Brow of the Gallowgate

by Doris Davidson

  ‘Are you sure you wanted that old plate?’ Albert asked his wife, when she was hanging the plaque up in their parlour.

  ‘Yes, I’m sure. It’s true what it says, Albert. If you love somebody, you’ll never forget them. I’m sure your mother found comfort from it after your father died.’

  Bathie knew better than to tempt fate again by assuming that nothing else bad could happen, and began to fear for her own parents. Nell’s death had brought it home to her that they, too, were growing old and frail. Her mother was seventy-one, and her father was seventy-three. Neither of them had ever had to work so hard as Wattie and Nell, but they didn’t have Albert’s mother’s resilience, either.

  Bathie’s main concern, however, was the state of Gracie’s mind. For over five months, the girl had been looking for a letter from the sailor, and had grown more and more despondent as time went past without any word from him.

  ‘The war’s over, so nothing could have happened to John,’ she said, pathetically, one day in June.

  Her mother hadn’t the heart to tell her that the boy had probably never had any intention of writing. He’d got what he was after, and sailors usually had a girl in every port, so she was really better off without him.

  The next outstanding event was more joyful. Albert, his wife and daughters were sitting in the parlour, one evening in August, when they heard feet pounding up the outside stairs. Bathie sat up in alarm, imagining it to be someone coming to tell her that one of her parents had been taken ill, and she could hardly believe her eyes when the door opened. ‘Charlie!’

  Jumping to her feet, she flung her arms round her son, then saw that Vena was just behind him. ‘You’re both home, thank God.’ She smiled tremulously through tears she couldn’t hold back, and sat down with a thump.

  Something good was happening for a change, she thought, happily. Charlie and Vena were home at last, and soon Donnie would be back, with Helene. She’d have to buy a double bed for Donnie’s room – they couldn’t sleep in the old single – but what did anything matter when she’d have her family round her once again? It wouldn’t be complete without Flo and Hetty, of course, but it was all the family there would be from now on.

  It came to her suddenly that she had a duty as a mother. ‘Gracie, go up and set a match to the fires in the attics. I’ve had them lit once every week, to keep the place aired,’ she told Vena, ‘so the rooms shouldn’t be damp.’

  Vena laughed. ‘After the places we’ve been in, Mother, the attics’ll be heaven.’

  When Albert bombarded them with questions, they seemed reluctant to talk about their experiences, but were willing to recall some of the humorous situations which had relieved the starkness of war for them.

  While they chattered, Bathie studied them. Charlie’s face was much thinner, his dark hair was sprinkled with white, and his eyes gave the impression that they’d seen terrible things. Maybe one day he’d tell her about them, but she’d never ask.

  Turning her attention to Vena, she saw the same sorrow in her eyes, even though she was laughing at something Charlie had said. Her face, too, was thinner, her cheekbones standing out gauntly, her fair hair hanging lank and dry. They would probably never forget the things they’d seen, but good food and cheerful company should improve their health.

  When their stories ran out, a little silence fell, then Charlie said, ‘Is Donnie back yet?’

  ‘No, but he should be home any day now, with his wife.’ Bathie beamed with pleasure.

  Charlie grinned. ‘You could’ve knocked me down with a feather when I got your letter telling me he was married.’

  ‘We could all have been knocked down with the very same feather.’ Albert chuckled at the memory. ‘He took Helene to meet us, and she’s a very nice girl. She practically saved your mother’s life when she had that heart attack.’

  Charlie turned to his mother accusingly. ‘You didn’t tell me you’d had a heart attack.’

  ‘I didn’t want to worry you, and anyway, it was nothing.’

  They sat until the early hours of the morning, discussing everything that had happened since Charlie went away. He had never come home on leave – there was no point when his wife wasn’t there – so there was five years to catch up on.

  Finally, Albert rose stiffly from his chair. ‘We’ll all be like washed out dish-clouts in the morning.’

  Lying in bed beside him, Bathie said, ‘It’s good to have them home, and it’s not surprising they look tired, considering what they’ve been through.’

  Albert let out a long sigh. ‘They’ll not want to stop in the attics when the excitement wears off.’

