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admitted reluctantly, as the doctor was notorious not only for having a hearty appetite, but he was inclined to linger after dinner telling tales of his past exploits while he smoked a pipe or two of Grandpa’s baccy. Nell said she could understand why he had remained a bachelor all his life as no woman would put up with him, but she tempered her criticism by acknowledging that Dr Macpherson was a good physician. He had tended the young Frenchman’s injuries with considerable expertise and given him a dose of laudanum that should make him sleep until morning.
    Grandpa Larkin pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair at the head of the table. ‘Well then, tell me all about this Frenchie, Nell. Who are we harbouring under our roof? He might be a felon for all you know.’
    ‘Oh, no, Grandpa,’ Molly said hastily. ‘He is a gentleman.’
    Grandpa eyed her with a cynical twist of his lips. ‘If the fellow is unconscious, how do you know what he is?’
    ‘He wears expensive boots, so he must be someone important,’ Molly said, giggling.
    Nell frowned at her. ‘It’s no laughing matter. The poor man is in a bad way. He might not be able to tell us anything for days. Dr Macpherson said he’s suffering from concussion as well as a fever. His ankle isn’t broken, though. It’s just a bad sprain.’
    ‘Well, he’s harmless enough at the moment,’ Matt said calmly. ‘With an ankle injury and a whack on the head,he’s not going to cause us any trouble for the while. But I suggest we ought to take turns sitting at his bedside until he’s conscious and can tell us who he is. He may be able to give me some information about the ship.’
    ‘I’ll do it,’ Molly volunteered. She glanced round the table. ‘Why are you all staring at me like that?’
    Mark pushed his chair back from the table, grinning from ear to ear. ‘When did you ever offer to do anything to help anyone, Molly?’
    ‘It’s not the job for a young girl anyway,’ Matt said, rising to his feet. ‘We’ll take it in shifts. Mark can do midnight until two, Luke can do the next watch and I’ll take over at four. If the fellow comes to his senses by morning I’ll be in a position to find out exactly who he is.’
    ‘Well, I’m glad you didn’t include me in your grand plan,’ Grandpa said. ‘I don’t hold with taking strangers into the house; especially not foreigners. They’re all right in their place, but that doesn’t mean that I have to trust them, especially in a home filled with young females.’ He tapped the side of his nose and winked at Matt. ‘If you get my meaning.’
    ‘I do, Grandpa. And I agree with you. Nell can tend to the fellow, but I want Molly and Lily to keep away from him, at least until we know more about his background.’ Matt took a pan of hot water from the range. ‘I’m going to have a strip-wash, so you girls keep out until I’ve done.’ He glanced over his shoulder at Luke. ‘And it wouldn’t hurt you to do the same. I can see the tidemark round your neck from here.’ He strode into the scullery and closed the door.
    Grandpa struggled to his feet. ‘I’m going to my room, but I’ll take a cup of cocoa at nine, if it’s not too much trouble for one of you girls.’ He looked round the table but Aggie was piling the plates up ready to be taken to the scullery, and when no one volunteered he adopted a martyred expression and sighed heavily. ‘You’d think that one of you healthy young girls would take care of their aged grandpa.’
    Lily glanced at Nell and Molly and she could see that neither of them was going to offer. ‘I’ll see to your cocoa, Grandpa.’ She was just as tired as the rest of them, but since everyone expected her to act as unpaid skivvy she knew she was outnumbered.
    ‘Good girl, Lily,’ Grandpa said with a nod of approval. ‘I know I can always count on you.’ He shuffled out of the room, holding his hand to his back as if to demonstrate his disability, which seemed