"Indeed it won't," said Mrs Yates. "I can't have my materials getting dirty, especially the velvets, they are so hard to clean again and wouldn't look nice for the customers."
"Are they yours, Missus?" the girl asked. "Gee you're lucky ter 'ave sich a lot."
"No they are not mine really, but I am responsible for them. People won't buy the things if they are dirty. I think you had better go, now."
"If I go and wash 'em proper, will yer let me feel them?" the girl insisted. "Mebbe I could borrer some soap," she added.
Mrs Yates looked at the ragged figure before her. She obviously was a street urchin. She had seen them often enough looking through the window of the shop, but none had ever ventured in before. This girl was dressed in poor clothes, she wasn't very clean but her dress was not in rags as so many of them were. She was a pitiful sight, but her eyes were quite clear and she looked straight at Mrs Yates. There was something about the child that was quite appealing. "I suppose I could take you to my room where you could have a wash, then you can feel the materials," she said.
"Gee Missus, ye're grand. Would yer?"
"Yes, but just wait." Mrs Yates turned from the girl and went to the back door of the shop and called, "Annie. Could you please come to the shop?"
Mrs Yates took the girl through to her room and poured some water into her washstand basin. She handed her some soap and stood waiting with a towel. The girl was stuck in one place looking at the pretty things that Mrs Yates had around her bedroom.
"Ain't it lovely?" she said.
"Come on wash yourself properly," said Mrs Yates. She watched as the girl took the soap and washed her hands.
"Kin I wash me face, too?" she asked. "The soap smells thet lovely."
Mrs Yates laughed, "Of course. Go ahead." She nodded her approval and when the girl was finished she looked a great deal better. "Your thorough, anyway."
"Yer bed is ever so pretty. It must be lovely ter sleep in thet."
"You like pretty things. don't you?" Mrs Yates asked. "What is your name?"
"I'm Martha an' I does, too, I luvs pretty things. Now, kin I go and touch them things?"
That was Martha's first visit to Mrs Yates. From then on she became quite a constant visitor, but she was very well behaved and was never intrusive. Mrs Yates found that she just wanted to watch and take in all she could see. Mrs Yates was quite concerned for her appearance, for she was certainly no ornament to the shop, but as she would stay well in the background when a customer came in she was not very noticeable. If Mrs Yates was with a customer Martha had the sense to keep away.
When asked about her home conditions she was very cagey. Apparently her older sister Josie looked after her and they shared a room somewhere. This room was not available to Martha during the day and so Martha would stay longer on rainy days, trying to be as quiet as a mouse in case they should send her away. She became quite adept at shrinking behind the rolls of material. Mrs Yates would often find her sitting carefully fingering some pretty material. The girl certainly loved them. Maria Yates was careful not to ask too many questions of the girl and it was not until many weeks had passed that she got the whole story.
Maria had asked Martha whether she would like learn to sew. She had noticed that there had been a marked improvement in the girls appearance. She was no longer dirty, and as best as she could she kept her dress clean. It seemed to be the only one she possessed.
Martha had looked up to her with glistening eyes and told her new friend, "Yes." breathlessly, but then was concerned that she had nothing to sew and that she had no money. Maria had assured her that there were some samples and other pieces she could learn on and so the lessons began.
Mrs Yates had always sewn, it seemed to her. She could not remember not sewing something. For she was a tiny girl when her mother started her on sewing cards, and was not much older when she started her first sampler. So it came as a shock to find that as Martha had never handled anything as small as a needle that the exercise was almost more than the girl could cope with. Maria realised then how fortunate she had been by learning to be dextrous with tiny dolls and small toys at an early age, but this child had never had anything to play with and so using her fingers for tiny things was an effort.
Martha's mother had died when she was small and Josie, her sister, was all she'd had for a mother. Josie, Maria learned, was fifteen, 3 years older than Martha. Their father had worked on the roads as a navvy. He had been a taciturn sort of fellow but had brought in enough for them to eat and have a home of sorts. He was quite disinterested in them except for providing for their creature necessities. He had died some months before and Josie now had the job of providing for her sister. When asked about where she worked Martha became incoherent, so Maria didn't push her, but she had her suspicions. It was some time later that Martha admitted that Josie was "on the streets".
