Bonds of Earth, The

by Thompson, E. V.

  ‘Then send him down to me as soon as he feels able to start and I’ll take him on.’

  While he was speaking, Albert had been looking to where his wife was feeding milk to their sick child who was taking it greedily from a handle-less cup and Goran realized from his expression that the miner genuinely loved his wife.

  Mabel had already come to the same conclusion about Harriet Bolitho’s feelings towards Albert. Aware of the impression Mabel must have been given by the conditions in which her family were living on the inhospitable moor, Harriet had insisted her husband was not to blame for their situation, declaring vehemently, ‘He’s a good worker … a good miner. Captain Pyne knows it and it’s why he said he’ll take Albert on when Wheal Hope begins working and it’s why we came here in the first place. Albert’s just had bad luck this last year, that’s all. Three of the mines he worked for closed down, putting hundreds of miners out of work. Many of the other miners declared Cornish mining was too uncertain and went to foreign lands like Australia, America and such places. Albert would have liked to go, I know he would, but he wouldn’t leave me and the boys here to fend for ourselves never knowing where he was or what he was doing.

  ‘Besides, we haven’t always lived like this,’ she had added, defensively. ‘When we were first married we had a little cottage that was as nice as anyone could wish for, but the mine was played out and we needed to go to where there was work for Albert. Things have just gone from bad to worse since then and this last year in particular has been a nightmare.’

  As though aware of the depressive nature of her narrative, Harriet made a conscious effort to shake off the mood, saying, ‘I’m sorry. You don’t want to listen to me carrying on about something that’s affecting others even worse than us. I’ve got a caring husband, a son to be proud of and a family who give me some very happy moments. Then there are people like you, Goran and the Pynes who couldn’t be kinder.’

  Despite her resolution, Harriet was close to tears when she added, ‘It’s more than a lot of women ever know.’

  Mabel had already decided she liked Harriet Bolitho. She had fewer material possessions than anyone Mabel had ever met with and was so weary from caring for five boys and an invalid husband it was a wonder she was able to remain on her feet, but she was not a broken woman. She had a quiet strength within her that refused to admit defeat and there appeared to be no resentment towards those who possessed things she lacked.

  On her way to the moor with Goran, Mabel had entertained a number of doubts about his ideas for the Bolitho family, but now, having met Harriet, she was in full agreement with him and before leaving she obtained a firm commitment from Harriet to come and visit her at Elworthy Farm in the next day or two, pointing out that Albert had now recovered sufficiently to be left alone for a couple of hours. Mabel would put Goran’s proposal to her then.

  ‘Have you thought any more about having the Bolithos move into our cottage once we’re in the farmhouse?’ Goran put the question to his mother as they were walking home from Wheal Hope after saying goodbye to Annie Pyne and Jennifer.

  ‘Yes.’

  When nothing more was forthcoming, Goran prompted, ‘And?’

  ‘I think Harriet Bolitho is a remarkable woman. Not only is she raising five boys in almost impossible circumstances, but coping with an injured husband who she refuses to blame for any of her problems. She obviously loves him very much.’

  ‘You still haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘I’d be perfectly happy having the Bolithos living at Elworthy. There are bound to be a few problems having a family living there who know nothing of farming ways, but I believe Harriet is someone I can talk to, so we’d be able to sort things out.’

  ‘Actually, Albert Bolitho was telling me that Harriet has worked on a farm and it’s always been her dream that the boys would do the same instead of taking up mining.’

  ‘There you are then!’ Mabel spoke triumphantly, as though the idea of having the Bolithos come to live at Elworthy had been her idea in the first place. ‘And judging by the look of her youngest, moving to a proper house can’t come a moment too soon. He looks consumptive to me. Living in the way they are on the moor won’t be helping him at all.’

