by Linda Finlay
‘White rabbits to you, O crepuscular one,’ Harry greeted her, startling Sarah from her thoughts.
‘Goodness, you made me jump,’ she told him. ‘And what’s that about white rabbits?’
‘It’s the first of the month and saying that is meant to bring you good luck,’ he admitted.
‘Gracious, Harry, that’s the sort of mumbo jumbo I’d expect from Mrs Daws.’
‘That’s probably where I heard it,’ he chuckled, then shivered. ‘Crikey, it’s cold in here,’ he added, lighting a spill and setting it to the fire.
‘We’re meant to be economizing,’ she reminded him, as he stood holding his hands to the pitiful flame.
‘There’s hardly enough coal there to warm a gnat. Good reading?’ he asked, nodding towards the book she’d been so engrossed in.
‘One of Mrs Knight’s principles caught my attention. She refers to the silver lining, which I’m sure is relevant to our situation, but I’m blowed if I can think why.’
Harry frowned and straddled the seat in front of her.
‘Could mean Farmer Jim’s wriggly tin,’ he replied, eventually. ‘That’s a sort of silver colour and could make a good lining for the roof. If you’re agreeable, I’ll get a chap I know to take a look and see if it would be a viable proposition?’ Sarah opened her mouth to say she could organize that herself, then remembered Lady Chorlton’s words.
‘That would be helpful,’ she conceded. ‘Those recent showers have been so heavy the water found its way in through yet more tiles.’
‘I’ll call in and see him on my way to the foundry.’
‘Poor Solomon,’ Sarah said. ‘He’s going to find it a daunting proposition sifting through the remains of his family home and business.’
‘I know, that’s why the sooner it’s done the better. Sergeant Watts has promised the loan of two of his constables to assist. Miss O’Reilly suggested it would help Solomon if we focus on the positive aspects of anything we can salvage.’
‘Keeping focused will get the job done quicker,’ Sarah replied. While privately thinking that Miss O’Reilly seemed to have an awful lot of opinions, she forced a smile. But Harry wasn’t fooled.
‘Miss O’Reilly comes from a large family. They don’t have much money and her parents spend all their time eking out a living. Being the eldest, she was left in charge of her siblings and became adept at using her psychological skills to manage them.’
‘You seem to know an awful lot about her,’ Sarah replied, feeling wrong-footed again.
‘We’ve spent time together both at the farm and here so …’ He shrugged. ‘Now, we were going to look at the Local Authority funding, weren’t we? Do you have the forms handy?’
They spent the next half-hour going through the paperwork. Just as Harry had thought, the authority still owed them monies for taking in Solomon. Red Cliffs was also awaiting payment of this quarter’s funding for the rest of the pupils.
‘You know, if we could increase our range of trade training, we might be eligible for more,’ Harry said, looking up from the form he’d been studying.
‘Like what? Surely we’re already teaching them everything we can …’
Their conversation was interrupted by the clang of the gong being sounded. There followed the thundering of footsteps down the hallway. There was a moment’s silence and then the gong was banged once more.
‘Mrs Daws is certainly making the most of her new toy,’ Harry laughed. ‘Come on, we’ve both got a busy day ahead so let’s go and get some sustenance.’
The other choir members were already assembled when Harry and Sally entered the church.
‘Good morning,’ the vicar beamed, coming over to greet them. ‘Well, it’s March already so just over a month until our concert. I hope you are in fine voice as usual, young Sally. Run along and take your place, then we can make a start.’ The girl nodded and made her way gracefully towards the others. ‘I don’t know why I suggested she ran, she has the makings of a young lady,’ the vicar beamed. ‘I’ll see she’s safely delivered back to the school when we’ve finished. Unfortunately, I am verger-less at the moment. Jack Wise has regrettably moved on to pastures new.’
‘But I thought he’d settled in well here,’ Harry replied.
‘He had, and I shall miss him. He could twist those good ladies around his little finger.’ The man sighed and lowered his voice. ‘Alas, it appears we have unrequited love to blame. He was beguiled by the charms of Miss Sullivan but it would seem she was blind to his devotions.’