  ‘Oh.’ Bathie couldn’t hide her disappointment. She hadn’t thought beyond the homecoming. ‘Well, if they don’t, Donnie and his wife can have them when they come home.’

  ‘Don’t plan for them, Bathie. They’ve their own lives to lead, the same as we had, remember?’

  ‘If they both want houses of their own, we can always go to visit them, but it won’t be the same as having them here.’

  She snuggled against him and he threw his arm over her. ‘There’ll come a day when it’ll just be you and me in this big house, Bathie. How will you feel about that?’

  ‘That’ll never happen. Gracie’ll be here, and Ishbel’s only twelve, so it’ll be a long time before she thinks about leaving us.’ Her slight frown cleared. ‘Anyway, even if they both take husbands, Gracie could have the middle floor and Ishbel could have the attics, so we’d never really be on our own, would we?’

  ‘You’re making plans for them again.’ Albert surprised her by kissing her. ‘Bathie, my dear, I haven’t told you this for a while, but I love you. Now, go to sleep, or else be quiet so I can get peace to shut my own eyes.’

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Mary ran out of her house as soon as the car drew up at the gate.

  ‘Flo, my little Flo,’ she crooned, rocking her old charge in her arms. ‘I never thought to see you again, an’ I canna tell you how pleased I was that my Will found you again.’

  She had retained much of her native dialect, but Flo found it amusing to hear a touch of the New Zealand drawl in it.

  ‘I was very pleased he found me again, too,’ she laughed, having got over the shock of seeing him with a leather glove on his left hand.

  ‘An’ this is Hetty?’ Mary turned to the younger sister who was still inside the car. ‘You werena born when I left, but your mother kept me up-to-date wi’ what happened. Martin’s a fine laddie, an’ you’ll like Wanganui, though it’s littler than Aberdeen and you’ll be bidin’ a good bit oot.’

  ‘I’m sure I’ll like it,’ Hetty murmured.

  ‘I’d better be going.’ Robbie Park had driven Will and Martin to Wellington to meet the two girls, and didn’t want to be away from his business for longer than he could help.

  ‘Righto, then, but, Martin, mind and take Hetty back to see me as soon as you can.’

  ‘Yes, Aunt Mary, I promise.’

  The woman waved as the car edged away, then she turned. ‘Come inside, Flo, I’m sure you must be famished.’

  Mary’s house was cosy and homely, and Flo sat down, with Will, to eat the huge meal Mary had prepared, smilingly refusing second helpings when they were offered.

  As soon as they were finished, Will stood up. ‘I can see you’re tired, my dear, but come and sit by the fire for a while. I’m sure Mother has dozens of things she wants to ask you.’

  After kissing her son’s intended bride, Bella Potter stood in front of her, her face wreathed in smiles. ‘I was really pleased that Martin fell in love with you, Hetty. I often used to wish that I was part of the Ogilvie family, in the old days, but I never for a moment dreamed it would ever happen. I thought a lot of your mother and father, when I worked in the Gallowgate, but you weren’t born when I came to New Zealand to be with my sisters. You’ve met Mary, of course, and no doubt you will be meeting Jeannie soon.’

  She transferred her attention to her son. ‘Tak
e Hetty’s cases upstairs to her room, Martin, then we can eat.’

  When he went out, she turned to Hetty again. ‘Is your brother Charlie home from the war yet?’

  ‘Not when we left.’ Hetty wished that she could go to bed right now, but it wouldn’t be polite. ‘Nor Donnie,’ she added, recalling that Bella would have known him, too.

  ‘It’s Charlie I remember best.’ Bella’s blue eyes held a peculiar glint. ‘A fine big boy, with a sturdy body on him.’

  ‘Yes, Charlie was always tall for his age, so Mother said. Donnie’s a bit shorter, and broader.’

  ‘They shared a room, you know, and little Donnie was quite a sound sleeper, but Charlie always heard me when I looked in.’

  The expression on the woman’s face made Hetty shiver – she couldn’t understand why. ‘Charlie and Donnie are both married now,’ she said, as brightly as she could.

