Pure as the Lily Read online

  “No.” Her no had been flat-sounding; but her voice had risen on, The grannie! she loves bullets. “

  “Well, give them to your grannie with my compliments.”

  “Oh thanks, I will. But mind, next week you’ll have to take the money.”

  Oh, Mr. Tollett was nice. She hoped her ma’s leg stayed as it was for months. Not that she wished her any harm, only, as things were, life was wonderful.

  And then she got the St. Valentine’s card.

  “You’ve got a letter,” Alice said, staring at her very hard as she went into the bedroom to make her daily report, which was anything but accurate.

  “A letter! Me? Who from?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know. You carrying on with a lad?”

  The? a lad! “ Mary’s face stretched; her tone held deep indignation as if she had never thought about having a lad in her life.

  “No. You know I haven’t got a lad. What time have I got for a lad, from early morning till late at night? What time, I ask you? Where’s the letter?”

  Alice picked up the letter from the bedside table and handed it to her. It felt stiff. She examined it back and front, noting that the postmark was Jarrow, before she opened it, then she drew out a card.

  The card had a large rose on the

  front, deep red and of a cabbage variety. She stared at it, turned it over, then read: “From a silent admirer.”

  The face that now looked at Alice was as red as the rose on the card.

  “Give it here!” Alice’s hand grabbed, but Mary withdrew her arm quickly and said, “It’s mine.”

  Who’s it from? “

  “A friend.”

  ‘you said you hadn’t any lads. you’ve been havin’ truck with somebody, haven’t you? “

  “No, I haven’t. Anyway’—she thrust the card back into the envelope ‘what if I was havin’ truck with a lad, I’m past sixteen. Janie Anderson from across the road was married last week, remember, and she’s not seventeen yet.”

  Don’t you talk to me about Janie Anderson, that trollop. Do you want to land up in the same way as she did, going to the altar with her belly full? “

  “Oh Ma! Ma, what do you think I am?” Mary’s tone was indignant.

  “I know what you are.” Alice nodded her head viciously at her.

  “And—let me see you havin’ any carry-on with any of them round these doors and I’ll bray you till you can’t sit.”

  Bitterly they stared at each other and the knowledge that was between them rose to the surface and Mary was just prevented from hissing it out by Alee entering through the open door.

  “Come out of it.” He pulled at her arm and thrust her out of the bedroom. Then, looking at his wife, he said slowly, What a pity you didn’t take your own advice, isn’t it? “

  Alice made no answer to this but her lips parted to show her teeth tight-clenched. The muscles on her neck went into cords as Alee went on, still quietly but authoritatively, “If she wants to have a lad she’s havin’ a lad; as she said, she’s turned sixteen. And she could take after her mother, couldn’t^ she, and make him run for it. Janie Anderson isn’t the first trollop.” And on this he turned round slowly and went out of the bedroom.

  In the kitchen Mary was sitting at the table. She had taken the card from the envelope and was staring at it, and she turned to Alee and, handing it to him, said, “I haven’t got a lad, Da, and I don’t know who it’s from.”

  And she didn’t know who it was from, not really, but she hoped it was from Hughie Amesden, because he was silent. Although he had only spoken to her that once, somehow she felt he was as much aware of her as she was of him.

  Alee read the message on the back, looked at the rose again, then said, “It’s bonny.... No idea who it’s from?”

  “No, no, Da. Well, there’s just one lad I know who doesn’t talk much;

  but then’—she shrugged her shoulders “I really don’t think he would send me a card.”

  “Well anyway’—he nicked his fingers at her—’it’s a start. You’ll see, they’ll be comin’ every post from now on.”

  “Oh, Da, don’t be daft.”

  “The lads in my class think you’re bonny.”

  They both turned and looked at Jimmy where he had been bending over his books in the corner of the room, seeming uninterested in what was going on, and her da laughed aloud now as he said, “There you are;

  that’s fame for you. “

  “Oh, Da!” She pushed him, then said, “Oh you, our Jimmy! talk about spinning them.”

