"Thank you, sir, you are very kind. Anything would do, just as long as it is dry and warm. It is very good of you."
Tad went along to look at the room which Ricky had mentioned and soon came back with Will who was looking a bit put out as was Tad. Tad said, "Come and look at it Ricky and see if it is all right."
Will and Tad told Ricky in no uncertain terms what they thought of his latest find. Ricky stood with hands on hips and said, "You're a fine pair. What would have happened if I hadn't dragged you two out of the rain on certain nights some time ago? What would you expect me to do when I found someone in need on our doorstep? I am surprised at you. She won't worry you, Tad, you should have more sense. Will might see her more often, but I should say she will keep to herself if she can. Please get this room ready." With this Ricky walked out and left them.
After some minutes Tad and Will returned looking sheepish. Will announced that the room was ready for occupation. The woman was sitting at the table eating a bowl of stew and trying to entice her sick little boy to have a mouthful or two.
"I thought that I might go and fetch the doctor, Ricky, if you think our guest would like that," said Tad.
Tom, who had been serving the stew, smiled to himself and winked at Ricky as he said, "Good idea, matie."
"Yes, I was just suggesting that I should go, Tad, but you go if you will." Turning to the woman, he said, "Mrs Yates, may I present my brothers Tad and Will English. Boys, this is Mrs Yates and Phil. I believe she has had a very rough deal from Paddy Flynn at the Shamrock."
"I'll go an' saddle Lancer, matie. Take a coat, it's wet." With that, Tom left for the stables.
Ricky explained to Tad that Mrs Yates had been working at the Shamrock as a maid. But when young Phil became ill, Flynn had told her to go because he disturbed the patrons and he didn't want any sickness in his hotel. At this Tad laughed grimly for he knew that the Shamrock was a pretty tough place and he didn't think a few coughs would harm the place.
"Was it the only place you could get a job, Mrs Yates?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr English. I did not have anywhere to go for my husband died on the ship on the way out and we have little money. It was all I could do to find a job where I could have Phil," she said.
"You'll be all right here," assured Tad, "My brother is a great one for helping people. I'll go and get the doctor."
"Here, Tad, put on the old riding cape, it's pretty wet outside," said Ricky.
The doctor told the worried mother that the little boy only had a bad run of Bronchitis and provided that he was kept warm and was fed nourishing food he should be all right. He seemed to take it for granted that she lived there. She didn't attempt to tell him that she was homeless, just nodded and assured him that she would do all she could to look after him. He gave her some medicine and left after telling her that he would call in the next day.
She looked up hopelessly at Ricky and he said, "Don't worry, Mrs Yates, you can stay here until Phil is better. We'd be very happy for you to use the room we have. But I was thinking that while it is so cold it might be a good idea if you let him sleep here on the sofa until he is better. What do you think?"
"Thank you, Mr English, you are very kind. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along. I was at my wit's end."
Tad and Will brought a second sofa into the kitchen, the one from Will's studio, and made the mother and son as comfortable as they could. They stoked up the fire and left them for the night.
The boys were rather uneasy about a strange person in their home, but made the best of it. Mrs Yates had the fire going well in the morning, the table set and the breakfast ready, when the boys appeared. They were all rather quiet wondering what would happen and how different their life would be if Mrs Yates stayed for long.
At the table she said, "I am very grateful for your letting me stay. I do not want to interrupt your lives. I cannot think what is best for me to do, but believe me I am willing to do whatever you want. Do you know of anywhere I can get help? Please tell me and I will go as soon as I can. If I could only get the money owed to me and my things from the hotel, I could move somewhere else. Please, can you tell me what I should do?" she asked.
"How long have you been in the colony, Mrs Yates? asked Tad.
"Only four weeks, Mr English," she answered.
"What were you planning to do when you came?" he asked again.
"My husband was coming out to work on the new Cathedral. He was a stone mason, who specialized in making stone lace. He would have been very well paid and so we would not have had any worries, but he died on the ship and now we are left. I have a little money but not enough to live on and all my papers are at the hotel and Mr Flynn wouldn't give me leave to get them, he just threw me out. It was so unfair."
"What were you working at there?" asked Ricky.
"I was doing housework. I didn't really care what I did as long as I was able to keep Phil with me, and was pleased to have it," she said.
"I will go down to the Shamrock with Tom and bring back your luggage. Would you come with us? Will could look after Phil while we are away, wouldn't you, Will?" said Ricky.
Will swallowed hard, but not wanting to be difficult, said in a small voice, "Of course, Rick. But you wouldn't be long would you? I don't know much about looking after children."
"No, Will. I wouldn't leave you if I could avoid it but I am sure Flynn would not give me the money owed to Mrs Yates. She must come with me, that is if Phil would be happy for you to come, Mrs Yates. I could try Flynn on my own," suggested Rick.
"Thank you, Mr English, if we are not long I am sure I would be happy to leave him. I'll tell him and he will understand. He is used to me leaving him in our room at the hotel, I would never let him roam from there and so he is used to being alone."
Ricky and Tom took Mrs Yates to the Shamrock and suggested that she goes in to Flynn and try for her things, Ricky would not be far behind and if there seemed to be any trouble, he would take over and deal with it.
