by Betty Annand
“This is the only talking I’m going to do,” Keith replied, as he took another swing. Tom managed to block the punch with his arm and said, “All right, if that’s the way it’s going to be, let’s go outside and get it over with.”
“I’m going to beat the hell out of you,” Keith warned as he was pulling on his trousers, and Tom was removing his jacket. It wasn’t much lighter outside than it was inside the building, but as soon as they were out the door, both men started circling each other looking for an opening. Tom found one first and landed a punch to Keith’s gut, which would have had more effect if his anger matched his opponent’s.
“Is that the best you have?” Keith taunted then landed a punch on the side of Tom’s head. Tom shook his head, but didn’t go down; however, the blow managed to fuel his ire, and he retaliated with two consecutive hits, one to Keith’s solar plexus and one to his jaw. Those landed Keith on the ground, where he managed to get hold of one of Tom’s legs, toppling him over. As the struggle continued, it became more of a wrestling match than a boxing duel, and because the land sloped toward the stables, the fighters ended up in a pile of manure. Arms, legs, and horse dung were flying when a shrill whistle startled the men, and a lantern lit up the area.
“Break it up now!” the sergeant major shouted. Tom and Keith jumped to their feet and stood at attention. Blood and manure were smeared over their faces and their clothes. The sergeant stood back, fanned his nose then continued in a voice as deep and gruff as a mastiff’s bark, “If it’s a fight you’re wantin’, you’ll be getting more than your share in a few months. Now, ladies, since you seem to enjoy playing in the shit pile, I’m going to let you spend a couple o’ days shovelling it. It’s time our stable boys had a day or two in the kip. And I think the rest of you lads will be happy to know that these two ladies will be spending the night in the stables.” A loud cheer went up, the crowd dispersed, and the two weary, injured, and foul-smelling warriors were left standing in the cold.
The sergeant major’s reprimand had quelled Keith’s anger. Having a pacifist nature, he could never stay angry with anyone for long. Such a characteristic would normally be an asset, but for a young man who would soon be fighting a war, it was more of a liability. Nevertheless, he may have still been angry if he hadn’t known that Gladys was in love with Tom. Feeling a little embarrassed over his actions, he attempted to hide it by saying, “At least you have boots on,” as he looked down at Tom’s feet.
“I suppose you expect me to give you one.”
“You bet I do. Take it off.”
“You’re joking.”
“No. Take a bloody boot off.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Take off the damn boot, or I’ll take it off myself!”
“If you think—oh, bugger it.” Tom sat on the ground, took off one of his boots, and handed it to Keith, who looked at it then threw it back.
“It’s a size too small, but I think one of those stockings will fit.”
Tom gave Keith a stocking, then said, “There, now can we get out of the cold?”
Keith reached down and gave Tom a hand up. “I was hoping you’d wash some of that shit off your face before you bed down with me.”
“Your wish is my command,” Tom replied, relieved that Keith was no longer angry. Then arm in arm, they made their way to the horse trough.
The following day, as they were shovelling dung, Tom said, “Look, I know I’ve been an ass, but I didn’t mean to hurt you. I had no idea you loved her too. I thought you were just threatening to marry her to save her from me. If I could, I’d go back and do it differently. Your friendship means a lot to me. When we go to India, I’d prefer to have all my enemies on the other side.”
“As Willie Shakespeare put it,” Keith replied, “‘By my troth, I’ll go with thee to the lane’s end . . . I am a kind of burr—I shall stick!’ Besides, I guess I always knew it was you she preferred, but I have no idea why. I’m far more handsome and strong.”
“Ha, I’d have beaten your sorry ass if old Sarge hadn’t come along.”
“I guess we shall never know, unless you want to have another go at it.”
“No bloody way! I’ve shovelled enough of this horse shit.”
Keith laughed, then in a serious tone said, “She’s a very special lady, you know.”
“Yes, I know, but then, so are you.”
“There you go again, darlin’, making me blush,” Keith said as he threw a shovel of wet manure at Tom.
