobile behind her. The two seamstresses turned their heads in unison and jumped to their feet.