The Shamrock was not the type of place that Ricky would wish any of his new family to be associated with. He was loth to let Mrs Yates go in to speak to Flynn, who was a small wizened Irishman with a very unsavoury reputation, but thought that if she could manage without his intervention it might be better. By staying in the background he was far enough away to be near and listen and not be too obvious. He soon realised that Flynn was going to be as difficult as he had feared.
Ricky, at twenty, was quite a large opponent for the little man, and when he sauntered in, he stood looking with disgust at the publican. "What did I hear you say to Mrs Yates, Flynn? Did I hear you refuse her property? I would think again, if I were you. I have no doubt the magistrate would be glad to find some reason for invading your territory. You do have a very unsavoury reputation, you know," he finished witheringly.
Flynn hastily said, "Good morning, sir. I am sure you heard no sich thing, sirr. I was just explaining to the leddy that I find it difficult to bring her things right now as I am alone. "
"Well, you had better think again, Flynn. My man can help you with anything Mrs Yates has left here, and I believe there is the matter of money owing to her. See that you get that, too. How is it that I hear your barman here, if you are alone? We are waiting," Ricky said in the haughtiest voice he could muster.
Within a very short time Mrs Yates trunks were loaded onto the buggy. Flynn had given her the money owed and they were able to make their way home again. The publican was not at all pleased with the episode and as they drove off made a filthy remark about the cheapness of some women and how they dragged a decent man down if given the chance. Ricky made Tom pull up again and hopped down ready to take issue with the Irishman, but Tom restrained him saying, "Fergit, it matie. Don' let 'im get ter yer." So Ricky turned his back on the man and got back into the buggy.
This made him more conscious of the position he was in regarding Mrs Yates, and wondered whether he was wise to have given her shelter. He would s
peak to Mr Landon about it.
They found Will talking to the small boy, Phil, when they got back. Phil was propped up at the end of the couch he slept in, looking very pale and wan, and every now and then was racked with a terrible fit of coughing. Ricky was surprised to see that he was bigger than he had thought and asked how old he was. Being told he was eight, felt a little happier about that for he had imagined that Mrs Yate's little boy was about three or four. He knew very little about children.
Phil and his mother disturbed the boys and Tom much less than they expected. As soon as Phil was well enough, in less than a week, they confined themselves to their part of the residence, and apart from finding meals ready and beds and house tidy, there was little evidence that there was anyone else in the house. Will saw more of them than the others and a firm friendship gradually grew between the two lads, one small and the other thin and frail-looking, as Will always was.
Phil had a great ability to make himself even smaller and so appear like a shadow in unlikely places. He went into Will's studio one morning after he was better and crouched against the couch, there watching the older boy paint. It was only that he had to cough suddenly that made his presence felt. Will turned to find him down on the floor trying not to cough, but hardly managing it.
"What are you doing there, young' un?" Will asked.
"Just watching you. Can I please?" Phil asked.
"How long have you been there?"
"Oh, a long while. I like to watch you," came the reply.
"Well, as you are quiet enough about it, you'd better come up and get on the couch or you'll get sick again. But you be quiet, won't you. I don't like chatter."
So the little boy often sat watching the young artist as his work and a strange friendship developed between them. One day, without really understanding what it meant, Phil told Will that he was going to be a stone mason like his father.
Ricky was constantly concerned about his new shop. He could not find the root of the problem in the ladies' apparel department. He thought the staff was good for he tried to watch them carefully, and as a stream of women seemed to be forever browsing through, he could not work out why it did not pay. One evening after supper, as Mrs Yates was washing the dishes, he was busy perusing the sales book and mumbling to himself, with a furrowed brow.
Will, who was wiping up for Mrs Yates, asked, "What's the worry, Rick? Something seems to be concerning you. What's wrong?"
"It's the new shop, Will. It just isn't going as well as I hoped. At least it is the ladies' department that isn't paying. Anyway, don't you worry, I'll sort it out."
Mrs Yates, with soap suds up her arms, turned and looked at Ricky. Then seemed to think better of it and turned back again. Ricky caught her movement and looked up in time to catch a look that spoke. "What were you going to say, Mrs Yates? Did you have an idea to offer?" Ricky asked.
"I am sorry, Mr English, I don't want to intrude," she said.
"No, please. If you have anything to say, please say it. I will admit I am at my wit's end to solve this and I wish you could help me. Maybe a lady could tell me where I am going wrong."
Mrs Yates was obviously concerned that she may speak out of turn. Knowing what a private sort of person she was, the boys knew that she would not speak unless persuaded, especially if it concerned something that she didn't consider was her business. But after some persuasion she came over to Ricky, wiping her hands on her apron. Standing at the table opposite Ricky she said, "Mr English, it's none of my business, but you've been that kind to me that it has been on my mind to speak, but didn't like to. It's Miss Jones. She hasn't the right way of speaking to customers. She doesn't encourage them. She stands there like a rock and doesn't talk to them about what they want. And then sometimes when she makes up her mind what she wants them to have she tries to force things on them and that's not right. It upsets the ladies, sir."