__________
Millie was delighted when she heard the news. But when the excitement faded, a feeling of apprehension overtook her. Her life had been far more exciting having Gladys as a friend, and she knew how very lonely she would be without her. Once Gladys was married, things were bound to change. As Mrs Pickwick, she would be living a life in society and a life very different from the one she had shared with Millie.
Gladys could sense there was something bothering the seamstress and insisted on knowing what it was.
“I really am happy for you, my dear, but I am sad too. Now that you are marrying into a wealthy family you shall be making new and influential friends. I doubt you will have time for someone as common as me—not that I fault you for it.”
“Millie! You are my family, my only family. Don’t you know that? When you told that old cow that I was your niece, I was so proud. Oh, Millie, you will always be my closest and dearest friend. I’m afraid you are stuck with me for the rest of your life.”
__________
Tom had no idea when his regiment would be sent to India, but it was rumoured that it wouldn’t be until autumn, so he and Gladys had plenty of time to plan their wedding and find a place in which to live. Gladys also had time to teach Pinky some songs. The girl had a lovely voice, but her timidity and lack of confidence prevented her from using it to its advantage. Under her plain and shapeless uniform, she also had a petite, but shapely figure and a head of thick blonde hair that she wore tightly braided and tucked under her dust cap. Her nose and chin were too sharply sculptured, but her large, doe-like, brown eyes were enough to render her pretty, if only she could break the habit of keeping them downcast.
Millie’s help was enlisted in making two attractive gowns for the girl, and she also used her theatrical experiences in the art of curling and styling Pinky’s hair. Most of the girl’s coaching took place in Gladys’s room or at Millie’s in the evenings; therefore, on the night of her debut, both Laura and Neil were pleasantly surprised with the end result.
The night Gladys introduced her protégé, she waited until she had the audience warmed up with a few lively songs, then she had Pinky join her in a duet. After an enthusiastic round of applause, Pinky’s confidence was sufficiently bolstered, and she sang her first solo. Gladys’s vivacious personality lent gaiety and naughtiness to her songs, whereas, Pinky’s voice rendered such sweetness that it touched the hearts of the audience, and she received a standing ovation. Of course the Watts were relieved, but Gladys found her congratulations undermined with jealousy.
She had been so enthralled over her upcoming marriage and what it would mean to her socially that she hadn’t thought about leaving the inn. Now, seeing the look of pride on Pinky’s face, she suddenly realized how much she would miss the exhilarating applause she received every night. Although she had done her best to coach Pinky, she never imagined that the customers she knew so well would welcome the chambermaid with such enthusiasm. It seemed she wouldn’t even be missed. Unable to hide her feelings of disappointment, she decided to say she wasn’t feeling well and retire. That’s when Pete Riley, one of her favourite customers, stood up, held his tankard in the air, and in a loud voice, called for silence.
Then he walked over to Gladys and said, “Gladdy luv, I have a few words to say on behalf of everyone here. We all know that you have the sweetest voice in all of Dover, and how very fortunat
e we have been to have you share it with us these past years. We shall miss the good times we’ve spent together more than you will ever know.” His eyes were moist as he continued, “But we don’t intend to let you go without something to remember us by. Now this is a little token of our appreciation.” He handed her a small, beautifully embroidered, cloth bag that was closed at the top with a red ribbon.
“Oh, Mr Riley, it’s so lovely. Thank you all very much.”
“My Shirley made the bag for you, Gladdy, but it’s what’s inside the bag that’s from us all. Go on now, open it!”
Gladys’s hands were shaking as she untied the ribbon. She reached in and pulled out the most exquisite comb she had ever seen. It was made from a tortoise shell and had two rows of pearls that shone like satin, across the top. Tears blurred her vision as she tried to express her gratitude. “I shall wear this when I get married and treasure it forever. Every time I look at it I shall remember each one of you. Oh, how I am going to miss you all!”