  ‘Well, Elworthy should be moving in with Agnes this weekend, so if Harriet comes to see you as she’s promised, the family could move into the cottage almost immediately, which will be just as well for all of them. There’s cloud building up out to the west and I think there’s rain on the way … but this looks like Captain Pyne heading towards us from Roach Farm and the solicitor isn’t with him. I wonder how they got on with Agnes.’

  When they met the mine captain he explained the absence of the solicitor, saying, ‘We took his horse with us to Roach Farm and he’s returning to his office in Bodmin direct from there. We had an interesting meeting with Agnes Roach, most interesting. She is a very shrewd woman – as her family must have been before her. It seems it was her grandfather, or great-grandfather who obtained the mineral rights she holds. They are not only for the two farms but he somehow obtained the same rights, “in perpetuity”, for common land on the moor itself. I thought it was most unusual but Mrs Roach has the documents to prove her claim and Mr Foster confirmed they are indisputable. There is good news for you too. She tells me you have taken the tenancy of Elworthy Farm?’

  When Goran nodded confirmation, adding, ‘That’s right, Agnes offered me terms that made taking the tenancy easy for me.’

  ‘I can believe it, she would seem to be a most generous woman – and is obviously very fond of you. She also has great confidence in your ability to make a success of Elworthy Farm and the agreement we reached should ensure that you will.’

  ‘An agreement? You mean about the rights that are due if your mining takes you beneath Elworthy?’

  ‘That and more. She named you as recipient of fifty per cent of the dues for Elworthy land but said you are also to receive twenty-five per cent of any dues in respect of the common land for which she owns the rights. If the lode we’ve come across carries on in the direction I think it’s heading, you’ll end up quite a wealthy young man. It’s likely to bring in more for you than farming, even in the best of years.’

  Aware of his mother’s delight at Pyne’s words, Goran said, ‘That really is very exciting, but I’ll still be working the farm as though my livelihood depends on it.’

  Captain Pyne nodded his agreement, ‘I wouldn’t expect a sensible man to do anything else, but now I had better be heading back to the mine. I plan to carry out some blasting but I want to check everything first. We seem to be getting more water than I expected into the workings. I need to make certain we’re not going to divert the course of an underground stream and so make things difficult for ourselves.’

  ‘It would be easy to do,’ Goran commented, ‘There are a great many springs and streams around here.’

  ‘So I believe.’ With a knowing and amused smile, Captain Pyne added, ‘I believe you and my daughters first met when they had found one of them.’

  About to stutter an embarrassed apology, Goran was saved by Mabel. Addressing the mine captain, she asked, ‘Before you go I wonder if I might speak to you about the Bolithos?’

  ‘Of course, you’ve been to see them today, how is Albert coming along?’

  ‘He’s up on his feet with the aid of a pair of crutches, but it’s the whole family I’d like to ask you about.’

  Mabel proceeded to explain to the mine captain the plans she and Goran had for the destitute family’s future and asked for his opinion of them.

  ‘It would be a wonderful thing to do!’ Captain Pyne replied, sincerely. ‘Whatever Albert may say, or think, his days as an underground miner are over. I saw his leg when it was first injured and have since discussed it with the doctor. It will never be strong enough for him to negotiate ladders beneath grass so I’ll need to find surface work for him … as an engine-man, perhaps. Until then Annie and I will see they never starve but unfo
rtunately there are a great many miners without work right now and I can’t afford to support all of them. If Goran is able to offer work to Jenken and a proper home to the family they’ll get by and I don’t think they’ll let you down. Albert has always been a hard-working and honest miner and in Harriet he has a very good wife. Take them in and let me know if there is any way I might be of help to you.’

  After telling Captain Pyne she had not yet discussed the proposal with Harriet Bolitho, Mabel was satisfied that their decision to house the Bolithos was a sound one, and she and Goran made their way back to the farmhouse, both proudly aware that the land over which they were walking would soon be theirs to farm.

  Chapter 13

  JENKEN BOLITHO WAS so eager to begin work at Elworthy Farm that he arrived there the next morning ready to begin work while Goran was still dressing!

