Pure as the Lily Read online

  She stood with her back pressed against a drainpipe that was blocked at the top, and the water splashed down on to her and almost blinded her, but she daren’t lift her hand up in case it attracted their attention because they were in the yard now.

  She put her head to one side away from the water spout and she could see Mr. Tollett and her mother standing in the beam of light from the doorway. Mr. Tollett had his hand on the outside door and he was saying, Tt isn’t that I’m un grateful, Alice, don’t think that, but. but it wouldn’t be right. Alec’s a good man; I’ve known him for years, he’s a good man. “

  Her mother’s voice came to her now, thin and grim, saying, “Good man!

  You don’t know. He doesn’t need me, nor me him; there’s been nothing, well, not for years. I tell you, Ben. “ There followed a silence as if somebody had put a hand across her mouth.

  Mr. Tollett was holding the back door open and she saw her mother step slowly through it and into the street. She saw Mr. Tollett thrust the bolt home, pause for a moment with his hands still on it, then turn towards the back door. She thought she heard him mutter “God Almighty!” but she couldn’t be sure. She remained where she was, frightened to move, until there came faintly through the wall the sound of the shop bell ringing. She let a few minutes elapse, then she groped her way to the wall door, undid the bolt and went out into the street, and strangely she wasn’t thinking about her ma and Mr. Toilet, but about her da, and she kept repeating in her mind, “Oh, Da. Da.”

  It wasn’t until she had almost reached the house that she thought, me ma wants to go with Mr. Tollett, she was offering herself to Mr.

  Tollett. She recalled vaguely that her ma had known Mr. Tollett about the time when she first knew her da. Then Mr. Tollett had gone away to live in the south with an aunt, and had worked in a car factory or had something to do with cars, it was all very vague but she could just remember her da talking about it with her gran da and her da saying, “He won’t take to the shop; he could never stand the shops, that’s why he went away.”

  Her da had never been happy since he had been out of work, but his unhappiness seemed to have deepened this last year, since her ma had gone to work for Mr. Tollett And this was the reason. He knew about her ma wanting Mr. Tollett.

  As her body’s reaction was to tremble at the sight of her first love, Hughie, so it now ached with physical pain that was akin to anguish when it touched on the plight of her constant love, her da. Her da must be feeling awful, awful, because he must love her ma. He must have loved her,

  mustn’t he, to have married her in the first place? And he must still love her because if he didn’t he wouldn’t be hurt as he was. So she reasoned.

  Oh her ma! She hated her ma. She was not sorry now that she wished at times she were dead. She would love to go in now and say, “I saw you all over Mr. Tollett. You’re nasty, that’s what you are, you’re nasty.” It would be difficult when her ma got at her not to turn on her and tell her that she knew all about her carry-on; but then she mustn’t, her da had enough to put up with.

  When she entered the house Alice started on her almost immediately.

  “Went to find me, did you? It’s a straight road from here to the shop;

  did you make yourself invisible, be cause I didn’t see you? “ Then she advanced towards her and cried, “ If you were up that alley, miss, up to any carry-on I’ll skin you. “

  But she did not finish, for her daughter spat at her, “Shut up you!”

  They stared at each other, eyes wide, while Alee, Jimmy and Grandma McAlister stared at them and the three marvelled that Alice didn’t take her hand and knock her daughter flying. All Alice did was to take in a long deep breath and turn away and attack the iron pan on the stove, grinding it into the embers as if in an effort to snap it in two.

  Mary slowly took off her wet things, walked past her mother and went into her bedroom. Standing at the foot of the bed she gripped the iron rail and rocked herself over it backwards and forwards. Her mother knew that she knew. Well, now perhaps she’d be frightened and come to her senses. And another good thing could come out of it. She wouldn’t lift a hand to her any more, for if she did she would say to her, You do, just you do,” and that would be enough. Funny how things turned out.

  Chapter Three

  it had snowed heavily on and off for a week, thawed, frozen, then snowed again; then in the night a fall of sleet followed by frost had turned the town into, as Alee put it, a skating rink.