  “I’m not, I’m not, Mary. Honest. They were talkin’ about lasses one day and one of the lads said you were a cracker.”

  “How old was he?” Mary was standing very straight now, her head up, her chin to one side.

  “Same as me, fourteen.”

  “Fourteen!” She slumped with her mirth and laid her head against Alec’s shoulder, saying, “Fourteen, Da, fourteen!” and Alee, laughing too, said, “Well, he’ll grow; there’s plenty of time.”

  “You, Jimmy!”

  The voice came from the bedroom, and Jimmy got up heavily from his seat and looked at them for a moment, and they at him; then he bowed his head and went from the room.

  Wearily now Alee turned towards the fire, saying below his breath, “You know, of the three of us I’m beginning to think he’s got the worst deal.”

  Suddenly Mary felt sad, not because of what her da had said about Jimmy, but because he was no longer pretending that everything was all right between her ma and him. It was three against one now, but she knew that the one was stronger than the three put together.

  Chapter Five

  mary had been working at the shop for six weeks when Alice said, “I’m havin’ no more of this, I’m getting’ on me feet.”

  Don’t be silly, Ma. The doctor said it would be eight weeks, and you had to be careful. “

  Alice stared at her for a moment before she said grimly, “Mr. Weir says you can get crutches if you go down to the Infirmary; your da’ll go the morrow and get me them, and once I’m on me legs I’m comin’ down there to see what you’re up to, me girl.”

  “What do you mean, Ma, what I’m up to?”

  “Just what I say, ‘cos I know you’re not takin’ two pen—north of notice what I tell you. I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re too happy by half. There was me having to practically beg you to take it on, and now I’ll likely have to hammer you to give it up. But you’ll give it up, me girl. Oh aye, you’ll give it up, I’ll see to that.”

  Mary bit on her lip, shook her head and walked out. The day being Wednesday, she sat down to the table to dinner with Ben, and they were almost finished the meal when he said, “Is there anything wrong, Mary?”

  She gazed at her plate before she looked up at him, saying, “I’ll soon be finished; me ma’s on her feet again, at least she will be the day, she’s getting’ crutches.”

  “Oh!” He went on eating for a moment before saying, “But she’ll be a few more weeks on crutches, she won’t be able to put her foot to the ground for some time yet’ Again she looked up at him, The ma will,” she said flatly.

  When she had cleared the pudding plates and was carrying them into the kitchen Ben followed her and, from the doorway, asked simply, “Would you like to stay on, Mary?”

  She looked at him over her shoulder.

  “It’s me ma’s job.”

  “It’s anybody’s job I choose to give it to, Mary.”

  The ma would never stand for it. “ She turned her head away from him.

  “I’m very satisfied with the way things are, Mary. And ... and the child’s taken to you; he’s been happier and more obedient these last few weeks than ever I’ve known him. He ... he wanted a playmate, sort of.” He smiled gently.

  Although she didn’t look at him but went on scraping the bits from the plates she knew he was smiling, she could tell by his voice. She had learned a lot about Mr. Tollett during the last few weeks; she co
uld in a way understand why her ma liked him liked him too much, because he was different from her da. But there was nobody like her da, nobody; her ma should be satisfied having a man like her da.

  “She wouldn’t stand for it,” she repeated.

  “Oh!” His tone had a touch of authority to it now.

  “It isn’t what she’d stand or not stand, if you want to stay on you can, and welcome.

  The only thing is, I think it’s too much for you doing the two jobs, the hours are too long. If . if you decide to take it on full-time I’ll pay you accordingly. You won’t lose by it. “

  She turned and looked at him. His brown eyes were kind and had a great depth to them; sometimes she felt uneasy when they were on her.

  E;’,. /’ “Will you think it over?”

  Ill’ g “I... I don’t need to think it over. I’d stay and be pleased to, very pleased, but it’s ... it’s me ma.”

  He nodded at her now, a slow smile covering his face.

  “If that’s how you feel, Mary, we’ll meet trouble when it comes. Just carry on as you are doing.” He went to turn away, then stopped and looked at her again and said, “Would you do me a favour?”