‘Ah,’ Harry nodded, remembering the man’s attentions. ‘Well, I’d best leave you to your practice, vicar. I’m taking Solomon to the foundry but it remains to be seen if anything can be salvaged.’
‘Poor child. That was a terrible thing to have happened. I shall say a prayer for him.’
‘Thank you, Vicar,’ Harry replied, thinking he could do with one being said for him, too.
Back outside, Harry saw that Solomon had taken the reins and was talking to the pony. It had been a good idea to put him in charge, he thought, clambering up beside him. Solomon stared at him in surprise, then grinned.
‘Come on, Thunder, get a gallop on,’ he called. Harry bit down a laugh. Thunder indeed. That was a misnomer if ever there was one, for the old pony was a confirmed plodder. Thunder and Plodder, a bit like Sarah and Jack Wise, he supposed. Sarah, serious and quick to anger but well intentioned; easier-going Jack, always smiling and even tempered. Poor Jack, Sarah was so taken up with running the school and her women’s meetings, she’d probably never even noticed the man’s infatuation, he thought remembering his own discussion with Sarah over their fish supper, when she’d made her feelings perfectly clear. To think he’d thought they might take things further. Still, that was before Sheena had bowled him over with her bright and breezy manner. She was much more his cup of tea, or should that be his glass of Guinness?
They arrived at the remains of the old foundry to find two constables keeping watch. The smell of damp, charred timber hung heavy in the air. Seeing Solomon’s earlier bravado had been replaced by an anxious hopelessness, Harry took hold of his arm.
‘Come on,’ he urged.
They began sifting through the debris of the thatched roof and timbers of the foundry, but found only a few blackened shovel blades. Amongst the rubble of the toolmaker’s shop they came across the various implements that had been stored on shelves. Although scorched and discoloured they’d been protected from the worst of the heat by a cob wall that had collapsed onto them.
While the constables helped Harry load everything onto the cart, Solomon managed to salvage a small grindstone, which had been in the yard and escaped the fire.
‘Right, that’s about it,’ one of the constables announced a short time later. ‘Surprised even that little lot survived them intense flames, boy.’ But Solomon had returned to the foundry and was still frantically searching through the remains.
‘Come on, old chap, there’s nothing else here,’ Harry said, going over and taking hold of his arm. Solomon pulled away and continued tossing the charred wood to one side.
‘But it’s got to be ’ere,’ he muttered, throwing himself on the ground and scrabbling in the blackened remains.
‘What has, Solomon?’ Harry asked, hunkering down beside him.
‘Father’s pocket watch. ’E always took it off and put it on the side so ’e could tell when it was time to get up. But ’e didn’t wake up so it must still be ’ere.’ Harry turned to the constables, who shrugged.
‘Looters probably had it before we arrived,’ one muttered quietly.
‘’E said it were the only thing ’e ’ad of any worth and when ’e died I could ’ave it,’ Solomon cried.
‘Perhaps he left it in his pocket when he went to bed,’ one of the constables suggested.
‘Yes, that’s probably what happened,’ Harry agreed. ‘Come along, Solomon,’ he added, helping the boy to his feet.
‘Poor bugger,’ one of the
policemen murmured, his eyes bright with pity.
‘Thank you for your help, Constables,’ Harry called, as he helped a desolate, wet and filthy Solomon into the laden cart.
‘We’ll notify the landlord he can begin the demolition now. Probably be one of them new-fangled terraces of houses here before long. Good day to you, sir.’ The constables tipped their helmets. Harry brushed the worst of the dirt from his clothes, wrapped an old blanket around Solomon, then called to the pony to move on.
‘At least we’ve got some of your father’s things to take back with us,’ Harry said, leaning over and patting the boy’s hand. Solomon didn’t reply and Harry noted his expression had regained its hopeless, morose look. He was just wondering if it would be better to keep talking or leave the boy to his own thoughts, when he caught a glimpse of a cherry-red hat ahead. His heart gave a leap and he called to the pony to get a move on.
‘Good day to you, Miss O’Reilly,’ he called, as they drew alongside.
‘Good morning, Master Higgins. How are you?’ she asked, turning to the boy. He shrugged.
‘We’ve just come from the foundry,’ Harry explained, indicating the sacks behind them.