  He was waiting for Mary at the corner of Hurworth Place. Not that he was afraid she couldn’t make her way home, because there was nothing she liked more than a good slide she was still as bad as the hairns but he was waiting for her because he had some news concerning what, he considered, might give her a better start in life.

  When she came up to him she exclaimed, “Da! what you doing here? Man, you look frozen. Anything wrong?”

  “No, no, nothin’ wrong; I’ve just got a bit of news for you. Look, come on to your grannie’s. I’m not tellin’ you here, it’s enough to cut the lugs off you.”

  “Serves you right; you shouldn’t have been standing about. Couldn’t it have kept?” She caught hold of his arm and as she clutched the thread worn overcoat she pressed nearer to him and said, You might be getting a new coat, at least a new second-hand one, Mr. Turner’s;

  she’s been sorting his wardrobe out, she says he’s ready for a new one. He’s got two already and they’re both good, but if he gets another she’ll likely give me number three. She’s not bad, although she’s stingy with the tea. “ She jerked his arm towards her, and he turned his head and laughed at her, “ Aye, well, tell her to get a move on else I’ll be stiff. “

  “Where have you been the day?” she asked.

  “Shields.”

  “All the way down there in this!” She paused.

  “Anything doing?”

  Huh! “ He laughed softly. You kiddin’?”

  “Well, why did you go? Did you take the tram?”

  No, I felt like a walk. “

  “A walk into Shields in this! How far did you go?”

  The Market Place, Crofton’s. Now look. “ He dug his elbow into her side.

  “I’m not goin’ to tell you any more till we get inside, me breath’s cutting’ me throat.”

  When they pushed open the back door of 7 Bingley Street, Grandma Mary Walton turned from the table where she had her hands in an earthenware bowl of flour and ex claimed in a high excited voice, “Well! Look what the wind’s blown in. Come in. Come in, and close the door else I won’t have a hair left on me legs.”

  Banging the door behind them, they went in laughing and, as Mary had noticed before, age seemed to drop away from her da when he was in his own home, at least the home of his youth, with his own ma and da. Her da was thirty-six and that wasn’t really old, yet he appeared old to her, except like now when blowing on his hands he stood near his mother and said, What you up to? Tea cakes? “

  “No, nothin’ so fancy, bread; but if you’re staying long enough I’ll knock you up a bit of stottie cake.”

  “I’ll stay long enough, won’t we, Mary?”

  Tes, Gran. Where’s Granda? “

  “Listen.” Grandma Walton looked towards the wall.

  “There’s your answer.”

  They both looked and listened, and there came to them a snort, followed by a deep rattling snore.

  “Go and wake him up.” She nodded in Mary’s direction, and Mary said, “Aw, let him lie for a minute.” Then turning to her father, she demanded “Well, come on, out with it!

  What have you got to surprise me with? “

  Alee now took his overcoat off, pulled a paper from his inside pocket and, spreading it on the table, pointed to an advert that was ringed with pencil and said, “Read that.” Mary read: “Young lady assistant wanted for dress department Good prospects. Apply Crofton’s, King Street, South Shields.”

  Without straightening her back, she turned
her face to him and screwed up her eyes as she said, “But, Da! I won’t stand a chance, there’ll be a million after it. Crofton’s. It’s a big shop, not a huxter’s.”

  “I know, I know, I’ve seen Crofton’s store.” He nodded at her, his face half smiling.

  “An’ what’s more, I’ve been in there this morning

  Look what I’ve bought. “ He now pulled from his jacket pocket a startlingly white knot of tape.

  “Tape?” Both Grandma Walton and Mary spoke together and he nodded at first one and then the other and said, “Aye, tape.”

  “What did you have to go and buy tape for?” his mother asked him now, her small, bright round face expressing a look of amazement.

  “Not to slot through me knickers, Ma.* “ Oh, go on with you, and stop it. You’re as bad as your da with your vulgarities. “

  “God! Vulgarities.” Alee was shaking his head while he laughed, and then he said, “Well, if you want to know I’ll put you both out of your misery. It’s like this. Do any of you remember Jenny Broadbent?”