"I had no idea she did that. Have you seen it, Mrs Yates?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. I sometimes slip into the shop and I notice what she does. I know it isn't any of my business sir, but you could do better, I know. She doesn't teach the girl, neither. She just lets her do what she wants and that's not right ."
"I am surprised that Mr Parker hasn't picked that up. Are you sure, Mrs Yates?"
"Yes, sir, I am," she said, looking rather embarrassed about it.
"Thank you. I will have to look around for someone to take her place then. She came with good references, too." Ricky looked more worried than ever.
"Hey, Ricky. Maybe Mrs Yates would be the one. You could do it couldn't you, Mrs Yates. Go on tell Ricky that you have worked in a ladies' shop," said Will excitedly.
"Is this right, Mrs Yates? Have worked in a shop like mine?" Ricky asked, but feeling at the same time he was being pushed into something he didn't want to get into.
"Yes, Mr English. I am a seamstress, and I worked in a big shop when I was younger. I could train girls well, too. I know what's needed. But, sir. Please. I don't want to cause any trouble, really I don't. But it makes me fair boil when I see ladies come into the shop and go out again without buying. You're losing good business, Mr English," she said.
Ricky had learned to trust the woman. He thought she was honest with them. She certainly worked hard to make them comfortable. He realised that her motives were probably that she wanted security for herself and Phil, but he didn't blame her for that. She had a good appearance and spoke very well. Much better than one would expect from someone of her class, but then if she had been trained for that sort of position, that is probably where she learned to speak so well. He hadn't really thought about it before, he was only too glad to help her, and then she had made herself so useful that they all felt she was indispensable. She certainly was not intrusive, and neither was Phil. It was amazing that such a small boy could remain almost invisible at times.
"Thank you, Mrs Yates. You have given me something to think about and we will speak about it later." Will smiled encouragingly at the woman as she returned to the sink.
Will was not surprised when, some two weeks later Mrs Yates was given a trial in place of Miss Jones. Ricky asked Mr Parker to watch carefully and see that she was as good as he hoped. They were very pleased to see that the sales figures improved almost immediately and Mr Parker gave a glowing report on her customer conversation. The salesgirl who had been employed since the shop opened began to blossom a little, too, and Ricky felt that he had solved a problem.
But another problem was looming. The boys had reached an age when they needed more housekeeping care. When Mrs Yates was working in the kitchen and doing general housekeeping, they could see what an improvement their meals were and how much better the house was looked after, so Ricky knew he would soon have to get a housekeeper. He also thought that as their various interests had developed, living behind a shop was not satisfactory any longer, besides the shops were doing so well that they could now look for a place of their own and set up living in a better style. He needed their living space for offices, for the business had grown so. He wondered what he could do about housing Mrs Yates and Phil. He didn't want to lose them altogether, but now that she was working in the shop, he didn't think it was suitable for her to be living in the back room. He had lots to think about.
Mrs Yates loved the work in the shop. She was in her element and of course, because Ricky had been kind to her when she was so desperately in need, she wanted to do all she could to pay him back. She set about her work with a will, and was soon producing garments for sale that were very popular, and quickly make alterations to suit the customers. She had an ability to please them in helping them to choose materials and make suggestions as to style and mode. She took a pride in the girl, Annie. Annie was learning a great deal about the shop and how to handle customers. She was also sewing well and Mrs Yates could see that Ricky would have to set up a dressmaking business as well as selling the materials. Soon they would need extra staff. The business was growing very fast indeed.
&nb
sp; Ricky found himself going up to the office upstairs, quite often, to consult John Landon. He had often made mistakes about the business side of the shops and knew that he could have got himself into a great deal of hot water, at times, if he had not consulted his friend when he had. Under John's guidance he had appointed a good business manager who was proving his worth. He found himself wandering in Landon's office direction again one day and asked for an appointment.
By this time, of course, the Landon staff knew that Ricky was a close associate of their chief and would always arrange an appointment as soon as possible. This day John was in the outer office when Ricky entered and asked him in immediately.
"You caught me at a good moment, Ricky. How are things progressing with you?" he asked.
"Well, thank you Mr Landon. But I wonder whether I could make an arrangement with you that would allow us to talk things over at length. I have some problems that I would like your opinion on, and I am a bit fearful that I might be rushing ahead faster than I am able. Could you spare some time for me, sir?" Ricky asked.
"You want a lengthy talk, I take it Ricky?"
"Yes, sir. I would also like to take you out and show you a project I am thinking of. Could you spare the time, please?"
"Yes, of course. You intrigue me. Big things in the offing?" Landon asked.
"Yes, big things for me, sir."
Landon drew his appointment book towards him and said, "I'm busy tomorrow, Ricky, but what about the next day, Thursday? Say 10 o'clock? Would that suit?"
"Yes, sir, that would be fine. I would like to speak to you first and then take you out. We should be finished all I want to do by lunchtime. I look forward to seeing you then." Ricky stood to shake the man's hand.
"I will be most eager to find out what all this is about." He shook the young man's hand and then asked anxiously, " It isn't trouble is it Ricky?"
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