  “Oh aye, yes, Mr. Tollett.”

  “Well, on Friday night I’d like to go out. There’s a dinner in Shields, a businessman’s do, it only comes once a year and if you’d stay with David until I get back I’d be very grateful.”

  “Oh yes, yes, of course, I’ll stay. It’ll be a pleasure.” She nodded at him.

  “Thanks, Mary.”

  When she had the kitchen to herself she stopped what she was doing and stood looking through the meshed curtains. There were white tufts of cloud scudding over the chimney pots and she watched the sun come out and turn them to pink fluffy banks. The day was suddenly bright; her life, her future, were suddenly bright; she could have this job for good, full time, and what could her ma do about it if Mr. Tollett told her straight? And if she stayed on she would in a way, be killing two birds with one stone, for she would be making not only her own future secure but also her da’s; her ma couldn’t get up to anything if she wasn’t coming back to the shop, could she? Of course, her ma would go mad she knew she would—but if she went on too much she knew what I’8’ she would do. She’d go and live at her grannie’s. There was a spare room there, and her grannie would be only too glad to have her.

  It would be lovely living with her grannie and gran da fancy being able to work here all day in this lovely house, and then at night not to have to go up the street and face her ma, but go to her grannie’s.

  Oh—she sighed deeply—the prospect was too good to be true. On Friday night she ran up the street with the basket of

  groceries and her pay and hurriedly handed her mother the twenty-one shillings.

  “Wait a minute! Walt a minute!” said Alice, as she went to hurry out of the room.

  “You’re like a devil in a gale of wind.”

  “Well’—Mary turned to her ‘you know I’ve got to get back as Mr.

  Tollett’s going out. I’m taking over the shop, I’ve got to get back. “

  “Taking over the shop! ... You! by yourself, and it Friday night, the busiest of the week? You, taking over the shop!”

  “Yes me, Ma.” She took a step back into the room and poked her chin out towards Alice.

  “And if he didn’t think I was capable, well he wouldn’t let me, would he?”

  “Get out of me sight. When I’m properly on me feet, girl, you won’t cheek me like this. By God! I’ll take it out of you when I’m on me feet an’ can manage those crutches.”

  Mary stared at her mother and was on the point of saying, “You’ve got a surprise coming to you, Ma,” but she left it, there wasn’t time, and as Mr. Tollett said, “Meet trouble when it comes.”

  In the kitchen she hurriedly gave her father the half—crown and Jimmy the sixpence, and Alee, walking with her to the top of the stairs, asked, “What is it, lass?”

  Turning to him, her face straight, she said under her breath, “She’s got a surprise coming to her, me ma. Mr. Tollett wants me to stay on, he doesn’t want her back.”

  “He doesn’t!”

  She was about to run down the stairs but was checked by the look of consternation on her father’s face.

  Slowly Alee said, more to himself than to her, That’ll put the kibosh on it, it’ll break her up. “

  She had thought her da would have been pleased at the news, but apparently he wasn’t.

  “But you wouldn’t want to stay on in service, lass, if you could get something better, would you?” he said.

  “It isn’t like service. Da, it’s like a holiday there, I like it.”

  wa. absent-minded movement he pushed her gently Ads the stairs, saying, “Go on; we’ll talk about it

  A. “

  / In the shop she went straight behind the counter. Ben had just finished serving a customer, and as the woman left the shop he looked at Mary and said, “Now you’re sure you can manage?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ve done it afore, I mean serve.”

  “Yes, but Friday night’s different. Towards nine you’ll be getting some of those scroungers in at the last minute. But remember what I told you, no tick, not a pen north to the Mulhattans, the Fawcetts, the MacMullens and the Romneys. If they see me going out you’ll bet your life they’ll be in here like a swarm of ants. But particularly kept a lookout for Hannah, Hannah Mulhattan. Don’t let her talk you round, because she’s got a voice like best butter. She still owes me four pounds ten. It was six pounds, and I wouldn’t really have minded it being eight if she had continued to bring her custom, but when she owed me three weeks’ bills and she walked down to Shields with her pay packet on a Friday night and never showed her face, and had the nerve to come in the following week....” He laughed now and, thumbing the counter, went on, “She put thirty shillings down there and in her smooth Irish way said, “ Will you take thirty shillings, Ben? “ Of course I said, “ Yes, and pleased to, Mrs. Mulhattan. “ And I took the thirty shillings, and I got her bill out and I said, “ Now that’ll leave four pounds ten between us. “ I said it just the way she says it, you know?”