  “Of course I remember Jenny Broadbent.” It was his mother speaking.

  “She used to work....”

  “Aye, she used to work in Grofton’s. Then she left to get married; and he died, and she went back again. Well, she’s on the haberdashery counter.” He now inclined his head deeply towards Mary and, as if instructing her, said. That’s where they sell tapes, you know. “

  When she pushed him he laughed, then went on, Well, anyway, when I saw this advert I thought of Jenny Broad. bent, and I thought me ma was good to her at one time, now see if she remembers that. “

  “Oh you! our Alee.”

  Yes, me your Alee. Well, your Alee went down and said “Hello, Jenny, can I have a knot of tape?” And she didn’t answer for a bit, she just looked a bit struck; and then she

  was half laughing when she said, “Yes, sir,” and as she passed over the tape I put the paper in front of her and pointed to that. “ He now stabbed the newspaper with his finger.

  “And I said, sotto voice’ again he turned to Mary ‘that’s under your breath you know.” Then after another push he finished, “I asked her if she could give you a helpin’ hand, and she said aye, she could, so you’ve got to be down there at half past nine the morrow morning

  “Eeh! Da. Me in Crof ton’s! But... but it’s a long way, and I’ll have to pay me tram. What’s the wage?”

  “I didn’t ask the wage but it can’t be less than what you’re getting’ now for Clod’s sake, and anyway whatever it is, you’ll have to meet your tram fare out of it. But it’s a start for you ... something better.”

  Yes, yes. “ Her face was broadening into a wide beam. She looked at her grannie.

  “It would be nice, wouldn’t it, to work at Grofton’s, a big shop? Eeh!” Her head swung from side to side, and her chin moved down towards her breast as if a deep shyness had overcome her as she said, “Eeh! fancy me getting a job in Crof ton’s.”

  “You haven’t got it yet, lass.”

  “Now be quiet, Ma; Jenny Broadbent’s almost as good as her word if I remember rightly.”

  “What do you remember rightly?” Peter Walton came into the room rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

  “I might get a job, Granda, in Shields, in Crofton’s.”

  Aye, aye! “ Peter sat down. (What’s it all about? Come on, tell us.”

  And they told him, and when they had finished he agreed with his son.

  “Aye it would be grand, hinny,” he said, ‘if you could get a real start in life, something refined like, not service. Although mind, it hasn’t done that one much harm. “ He thumbed towards his wife.

  “They learned her to bake and use her hands, although mind, she still hasn’t got much up top.”

  For two pins! “ Mary Walton lifted the lump of dough that she was

  kneading, threatening to throw it ‘you may thank your stars, me bold boy, that things are as they are and I can’t waste it, else you would get it.”

  “Well, hurry up and get it into the oven and less lip. Have you any currants to make me canny lass here a yule do He nudged Mary.

  “And I could do with a sup tea. What you thinking about? No tea goin’?”

  “Oh Granda!”

  As Mary went to slap him he put his arms around her, saying, “Come on an’ sit on me knee and give us a bit cuddle. Don’t take any notice of them.”

  And they were sitting like this, Peter, his stubbly face pressed against Mary’s shoulder, Mary, her chin resting on his sparse untidy grey hair, both rocking each other, when the back door burst open and Jimmy entered.

  The boy stood gasping for a moment, and they all stared at him, but just as his grannie was going to put a question to him he looked at his father and gasped, “I ... I’ve been lookin’ all over the show for you. Been to the allotments an all. Me ma, me ma’s hurt her leg.”

  “Hurt her leg!... Badly?”

  Jimmy nodded at his father. It seems so. They had to carry her up out of the street; she was yellin’ blue murder. “

  “When did this happen?”

  “Just... just a while ago. They sent me for you. I didn’t know where to look.” He drew in a gasping breath.

  Alee was getting into his coat and Mary had already donned hers and was tying a scarf around her head when Peter said, “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, no. Da,” said Alee.