Maria said, in a disgusted voice, "Oh, Martha, no, surely not."
Martha looked up at her friend and said, "She didn't 'ave no choice. Yer see, me dad, 'e didn't leave us any money and we were near starvin'. She tried ter get a job, true she did, but it wern't no good. There was the rent ter pay of the room. We 'ad ter live somewhere, and so she went aht, and she 'ates it loik poison."
"Well, don't you be tempted, Martha."
"Don' worry, Missus, she'd skin me alive if I did. She wouldn' 'ear o' me doin' sich a thing. She's sich a good gel is Josie. Thet's why I can't go 'ome of a day, an' sometimes at night, but not often."
"You poor girl. I think I would like your Josie. Why don't you bring her to meet me, Martha? Will you?"
"My word, I will, Missus. I tell 'er all abaht you an' what yer done fer me and she's reel grateful. I didn't bring 'er 'acos she thought yer wouldn' want ter mix with the likes 'o 'er."
"Well, you see that you bring her and soon. We'll have tea together in my room and leave Annie to look after the shop," said Maria.
Mrs Yates was surprised to find Martha at the shop early next morning with a sad looking girl who was obviously Josie. She had no idea that the promised tea party would happen so soon. However she took the girls in and as it was so early there was no one in the shop. Leaving it with Annie she took Josie and Martha to the kitchen and there she sat them down to eat. She made toast and tea and the girls devoured it as though it was manna. "They probably think it is," mused Maria. She chatted away trying to draw Josie out a little. She could see she was very unhappy, but Josie had hardly said a word all the time. Martha had been chirping along merrily, but at the same time watching her sister very carefully.
Maria said, "Martha it is time you went out and did some sewing, Josie will help me wash up. Now, off you go," she hustled her out.
"But Missus ..." said Martha.
"Off you go," said Maria. She turned towards Josie and looked down at her. "My dear girl, tell me what's worrying you?"
"Oh, Missus," she said and burst in tears, putting her head down on the toasty plate, "Oh, Missus. I'm so bad. What'll yer think 'o me?"
Maria came round and took her in her arms and held her tight. "I think you are fine, Josie. I think you are brave and fine and I am proud to know you."
"Oh, Missus. Ah'm thet un'appy. I dunno what ter do."
"Tell me what worries you?"
"Missus, Martha told me she told yer abaht me an' what ah'm doing, an' I jest 'ate it. Me mum would be thet mad at me an' I don' know what Pa would'a said. Least I do, 'e would bash me one, 'e would. But I got ter look after Martha, and I dunno 'ow else."
"You poor child." Maria sat looking at her and thinking hard. Then she said, "Josie, would you stop what you are doing and live a good life, if I found somewhere else for you and Martha to live and learn to be useful girls?"
"Oh, yes, Missus, I would. I ain't cut out ter be a falling woman. But where could you find a place like thet? I'd do anything, I promise, Missus."
"All right. Now dry your eyes. Will you promise not to go with any men if I give you enough money for a few days. I wa
nt you to come an see me again. I have to speak to someone first. Promise, Josie?"
"Too right, Missus. I promise. But there ain't no call fer you ter give us money. I got enough fer a few days, I 'ave. Oh, Missus, is it true? Could yer find somewhere fer me'n Martha? We'll be good, reel true we will."
As soon as she could Mrs Yates found Ricky and asked him if she could move in to the new house quickly with two girls who needed help fast. She explained in detail and so it was that the new venture began quicker than they had expected.
CHAPTER 10 Tad meets Amabel
The promised tea party at Landon's was a great success. Old Tom insisted on driving them as though he was a groom. He even suggested that Ricky provide him with some sort of livery for he wanted to show people that he was proud to serve such young gentlemen. However he was laughed to scorn, the said young men assuring him he wasn't a servant but a good friend.