  “I know.” Mary laughed at him.

  “Well, then she said to me “ Can I have a few things in me basket? “ and I bent over, just like this’—he now demonstrated ‘and I said, “ Mrs.

  Mulhattan, you can have your basket full to the brim and running over as soon as you pay me the four pounds ten. “ Well, I can’t go on and tell you, Mary, what she said to me after that because you’d be so shocked you’d pick up your skirts and fly up the street.”

  “Oh, Mr. Tollett!” She laughed and tapped her hand

  against his arm, then said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be up to her, and the rest. That’s Mrs. Mulhattan, Mrs. Fawcett, Mrs. Mac Mullen and Mrs.

  Romney? “

  “Yes, that’s them. Anyway, I’ll go out the back way; the van’s in the lane, and I might escape their notice.”

  Half an hour later she was in the middle of serving a customer when she heard his call from the storeroom:

  “Mary, just a minute.” And she called back: “Be there in a tick, Mr.

  Tollett. “

  In the storeroom she stopped and stared at him and her mouth fell into a slight gape. He looked different. She hadn’t seen him dressed like this. He had gone out on a Wednesday dressed up, but then he had just had an ordinary suit on. Now he was wearing a dark grey suit that fitted him perfectly, a white shirt with a stiff collar and a grey tie. His shoes were black and shiny, and hanging loosely around his neck was a white silk scarf. And he tucked this in as he put on a black overcoat.

  She wanted to say “Eeh! you look grand.” She had always thought he was nice looking, but now she saw he was good—looking, handsome. Again she could see why her ma compared him with her da and felt for him as she did.

  “I’ll be back about eleven, perhaps before; I might get bored. Anyway, if I’m
not back by half past eleven you’ll know I’ve got blind drunk and somebody’ll be carting me back.” He smiled a wide smile and his teeth looked whiter than ever against his tanned skin.

  All she said to this was, “Oh, Mr. Tollett.”

  “You never know, I’m let out so little that I just might get paralytic. Anyway’—his voice dropped ‘as soon as you close make yourself comfortable. I’ve left you some eats on the table, and I’ve picked out some records that you might like to hear. Put them on and enjoy yourself.”

  Oh. Oh, that’s nice. Oh, I’d love that. Oh thanks, Mr. Tollett. “

  David’s sound, sleeping like a top. and there’s the bell. “ He pointed towards the shop.

  “Bye-bye.”

  “Bye-bye, Mr. Tollett. Enjoy yourself.”

  I shall. “

  “And’—she put her hand to her mouth as if she were calling him over a long distance and whispered ‘get tight if you like.”

  “Thanks, Mary. Thanks’ Both laughing, he went out one way and she the other.

  She was supposed to close the shop at nine but it was nearly twenty-past when she got rid of the last customer. As Mr. Tollett had said they had come swarming in at the last minute; but fortunately she hadn’t had to deal with any of the bad-debt lot.

  She was tired when she got upstairs, and she flopped down immediately into an easy chair in the sitting-room. The curtains were drawn, the fire was blazing merrily, and the light was on. It had been nice of him, she thought, to leave the light on and nobody in the room. She looked towards the radiogram. There were the records on the side, and next to them a big dish of sweets.

  She pulled herself up and walked over to the table and picked up the dish and exclaimed aloud, “Oh! a walnut cream whirl.” How did he know?

  She had never told him that these were her favourites. Only twice in her life had she had a walnut cream whirl. She took the walnut off the top, then put it back as she thought. No, I’ll keep it for after; I’ll have a cup of cocoa and something to eat first. I’ll keep that for when I put the records on.