They went into the drawing room and sat down, for Jock wanted his tea. As he ate and drank he continued to talk, between the mouthfuls, and to tell Mamie all that had happened in Mr. Skene’s office. Jock had been looking forward to this all day, to telling Mamie the story, for there was no audience on earth so appreciative as Mamie.
“There was an awful lot of talk,” said Jock. “It went round and round without getting anywhere; I began to think we’d be in the place all night. Heddle’s lawyer kept on saying that Mr. Heddle had spent seven thousand pounds putting Tassieknowe in order, over and above what he paid for it. So then I said it was a sheep-farm, and no farmer could pay that money for a house. I said it was the hirsel that mattered and the hirsel had been neglected. So then Heddle asked what I meant by that and I said the dykes were in a bad condition … and I asked if the ewes had been well tupped. None of them knew what I meant.”
“That was rather naughty of you,” declared Mamie.
“M’h’m,” said Jock. “Maybe so, but the man is by way of being a farmer. Skene backed me up of course; he said the place was too far out for a luxury house and they’d have difficulty in finding a buyer. It was just what I’d said myself in different words.”
“And it’s true,” said Mamie nodding. “Only a farmer would want it and he wouldn’t be able to afford an enormous price.”
“So then,” continued Jock. “So then Heddle asked why I wanted the place and I said it would suit me because it adjoined Mureth. Then Heddle’s lawyer said it was a beautiful place and Mr. Heddle was very sorry to have to part with it. He was parting with it because the high altitude did not suit Miss Heddle. ‘Is that so?’ says Skene. ‘Then there’s nothing in the rumour going about Drumburly that Tassieknowe is haunted?’ He said it in the most innocent way imaginable, just as if he was asking for information on the subject. Heddle was absolutely furious. He lost his wool completely and began storming about the wee office like a mad bull. Skene sat tight with a sort of grim smile on his face but Heddle’s man got into a fine old flaughter; he was jumping about like a flea, trying to calm Heddle down before he said anything actionable. ‘Oh my dear sir!’ he kept saying. ‘Oh my dear sir!’” Jock laughed. “It was awfully funny,” he declared. “It really was as good as a pantomime. I wished you’d been there.”
“I’m glad I wasn’t,” said Mamie with feeling.
“Well, finally he quietened down, and he signed the thing and I signed it, and it was all fixed. He’s moving out immediately.”
“Immediately!”
“I bargained for immediate possession,” explained Jock. “I’m every bit as worried as you about those two young creatures at Boscath. We’ll get them out of it straight away as soon as the river falls. They could come here for a wee while, couldn’t they? You see, Mamie, we’ll need Flockhart to do a bit of painting at Tassieknowe before they move in; I can’t abide that blue paint on the doors and windows. The inside of the house can be painted too if Rhoda wants it done, but once the Heddles have taken out all those mirrors and carpets and what not it won’t look so garish. They’ll need more furniture of course, but I thought the stuff we bought at the sale might go back to Tassieknowe. What do you think, Mamie?”
“I’m quite breathless,” said Mamie laughing. “Oh Jock, when once you get going you do cover the ground!”
Jock grinned. “That’s true enough. I’m a slow starter but once I get a move on I’m all right. Of course we’re lucky in a way,” he continued. “It’s been done up from attic to cellar; they’ve put in a plant for electricity and new plumbing all over the house. It’s a lot bigger than Boscath but maybe James and Rhoda will be needing a bit more room one of these days. We’ll hope so anyway.” He smiled at Mamie and Mamie smiled back. She hoped so too.
“Well, there it is,” said Jock. “The thing’s settled and I’m as pleased as a dog with two tails, and as full of plans as a chart-house. We’ll get Sutherland back and the dykes sorted; Mureth and Tassieknowe will be farmed together.”
“Mr. Brown would be pleased if he knew!”
“He knows,” said Jock somewhat shamefacedly. “I mean I’ve had a queer sort of feeling all day. Old Brown knows we’ve got Tassieknowe!”
Author’s Note
It may sound strange to American readers that by “eating their own lambs” the Heddles were breaking the law.
The fact is that during the war, and for several years after, the people of Britain were strictly rationed. Each person was provided with a book containing coupons for food and clothing. Rationed food included meat, eggs, bacon, cheese, sugar, tea, butter, and fats, etc., etc. The coupons were given up every week for the food. In this way everyone was able to obtain a fair share of the very limited supply of necessary food.
Greedy people who had no conscience and plenty of money were able to obtain extra food “under the counter” but the law was strictly enforced. Even farmers were not allowed to kill and eat their own animals, so by killing and eating their lambs the Heddles were liable to severe penalties.
The rations allowed by law were very frugal and everybody lost weight but it did us no harm and we were doing it as part of the war effort so nobody grumbled.
Many factories in Britain were requisitioned to make precision instruments and other articles which were needed for the war so it soon became impossible to buy clocks and kettles and pots and pans and hairpins.
D. E. STEVENSON
September, 1971
Shoulder the Sky (Drumberley Book 3) Page 26