  Goran had not intended taking him on until Elworthy had moved out of the farm, but the boy was so excited at the prospect of starting full-time work that Goran did not have the heart to disappoint him.

  For his first morning Jenken accompanied Goran around the farmyard, learning the daily routine of releasing livestock that had been shut in overnight; feeding, watering and cleaning their pens and houses then checking on the well-being of a number of cows which were in various stages of pregnancy. After this it was time to bring in the milking cow and place it in a stall, ready to be milked by Mabel.

  During the course of these chores Jenken was introduced to Elworthy who seemed bemused by the young boy’s presence on the farm. However, so much was changing in the simple farmer’s life that he accepted without question Jenken’s right to be there.

  Their early morning chores completed, and in accordance with the established farm routine, Jenken accompanied Goran and Elworthy into the cottage for a breakfast cooked for them by Mabel.

  The fact that such a meal was a rare treat indeed for the boy was evident by the enthusiasm with which he devoured the extra large portion placed before him.

  His enjoyment of the meal was not shared by Elworthy who merely picked at his food. It was so unlike the usual gusto he exhibited at meal times that Mabel commented upon his apparent lack of appetite.

  ‘It’s because I’m unhappy,’ Elworthy replied, his lower lip thrust out in an expression of childlike misery, ‘I won’t be having breakfast here after tomorrow … and I like your cooking.’

  ‘You’ll like Agnes’s cooking too, Elworthy: she bakes some of the best cakes you’ll ever taste anywhere.’

  ‘It won’t be the same … and I won’t have you working with me.’

  Goran had worked and lived close to Elworthy for long enough to know the simple man often indulged in bouts of self-pity. On such occasions nothing anyone said could dispel the mood but, acutely aware that Elworthy would soon be leaving the comfortable familiarity of the farm that had been his home for so long, he said, sympathetically, ‘I’ll be coming to Roach often enough to keep you in touch with what’s going on here, Elworthy, and you’re welcome to come visiting as often as you like – although I know you’ll soon be just as involved with everything that’s happening at Roach Farm as you are here. When Agnes sees how well you look after animals she’ll wonder how she ever managed before you came to live there. Besides, it will be really nice for a brother and sister to be working together.’

  With breakfast over, Goran took Jenken to check on the farm’s sheep, most of which were grazing on land well away from the farmhouse. He was also able to point out the boundaries of Elworthy Farm. Along the way, Jenken said, ‘I feel sorry for Elworthy, having to leave a farm where he must have lived for so many years.’

  ‘I do too, and if Sir John Spurre hadn’t tried to swindle him out of the farm Elworthy might have been able to go on for another year or two, but he’s been getting more vague and forgetful than ever lately and needs watching in case he does something particularly silly, so Agnes decided she wanted to keep a closer watch on him. If she hadn’t I wouldn’t have taken over the farm and you wouldn’t be working here with me.’

  ‘I’m very glad about that!’ Jenken squirmed with delight as he added, ‘Ma’s very happy about it too and she hasn’t had much to be happy about lately. Still, now I’m working for you I’ll be able to make life a bit easier for her and for the whole family.’

  ‘That’s perfectly true … and it reminds me, she said she would come visiting Elworthy Farm soon, but my ma says you are to tell her she wants to see her urgently, tomorrow if possible.’

  Alarmed about what Mabel could want to speak to his mother about that was a matter of such urgency, Jenken asked, ‘It … it’s nothing about me working here, is it? I mean … your ma doesn’t think I won’t be able to keep up with the work on the farm?’

  ‘No, it’s nothing like that,’ Goran said reassuringly, moved by the boy’s genuine anxiety, ‘I’m the one who decides whether or not you can do the work, and I’m satisfied there’s no problem. No, she wants to see your ma about something I think will please you, but I won’t say any more because it’s something for your ma and mine to discuss … but talking of folk coming visiting, isn’t this Morwenna Pyne walking down off the moor? What’s she doing here?’