“You’re not leaving Dover, are you, Gladdy?” One of the men called out.
“I hope not, Jack, although I do intend to go wherever Tom is stationed if I can. As long as we are living here, Tom and I will drop in now and then, and if Pinky does not object, I might even sing a song or two.” The applause was long and loud. Then Gladys made the rounds hugging and thanking each one personally.
__________
Because of Andrew Pickwick’s status, many of Dover’s wealthier residents were expecting to receive an invitation to his son’s wedding, certain it would be a prestigious affair. Even Rose was heard to praise Tom’s choice of a bride, hoping to secure an invitation. Gladys was invited to a tea party in her honour from Mrs Eloise Dundas, one of the wealthiest ladies in town, who had been a close friend of Tom’s mother. She showed the invitation to Millie and said that even though she was pleased to receive such a fancy invitation, she had no intention of going.
Millie was surprised and said, “But you must go, for Tom’s sake.”
“Why on earth would I go for Tom’s sake?”
“Well, to prove that the girl he is going to marry is not just a barmaid, but a beautiful and graceful young lady who knows how to behave herself even among the highest of socialites.”
“But that’s just it, I’m not any of those things, and I have no idea what one is expected to do at a tea party; so how can I possibly know how to behave? I shall make a fool of myself, and that will be even worse for Tom and his father.”
“Nonsense! Just remember that no matter how amazed you are at the grandeur of the house, do not allow it to show. In fact, you may even act a trifle bored as though you have visited many such homes before. And be sure to only take one of the little cakes they offer you and only nibble at it, no matter how delicious it tastes. Anyway, my dear, we do have a week before the party, and by that time I shall have you sipping tea as daintily as though you had done it all your life. I shall also see to it that you are attired in a gown so stylish that all the other ladies will be green with envy.”
Millie made it all sound like an adventure, and Gladys began looking forward to the event. She was excited right up to the day of the tea when she was met at the door by Mrs Dundas’s butler. When she greeted him with a smile, he returned it with a disparaging look, and her enthusiasm waned. However, his attitude reminded her of Millie’s advice about not appearing too friendly.
The butler showed her into the parlour where her hostess, Eloise Dundas, rose and held out a welcoming hand. Gladys thought the woman to be in her mid-forties, and even though she had a full-bodied figure, her gown was tailored so cleverly and exquisitely, it minimized her excesses. She also had a pleasantness to her countenance that helped put Gladys a little more at ease.
The parlour was so elegant that Gladys wanted to remember every detail so she could describe it all to Millie later. The cream coloured wallpaper was striped with shiny wine coloured strips that Gladys wanted to touch to see if they were real satin. The same rich wine colour was accented in the rose pattern of the large Persian rug on the polished floor. A life-sized portrait of a pretty young girl, who Gladys thought must be the Dundas’ daughter, who had died of consumption at the age of ten, hung over the large fireplace. The picture was in a gilded frame that glittered from the light of a huge chandelier that hung from the ceiling and added a heavenly glow to the young girl’s face.
Two cherubs stood on each side of the fireplace, but instead of appearing like a shrine, the entire scene was a cheerful one since the sculptor had given each cherub a sweet smile and a dimpled cheek. In spite of Millie’s advice, Gladys felt obliged to compliment Mrs Dundas but managed to do it without gushing. Eloise accepted the compliment graciously and asked if she would care to see the rest of the house after they had their tea. Gladys said she would look forward to it.
She was then introduced to six other women in the room, and at first she was pleased to see that two of them, Miss Greta Rowland and Miss Jane Newell, were about her own age; but when they shook her hand, they neither smiled nor spoke, and it left no doubt in Gladys’s mind that they were not there to welcome her.
She was right. Greta and Jane had been shocked when they heard that Tom was going to marry a woman who was not only a commoner, but a lowly barmaid, and they came to the tea out of curiosity. Tom was one of the most handsome and eligible young men in town and had a very rich father. He had attended many of the same parties as the girls, and although he had danced with them, he never courted them in spite of their flirtatious gestures. Therefore, they consoled themselves by saying that the only reason he would marry a barmaid was because he had gotten her in the family way. They knew he was a man of honour, and instead of resenting his actions, they felt sorry for him.