  “You’ll be on your back afore you reach the end of the street; it took us all our time to get here. I’ll... I’ll let you know. Come on.”

  Scurrying now, the three went out, and Mary wondered why it was that nice things never seemed to last. The house appeared full of neighbours, although there were only four of them: Mr. and Mrs. Ryder from the end house, and Mrs. Weir and her daughter-in-law from number 90.

  4i

  “What’s happened?” Alee stood looking down on Alice where she lay on the top of the bed with the quilt over her, but the only reply he got from her was a moan.

  It was Jack Ryder who said, “I don’t know if I’ve done right, Alee, but I’ve sent for the doctor; it’s my opinion she’s broken her leg.

  She passed clean out when we carried her up, an’ screamed when we moved her. The road’s like ice now an’ the hairns have made it a thousand times worse with their slides. It was on one of them she stepped, so they tell me. “

  Alee nodded back at the man.

  “Aye, you did the right thing, Jack. And thanks.” He nodded from one to the other in the room; and they nodded back to him and filed out. He followed them on to the landing, saying again, “Thanks, thanks.”

  In the room Mary stood at the foot of the bed looking at her mother, and she watched her open her eyes and bite tightly on her lip before saying, “Here!”

  Mary went up to her, and bent over her, and Alice, looking straight up into her eyes, said, “Go on down to the shop. Tell Ben ... Mr.

  Tollett, what’s happened me. Tell him you’ll. you’ll help him out. “

  Mary stared at her mother for a time before saying quietly, Yes, Ma. “

  Alice tried to move, then winced with pain. The beads of sweat were standing on her brow, and when Alee came back to the bed he said, “Lie still; don’t move.”

  Alice didn’t look at him but at Mary, where she was still standing gazing at her, and she said, “Go on.”

  “Where you going?” Alee turned from the bed as Mary made to go out of the room, and she said to him, The ma says I’ve got to go and tell Mr.

  Tollett and . and help him out. “

  Alee kept his gaze on her, then looked at Alice again. But Alice had her eyes closed, and so he made no protest, and Mary went out.

  She wasn’t aware of picking her way down the street amidst the many slides; she only knew she felt guilty because of her feelings. She should be terribly concerned about her mother and her leg, but the only thing she could say to herself was, “You’d think she had done it on purpose, you would, you would.” She ha
d known what was going to happen before her mother laid down her demands; oh yes, she knew what was going to happen. She didn’t want to go to Mr. Tollett’s, not that she had anything against him, in fact she thought he was a nice man, a kind man, but she just didn’t want to work at Mr.

  Tollett’s, she wanted to get that job at Crofton’s. And her da would stand by her, yes he would.

  There were four customers in the shop and Mr. Tollett was very busy.

  She stood at the side watching him. She could see why her mother liked him, he was nice-looking. She knew he was thirty-five, only a year younger than her da, but he looked so much younger. He had a tanned skin and dark brown eyes and black hair his grandfather was Italian.

  They said his grandfather had gone round with a hokey—pokey cart selling ice-cream. He had a nice smile. He was making Mrs. Foggerty laugh.

  “Salty?” he was saying; “I’ve never sold a bit of salty bacon in me life. Briny, but not salty.”

  “Go on with you!” Mrs. Foggerty was pushing her thick arm towards him across the counter in a playfully menacing fashion. Don’t tell me I don’t know when bacon’s salty, it stuck to the pan. “

  “You don’t know how to fry it.”

  “Eeh, did you ever!” Mrs. Foggerty turned for support to the other three women, and they all laughed, and when one of them said, “There might be something in that,” Mrs. Foggerty’s face lost its grin. But her tart reply was checked by the sound of a child calling: “Dada!

  Dada! “

  “Oh dear, dear, here we go. Just a minute, ladies.” As he moved along the counter he caught sight of Mary, and he said brightly, “Oh, hello.

  Hello there, Mary! “ Then he opened the door of the storeroom, and, looking down at the small boy, exclaimed, ‘how on earth did you get down here?

  Now go on, be a good lad and get back upstairs. Alice’ll be here in a minute. “