"Well, you be careful when we get to this place. Don't you treat me like no friend. I'll just drive round to the stable like I was a servant and don't you mess it up."
Ricky could see that the old man was determined to do the best for them and so let him have his way. Tom, sitting upright and looking straight ahead, drove to the front door of the mansion, not looking at his passengers, then he drove off when they had alighted, to find his way to the stables somewhere at the rear of the house.
Tonkin took them inside and Mrs Landon came bustling to meet them and held her hand out to Ricky and Will. She had not met Tad before and Ricky introduced him. She took them out to the side lawn where afternoon tea was set on tables with chairs on the lawn under the shady trees. The three laughing Landon girls made a charming picture. "Blossoms under the trees," thought Ricky, as he went across to meet them. Mr Landon made the introductions and to the other lady who Ricky presumed and found that it was Miss Binks.
Ricky was most interested to see the look on Tad's face as he was introduced to Amabel. Poor Tad was trying to be rather nonchalant but kept having quiet peeps at that pretty maiden. They all chatted happily, even the youngest Betsy having her say. These Landon girls were not shrinking violets but daughters of their wise and very pleasant parents.
After tea they all wandered through the gardens which were quite extensive and lovely. Ricky noticed that Tad was skillful in maneuvering himself nearest to Amabel with Harriet on his other side. Will, on the other hand, was happy to walk with Mr Landon, leaving Ricky to walk with the others. They eventually retired to the drawing room where the ladies began to ask questions about the proposed hostel for girls. Ricky was surprised to hear that they all wanted to be involved with the project and soon they were immersed in plans.
Tad, it was noticed, was quite content to sit and unobtrusively gaze at Amabel. Will was, as usual, busy with his sketch pad, not noticing the turn in the conversation. Ricky quietly suggested to Will that it was not a polite thing to do, but Mr Landon laughingly hushed him by telling him that one could not stop a genius from doing what he wished.
The idea that the Landon ladies wanted a large share of his latest project surprised and delighted Ricky. He was very taken with Miss Binks and felt that she would get along well with Mrs Yates. So Ricky came away feeling that his hostel was already staffed. All he had to do now was wait for the houses to be finished, supply enough furniture to set them up and his hostels could begin.
Ricky had thought that it would still be some weeks away before they could think of looking for girls who would want to take advantage of the opportunity of living in the hostel. Choosing the right girls would be a problem and he had not known how they would go about that, but now, here was Mrs Yates wanting to put two girls in right away before the house was even furnished. "Perhaps I should speak to Mrs Landon and Miss Binks," he thought. With this he saddled his horse and set off immediately for the Landon house.
Mrs Landon was not at home but found that Miss Binks was and so he was able to talk it over with this practical lady who was able to put his mind at ease. In a short time she planned furniture and the use of the rooms which were already finished, stating that it would be part of the girls' training to be in on the planning and preparation of it all. She would take up residence the next day as would Mrs Yates, if possible, and then with the barest of preparations they could take the girls in the following day. Ricky was able to go home with a mind at ease knowing that there was someone at the helm who would take all the little things out of his hands. All he had to do was pay for it all.
This wasn't a worry for Ricky as he was fast becoming a well-to-do man. He seemed to know by instinct how to trade, and make it pay. He had very good and sensible ideas but was never backward asking for advice and assistance. Probably his greatest asset was his ability to assess people. He rarely made a mistake with his staff, Miss Jones being his most notable one, in that direction. There was, of course, his terrible mistake in getting involved with Gosling early in his storekeeping life. But it must be said that he was not as experienced in dealing with women as he was in dealing with men. So when interviewing the few women he employed he usually asked George Parker to sit in on the interview and found that it always paid dividends.
George had proved to be an able man who grew in competence as the business grew. He was a loyal man who thought a great deal of Ricky, and who only offered advice when asked for it.
John Landon had recommended an accountant to Ricky who was of very good repute and so became Ricky's man of business. So with Parker who dealt with most of the personnel and Johnson who watched over the money side of the business Ricky was able to relax somewhat.