What they couldn’t understand was why Tom’s father hadn’t behaved as most fathers would in such a situation, and saved his son’s future by arranging another marriage for the tart. Believing that Gladys had deliberately set a trap for Tom, they had no intention of welcoming her into their coveted circle of friends. Then when they saw how stylish and pretty she was, they understood why it had been easy for her to play on Tom’s sympathies.
After Gladys was seated and tea was served, the two girls began to belittle her by asking pertinent questions about her past. She did her best to keep calm, but her face felt hot, and she knew it was flushed as she tried to answer their prying questions. In spite of her stylish attire, Gladys felt like an elephant among gazelles and had done all she could not to burst out in tears. Then when they stopped asking questions and started discussing the latest styles in dresses and the different dressmakers in town, she began to relax. That is until Greta remarked how comical Mrs McIver looked with her face made up like a clown, knowing she was a friend of Gladys’s. When Jane nodded in agreement and added that Millie must be receiving men customers in the evenings, Gladys couldn’t tolerate any more.
“Mrs McIver happens to be my aunt,” she said indignantly, while sitting up straight for the first time since entering the house, “and she is the kindest and most caring person I have ever met.”
“Well, that may be, but you have to admit she looks as painted up as an actress.” Greta snapped back.
“It so happens she was a famous actress. She has even been on the stage with Mr Dickens.”
“I have never heard of the man, but then we are not in the habit of associating with that sort. Oh, my, I am afraid I have said the wrong thing, Gladys. Naturally, you have sympathy for the woman. After all, you are a working girl yourself, are you not?”
Before Gladys could answer, Eloise, trying to defuse the awkward situation, said, “I think you have said too much, Greta. I am well acquainted with your aunt, Gladys, and I agree, she is not only a kind person, but a most talented seamstress as well. I have been to her shop and found her to be a most gracious lady and her diction is commendable.”
Gladys should have acce
pted Mrs Dundas’s attempt to refute the young ladies’ remarks, but she couldn’t control her anger. Holding her nose high enough in the air so as to look down it, she addressed the girls, “Of course she has good diction. My aunt is a well-educated person and speaks three languages. Just because she works for a living does not mean she is not as intelligent as any of you, and if you think it does, you must think the same about me.
“Because of circumstances beyond my control, I was forced to go into service in order to live, and I happen to be proud of what I have accomplished. If I had not met and fallen in love with Tom, I would have accomplished even more by becoming a governess, like my mother.” Gladys’s problem was that when she started making up stories, she didn’t know when to stop, so when no one spoke up, she recklessly continued. “In fact I may still seek a career of some sort even after I am married.”
This shocked them all, even Eloise. Someone spoke up and insisted that Tom would never allow such a thing. Although Gladys had no intention of being anything other than a wife and mother, she was not about to give them the satisfaction of knowing that. “Oh, I think that if I still desire to have a career after we are married, Tom will be most understanding and not stand in my way.”
“Now you are just being silly!” Jane remarked, pleased that Gladys was finally showing her ignorance.
“There is nothing silly about wanting a career. If you think about it, a woman can make a career out of whatever she excels at, be it a seamstress, a governess, or a barmaid. Even raising children or keeping house is a career of sorts.”
“Oh my, Gladys, you are joking, are you not?” Eloise broke in.
“Not really, Mrs Dundas, but then I have no idea where I shall be in the future, or what opportunities await me.” Gladys was shaking and felt as though she would faint at any minute but she couldn’t stop talking. “You see, Tom is waiting to be deployed to India, and if he receives his commission before he goes, I shall be going with him. If that is the case, there are many exciting things I can probably do over there.” Ignoring the girls, she looked at Eloise. “Wouldn’t you like to do something different someday?”