  It was Morwenna and she was carrying something bulky beneath her arm. As she drew nearer Goran could see it was a large, leather-bound book.

  On the occasions when they had met before today Goran had found Morwenna’s attitude uncomfortably confrontational, but today she was surprisingly friendly, although she did not seem particularly pleased to find Jenken accompanying him. Ignoring the young boy, she addressed Goran.

  ‘Hello, I was just coming down to the farm to see you.’

  Taking the large book from beneath her arm she held it out to him, ‘I’ve brought you this, it’s a dictionary I was given a long time ago. I heard you wanted one and as I have no use for it I thought you might as well have it.’

  It was a present Goran would have been delighted with had he not been told by Annie Pyne that giving him the dictionary had been Nessa’s idea and that she had been willing to exchange her favourite bracelet for it. As Morwenna held out the book to him, he noticed she was actually wearing an attractive silver-coloured bracelet decorated with pale-purple quartz-like stones and he felt uneasy.

  Something was not quite right and he could think of no reason why it should be Morwenna and not Nessa bringing the book to him … unless something was wrong with Nessa.

  He was about to ask after her when some indefinable instinct stopped him from asking a direct question. Instead, he said, ‘It’s kind of you, Morwenna … very kind. I shall make good use of it. I must say, I’ve never seen you without Jennifer and Nessa with you, I hope they’re both well?’

  ‘We may be sisters but we’re not tied together. I like to do a lot of things without having them around. Anyway, Jennifer didn’t sleep well last night and she’s too irritable this morning to take anywhere, while Nessa’s up at the mine office helping Pa go through the mine accounts. I was left on my own so I thought I’d come here to see you and bring the dictionary. Ma told us yesterday you’d become a yeoman farmer and as I’d nothing better to do I thought I’d come down to see you and let you show me over the farm.’

  ‘I’d like to do that, Morwenna, but I don’t have time today. I’ve got a lot of things to do this morning – and this afternoon I need to go and work at Roach Farm.’

  Assuming an expression that was more in keeping with the person Goran believed her to be, Morwenna said peevishly, ‘You’re supposed to be the farmer now. Jenken can do whatever needs to be done while you show me around the farm.’

  ‘This is Jenken’s first day working here. I need to tell him where everything is. Besides, I don’t take over the farm until Elworthy leaves – and he’s still here.’ Goran had realized on the first occasion he had met the oldest Pyne sister that she liked getting her own way and she was not happy at being thwarted today.

  ‘It seems I’ve walked all this way for nothing! I
thought you’d at least show me around the farm. You told Jennifer you’d let her see some piglets you have in the farmyard.’

  ‘I’d be very happy to show you all the piglets, but not today. Come back another time bringing Nessa and Jennifer with you and I’ll show you all the animals. You’ve just chosen a bad day to call – but your journey certainly hasn’t been wasted, I’m delighted to have the dictionary and will make very good use of it.’

  ‘I suppose that will have to do, but you could at least give me a kiss for coming all this way with it.’

  Goran hesitated. Morwenna was being particularly bold in asking him to kiss her, but Jenken was here with them so it would go no further.

  Stepping forward he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek then stepped back quickly as she brought up her arms to draw him to her.

  Dropping her arms to her side, she said scathingly, ‘Well, that wasn’t much of a kiss, but I suppose it will have to do … for now.’

  Chapter 14

  THAT EVENING, IN the Pynes’ cottage at the Wheal Hope mine, the family were waiting for Piran Pyne to return home when Nessa, who had been upstairs in the bedroom she shared with her sisters, returned to the living room wearing a puzzled frown.

  ‘Has anyone seen the dictionary I bought from Morwenna for Goran Trebartha? I can’t find it upstairs.’

  ‘Oh, I took it down to the farm and gave it to Goran while you were working at the mine office,’ Morwenna said, casually.