  ‘Yes, I know. Ah, here’s Martin. He’ll keep you company until I dish up. I let my little maid go, you see, when I knew you were coming. It’ll be better with just the two of us, when Martin’s away all week at university.’ Bella swept out.

  Hetty smiled as Martin sat down beside her. ‘It seems funny that your mother knew my parents before I was born, and Charlie and Donnie, as well, though you never met them when you were in Aberdeen.’

  ‘I met the only Ogilvie that matters to me.’

  Her heart leapt at the love in his eyes, and he’d told her, as soon as she came off the boat, that he’d set the date of their wedding. In only five weeks, she’d be his wife.

  Will and Flo were married first – he’d had the wedding arranged for the week after she arrived – and Bella ordered Martin to hire a car to take them to the small church.

  Hetty was in tears when she saw Flo so radiantly happy, after all the months of worry she’d had when Will refused to write to her, but the ceremony went smoothly and Mary had laid on a wedding feast fit for the King himself.

  When she was in bed that night, it occurred to Hetty that there had been a reserve between the three Wyness sisters, although Mary and Jeannie had been quite friendly and very polite to Bella. Too polite, Hetty realized now. There had been no warmth in their manner towards her, nor was there an easy-going relationship between the three of them like there had been between the Ogilvie girls, who’d all teased each other unmercifully, but affectionately.

  It seemed almost as if Mary and Jeannie had some grudge against their youngest sister. She must have offended them in some way, or was it only jealousy on their part because she was now a wealthy widow? Anyway, Hetty thought, it was none of her business, and she’d take, Bella as she found her.

  Her thoughts bounded on, past her wedding to Martin, past the lonely nights he’d be away from her, to the time they’d be husband and wife, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year.

  Hetty found that she got on very well with Bella, in spite of the difference in their ages. There were no signs of the peculiar expression which had caused the girl to shiver on her first evening in the house, and she came to believe that she’d imagined it because she’d been so tired.

  Apart from the rough work, which was done by a woman who came in once a week, they shared the tidying up and cleaning of the house, and by lunchtime, everything was spotless. They usually went out for a walk in the afternoon, if the weather was clement, or sat by the fire, talking, if it wasn’t.

  Very occasionally, they went into Wanganui in a hired car to do some shopping, Bella showing the girl which were the best places, and introducing her to the shopkeepers, although, strangely enough, she never went near Robbie Park’s store.

  In the evenings, they just sat and talked, and Bella told Hetty, one night, how she’d met her husband, describing him as a forceful man with a sound head for business.

  ‘Martin’s not like him in temperament,’ she added, smiling a little. ‘He’s too easy-going, but he has a big heart. He was a godsend to me when his father died, I don’t know how I’d have coped without him. But I didn’t stop him when he chose to enlist. He wouldn’t have listened anyway – he’s got his father’s determination, if nothing else.’

  ‘I’d never have met him if he hadn’t enlisted.’

  ‘That’s true.’ Bella’s hand went up to pat her hair, which was obviously her great pride, the blonde tresses swept up in a smooth swirl on the crown of her head. ‘I don’t know why I gave him your mother’s address, and it came as quite a shock when he wrote to tell me that he’d actually been to Aberdeen, and had fallen in love with one of the Ogilvie girls.’

  ‘It was love at first sight for both of us.’ A shy smile crossed Hetty’s lips, then, remembering the parlour in the Gallowgate where she’d had her first meeting with Martin, a sudden twinge of longing for her own mother made her thankful that his mother would always be with her while he was away.

  Bella’s eyebrows lifted a little. ‘I was surprised that your mother encouraged Martin to declare his love to you, especially after such a short time, and that your father was agreeable to the match, but I suppose war makes a difference to people’s attitudes.’

  The following evening, Bella spoke of her behaviour when she came to Wanganui first. ‘My sisters were married to good men, and I felt very much left out. I was working in a hotel, and I went out with any man that looked at me twice.’ She gave a rueful laugh. ‘My sisters thought I was awful, for I behaved like a tart, pickin’ up men an’ boozin’ like there was nae tomorrow.’ She had lapsed into her natural tongue without realizing it. ‘Ma was boilin’ mad at me, an’ said she shoulda shoved me aff the boat comin’ over, but I was havin’ a good time an’ I didna listen.’ She stopped, looking slightly bewildered, then patted the side of her head again, although not a hair was out of place. ‘My mother died about six months after we arrived, so it was Mary who criticized me after that, but I paid no attention to her, either. I was very headstrong, you see.’