Within the next few weeks Ricky was to see them all established in their new homes. George Parker and Jackie Smith in house number one, Ricky, Tad and Will in number two and the girls' hostel in number three. All were very satisfied with their lot. George Parker was so keen about his role in choosing and training boys that Ricky was happy to leave the choice of training staff to him. They had a cook/ housekeeper who had been such in a boys school in England and who had recently lost her husband. She had a son who was very willing to learn to work in the store and so number one acquired it's first trainee. Their house was divided into large bedrooms holding four beds each, with separate rooms for George Parker and Mrs Gibbs and her son Bert. The furniture was simple and useful, the furnishings plain and washable. Mrs Gibbs was considered to be a gem for she was skillful in making her menfolk happy and contented. She was not a notable chef but was able to serve good plain wholesome food to her charges.
The girls hostel was furnished in much the same manner but Miss Binks and Mrs Yates were very keen for the girls to do as much as was possible so that they would feel they had a real stake in their home, and so many of the curtains and cushions etc were made by Martha and Josie, under the guidance of Miss Binks and the Landon ladies.
Martha and Josie loved their new home but life was not all soft and gentle for them. They had only ever lived in small squalid quarters and all the cleaning and scraping that was asked of them now was very foreign and at times very hard to take. The two girls often had a cry together and wondered whether it was all worth it. Josie was the one who kept them going. Martha was all for the soft life. She loved the good food and the pretty things which were now surrounding them. She was very proud of her pretty sprigged bedcover and had been most excited when told she could choose what she wanted from the cottons in the store. She had laboriously hemmed it with stitches carefully placed and now it was her pride and joy. When she was feeling miserable over her lack of freedom she would go to her room and sit on her bed feeling the pretty stuff.
Each morning they had housekeeping duties which kept them scrubbing and cleaning until everything shone to Mrs Cook's idea of perfection. Mrs Cook being the new cook-housekeeper who looked after the female part of the enterprise. She had worked at the Shannon Hotel and had kept in contact with Mrs Yates while she was at the store. When offered this position she jumped at it for she knew that it would be far better than the job she ha
d and in much more pleasant surroundings .
After the cleaning was to this hard taskmistress' satisfaction there was a cooking lesson for both girls. Mrs Cook loved her work and considered that cooking was an art. She was delighted to find that the girls responded well to her training and knew that they were "coming on fine". They learned to set tables and do all sorts of housewifely things. In the afternoon there were sewing lessons, lessons in speech and deportment, writing, calculating and general knowledge, all taught by Miss Binks and at times the Landon ladies when they were not otherwise occupied.
So life was very busy and Martha and Josie had little time to have to themselves. But on Wednesday afternoons they were permitted to go to the store and look around, wander up the streets of the town and look at other shops. But at four o'clock they were back at their tasks again. They looked forward so much to their weekly outing for they now had "real clothes", as Martha called them. In the house they wore and had indeed made their utility dresses which they wore with an overall, when doing their chores. But on Wednesday they wore their "pretties". Mrs Yates had made muslin dresses that delighted the girls. She was a skillful dressmaker and knew just the colours to bring out some real prettiness in these little waifs. The delight on their faces was all the reward she needed.
The girls felt somewhat overwhelmed by adults telling them what to do. It seemed to be work, work, and nothing else. But one day a woman appeared at the door and asked for the lady in charge. Martha had answered the door and showing the visitor into the drawing room she scurried off to find Miss Binks.
The visitor introduced herself as Mrs Summers, who had an interest in the girls who arrived on the ships coming in to port. Some not being able to find a place to work or live fell into living unsavoury lives of prostitution and crime. She asked Miss Binks if it were possible to bring several of the better girls to the hostel for training.
Miss Binks was able to assure the woman that they would be interested and that they only wanted to have girls who wished to be trained. Miss Binks was adamant that the desire had to come from the girls themselves. Mrs Summers understood and agreed with that principle. They discussed the merits of this training, Miss Binks stating what her methods were.
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