‘So you recovered some of your belongings, Solomon? That’s good,’ Sheena said brightly.
‘No it isn’t,’ he muttered.
Sheena looked askance at Harry but he shook his head.
‘I take it you are on your way to Red Cliffs. Would you like a lift?’
‘That’d be grand,’ she said, climbing nimbly up beside Solomon. ‘Nanna wanted some extra shopping this morning so I’m running late. Miss Sullivan wishes to see me before afternoon lessons and I was that worried I’d keep her waiting.’ She inclined her head towards him and he saw her worried expression. ‘Wouldn’t do to be told off by the boss now, would it? Especially as I’m still the new girl, so to speak,’ she asked Solomon.
He shook his head. ‘I feel out of it, too,’ he replied.
Sheena stared at him, surprised at his perception. ‘I thought you were settling in at Red Cliffs so why should you feel out of things, Solomon?’ she asked gently.
‘Well, I only got me old fings to wear. All the uvers got them posh red waistcoats,’ he muttered.
Sheena and Harry exchanged a look.
‘Sorry, old chap, I hadn’t given it a thought,’ Harry told him.
‘I’m sure we can get one made for you, too,’ Sheena added. ‘So what did you manage to find earlier?’ she asked him conversationally. He scowled.
‘Tools but they’re all black and their ’andles is all broke.’
‘Well, that’s not so bad. Tools can be cleaned, handles mended,’ she chirped.
‘Didn’t find ’is watch, though,’ Solomon wailed. ‘That constable said it had probly been taken by looters. ’E fort I didn’t ’ear ’im, but I did.’
‘Oh, my poor angel,’ she replied, pulling him close. They made their way up the lane towards Red Cliffs, silent save for the sound of hooves.
‘At least it’s not raining,’ Harry laughed, trying to relieve the tension. ‘Which reminds me, I’ve got that dictionary I promised you back at the school.’
‘Then, to be sure, I’ll be able to learn some fancy words to try out on you, Master Higgins,’ Sheena smiled.
‘That could be fun. Miss Sullivan finds my penchant for the lexicon quite vexing.’
‘Oh?’ she replied, then hearing a sob from Solomon, tucked the blanket tighter around him.
‘I was thinking, Solomon,’ Harry said turning to the boy. ‘Those tools of yours would be really useful if they were repaired. How would you feel about the boys helping you restore them as part of their woodworking lesson?’
Solomon stared ahead but they could tell by his expression that he was mulling things over.
‘Would that not be a splendid tribute to your father, Solomon?’ Sheena cried. ‘Every time you look at them you would remember him.’ The boy’s face brightened and Harry could have kissed her for her sensitivity.
As he felt his neck growing hot at the thought, he quickly said, ‘It is Saturday tomorrow so we will be going to the farm in the afternoon, if you’d like to join us. The animals have been sold, but I promised Bess we would help tidy everywhere up before she leaves with her sister.’
‘That’s kind, Master Higgins. I’d love to see Bess before she leaves,’ Sheena replied.
‘Have Patsy and ’er piglets been sold, too?’ Solomon asked.
Sheena glanced at Harry.
‘Yes, they’ve all found a new home,’ he said, careful not to lie. ‘Well, here we are,’ he announced, grateful there was no time for Solomon to pursue the subject. ‘You’ll find that dictionary in my desk, Miss O’Reilly. I await my first test with bated breath.’
‘To be sure, I love a challenge, Master Higgins,’ she assured him.
Hearing the rattle of the trap as it drew up outside, Sarah glanced out of the classroom window. She’d had a difficult morning and seeing Harry hold out his hand and the new mistress laughing down at him as she accepted his help didn’t improve her mood. How could he look so cheerful when he’d taken Solomon to salvage his things, she thought. Although she had to admit the boy looked quite calm, if somewhat dirty.
‘Right, children,’ she said quickly. ‘Are you all happy with the words you are to sing?’
‘Still don’t know why it’s a green hill, miss,’ Black muttered. ‘I mean, if it had been snowing it would ’ave been white.’
‘Well, it wasn’t,’ Sarah replied, trying to keep her voice even.
‘Yeah, but why ’ave a city without a wall?’ Brown asked.
‘And why would you let anyone put nails fru your ’ands?’