  Noticing that she had recovered from her lapse, it struck Hetty that Martin’s mother was not so sophisticated as she appeared. The unconscious slip into the broad Aberdeen accent, and the unnecessary patting of her hair, showed her insecurity.

  After a long pause, Bella went on. ‘All I was interested in was having a good time. Single men, married men, they were all the same to me as long as they bought me drinks and gave me a bit of loving. No, that’s not quite true. I actually preferred the married men, because it gave me a bigger thrill knowing they belonged to someone else.’ Sighing, she screwed up her mouth in self-disgust. ‘Then I met Matt – Martin’s father. I don’t know what he saw in me, but he was determined to have me. He was older, and didn’t approve of my drinking. He reformed me, would you believe?’

  The girl laughed along with her. ‘If you hadn’t told me, I’d never have believed you could have behaved like that.’

  ‘Ah, well. It took me a while to realize I’d been stupid, but I accepted his proposal eventually. He was a good husband, and I came to care very deeply for him.’

  ‘I’m sure you were a good wife to him,’ Hetty said softly.

  ‘Yes, I was.’ It was said without boasting. ‘I kept on the straight and narrow for the whole seventeen years we were married, and when he died, I was broken-hearted, and I’ve never looked at another man since. I’d always be afraid that they were only after me for what Matt left me.’

  In bed, Hetty mused over what she’d been told. She was grateful to Bella for being honest, but perhaps she’d done it to explain why Mary and Jeannie had been so distant with her. They hadn’t been able to forgive her for carrying on the way she had at first, or possibly they’d been rather put out that she’d found a rich husband at the end of it.

  Now that she knew, Hetty felt better, and determined to be a model daughter-in-law to Bella Potter.

  On Martin’s first weekend home, he asked Hetty how she was getting on with his mother, and was delighted when she said, ‘I love her, Martin. She’s like my own mother to me.’

  ‘She has her ups and downs,�
�� he admitted, ‘but, on the whole, she’s not too bad.’

  Later, when they were all seated round the fire, Bella said, ‘I’ve been thinking.’

  Martin squeezed Hetty’s hand. ‘And what profound thought did you come up with?’

  ‘It’s only four weeks now until your wedding, and I feel it’s not fair to Hetty to expect her to live here after you are married. She’ll want her own house, where she can have you all to herself when you come home. I’m prepared to lend you enough to buy a decent house, Martin, and I won’t expect you to start paying me back until you finish your studies and are earning a decent salary. I trust that sounds fair enough to you both?’

  ‘It’s very kind of you, Mother, but I couldn’t allow you to do that, not when you’re seeing me through university as well.’ Martin looked troubled.

  ‘I’d have made you a gift of it, but I knew you wouldn’t have agreed to that, though all I possess will come to you when I die.’

  ‘You’ll live until you’re ninety, I hope.’

  ‘I might, so that’s why I want to give you something now. We’ll make it a loan, if you prefer it, but I won’t take no for an answer, so start looking for a house.’ Bella smiled, and seemed surprised when Hetty stood up and kissed her cheek.

  ‘You’re very kind, and I love you,’ the girl whispered.

  ‘I have to make sure that you’re properly looked after. I owe that to your mother and father.’

  Even through Hetty’s happy excitement, she was conscious of a trace of the same chill which had swept over her on her first evening in the house, but she dismissed it once again as imagination. Martin’s mother could never wish her any ill.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  The letter was postmarked ‘Croydon’, so Bathie had thought that Donnie was having a short holiday with his in-laws before coming to Aberdeen, but it proved to be no holiday.

  ‘I’ve talked it over with Helene,’ he’d written, ‘and we both agree that it would be better for us to live down here. I’m sorry if this upsets you, Mother, but I promise we’ll come to see you as soon as we can afford it.’