‘Well, you certainly seem to have learned the words, so well done, everybody,’ Sarah said quickly. ‘Now it’s time for luncheon, so off you go.’ She tried not to wince at the scraping of stools on the floor as they ran from the room. Who would have thought that learning a couple of hymns would be so difficult?
‘Good afternoon, Miss Sullivan. You wanted to see me before the girls’ needlework lesson.’ Sarah looked up as the schoolmistress appeared in the doorway. The fresh air had lent colour to her cheeks and so they matched her hat, and her bright and breezy manner contrasted with Sarah’s present state of mind.
‘I was surprised to see you arriving with Master Higgins,’ she said.
‘He was kind enough to offer me a lift when he passed on his way back from the foundry.’
So, it had been a chance meeting, Sarah thought, feeling herself relax.
‘Well, that was fortuitous,’ she replied. ‘And how was Solomon?’
‘He brightened up when he realized his father’s tools could be restored.’
‘It will be good for him to have something positive to focus on. Talking of focus, you and Master Higgins seems to be spending a lot of time together,’ she replied, then bit her lip. Despite her good intentions, she just didn’t seem able to refrain from mentioning it.
20
‘I can’t help thinking Miss Sullivan doesn’t like me,’ Sheena sighed. It was Saturday afternoon and she was helping Harry escort the boys up to the farm. Although it was blustery, a weak sun was shining giving a hint that spring was just around the corner.
‘Whatever makes you say that?’ he asked, feigning surprise. For in truth, he had noticed Sarah’s tendency to pick on her.
‘I just don’t seem able to meet her exacting standards regarding the girls’ sewing schedule. Really I don’t understand it as there’s another month until Easter and they are making good progress now.’
‘Well, that’s not the same as not liking you.’
‘It’s the way she looks at me, though. Like I’ve crawled out of a bog or something,’ Sheena tried to explain.
‘Well, you’re the best-looking boggart I’ve ever seen,’ Harry chuckled, giving her a look that set her insides quivering. ‘And it’s kind of you to give up another afternoon for this little lot,’ he added,
waving his hand at the crocodile of excited children in front of them.
‘It’s my pleasure,’ she cried. ‘I’ve grown fond of the little angels already.’ She didn’t add that she welcomed the opportunity of seeing Harry, too.
‘Angels?’ he spluttered. ‘I’ve seen better behaved specimens in the circus.’ He shook his head but she could tell he was really fond of his charges as well.
‘Get back in line, Brown,’ he called, as if to emphasize his point. ‘Don’t let Miss Sullivan’s manner get to you,’ he said, turning back to Sheena. ‘That’s just her way. She is so focused on raising the profile of Red Cliffs, I think she sometimes forgets there is life outside the school.’
‘Well, she’s taking the girls for needlework this afternoon so she’ll see for herself how time-consuming the work is, especially without a sewing machine,’ Sheena said philosophically, not wishing to spoil the mood of the afternoon. She watched as Solomon broke into a run in his haste to get to the farm. ‘He seems brighter,’ she observed.
‘Yes, the promise of restoring his father’s tools has perked him up no end. I just hope nobody enlightens him that his beloved Patsy has been turned into a pasty,’ he murmured.
‘Well, animals are reared for eating, but I agree this is probably not the best time to tell him that.’ They shared a complicit look, then, feeling her cheeks growing warm, Sheena turned away.
‘Is it not a glorious afternoon?’ she cried, gesturing to the flowering crocuses and the daffodil buds bursting from the hedge-banks.
‘Just as well it’s dry for I promised to call in to see someone about the repair of the school roof yesterday morning and completely forgot,’ Harry groaned.
‘I expect you were too busy concentrating on Solomon,’ Sheena replied. ‘Or, of course, you could merely be an amnesiac,’ she added casually.
‘To be sure, Miss O’Reilly, you’ve been studying that dictionary I loaned you,’ he replied in a parody of her accent. ‘You’ll have to do better than that, though,’ he chuckled, wagging a finger at her.
‘Oh, I’ve only just made a start, Master Higgins,’ she teased. They lapsed into a comfortable silence before Sheena remembered something. ‘By the way, I’m sure I saw Kitty earlier?’