by Linda Finlay
‘But Miss Sullivan said we couldn’t ’ave any more stories,’ Ellen cried.
‘She’s mean,’ Maggie grumbled.
‘Realistic, Maggie. Now, whilst you are sewing, my angels, I thought we could sing. You remember how it gets you into the rhythm?’
They nodded enthusiastically.
‘We are going to make a game of it. So, while Sally sings us the first verse, I want you to listen very carefully to how she pronounces the words. And then, it will be your turn to copy her. Who can manage to do that and sew at the same time?’
All their hands shot up again.
‘Then that is what we’ll do. And, what’s more, we’ll make Miss Sullivan proud of us all.’
As instructed, Pip was waiting outside the Gaiety when Edith came out of the theatre escorted by Sylvie Spangles.
‘You can tell your Miss Sullivan you’ve been a right help this afternoon, Eedie,’ the woman said. ‘Hello, ducks,’ she called to Pip. He waved and waited until Edith had climbed up beside him, then pulled on the reins.
‘See you on Friday, Sylvie,’ Edith called, as the pony began to move. ‘Coo, I’ve ’ad a great afternoon, Pip,’ she said. ‘I’ve been really busy but I also had time to pin these jewelled things in my ’air. It don’t ’alf make a difference to ’ow I look. Sylvie says they’ll look even better when it’s grown a bit more. Sylvie says the devil’s in the detail, you see.’
‘Oh, does she now?’ he replied affably. ‘It’s good you’ve had a nice time but do you think you should be calling her by her first name?’
‘Oh, yes, ducks, that’s what we do in the theatre, you know,’ Edith said, with a toss of her head. ‘Do you know I had to check all the costumes for holes in case the moths had been at them and …’ere, why are we going this way?’ she asked as they turned towards the station.
‘Master Higgins asked me to collect a parcel off the four thirty train. Come along, Thunder, get a giddy up,’ Pip urged.
‘That Solomon’s sure got a funny sense of ’umour, ain’t ’e?’ Edith chuckled.
‘Maybe, but this old pony here gave him a shoulder to cry on when he needed it,’ Pip said, serious for once. ‘Anyway, hopefully he’ll get us there in time and then we can go home for supper.’
‘Good, ’cos I’m starving. They don’t seem to eat at the Gaiety. When I asked what they lived on, that Ollie said fresh air, can you believe that?’ she exclaimed.
Pip smiled as he brought the cart to a halt and handed Edith the reins.
‘Won’t be a mo,’ he called as he hobbled into the office by the side of the station. Edith stared around at all the passengers who’d alighted from the train. Some were dressed in everyday clothes, others in their finery. She was just deciding which of the ladies’ outfits she would have chosen when a familiar voice made her start.
32
Peering around to see where the voice was coming from, Edith spotted a bundle of rags crouched by the station entrance.
‘Spare a coin, mister?’ the girl cried.
Her suspicion confirmed, Edith jumped down from the cart and, fearful of scaring her away, crept closer.
‘Spare a coin, miss?’ the girl begged, turning towards Edith. Then, seeing who it was, her hand flew to her mouth in horror. ‘Oh ’ell,’ she muttered.
‘Kitty, is it really you?’ Edith gasped. ‘Cor blimey, you looks awful,’ she added, taking in the girl’s tattered clothes and mud-spattered face.
Kitty stared at Edith in dismay then looked frantically around for a way of escape. But Edith was too quick for her, grabbed her friend by the arm and hung on for dear life. To her relief she saw Pip coming back, a large parcel under his arm.
‘Pip, over ’ere,’ Edith shouted.
Seeing Kitty, his eyes widened in surprise and he quickly dropped the package into the back of the cart and hobbled over.
‘Cor love us, look at the state of you,’ he muttered. ‘And what’s wrong with your face?’ he added, gesturing to her swollen cheek.
‘What the ’ell’s ’appened to you, girl?’ Edith asked, glaring at the passers-by who’d slowed to see what was going on. Kitty shook her head and stared down at the ground. Following her gaze, Edith gasped. ‘Blimey, girl, you ain’t got nothing on your feet and they’re all cut to bug … Right, you’re coming back to Red Cliffs with us,’ she told her, pulling the girl towards the cart.
‘I can’t go back looking like this,’ Kitty muttered, finding her voice at last.
‘You blinkin’ well can,’ Edith told her. ‘Come on, up you get,’ she said, helping her friend into the seat. ‘Mrs Daws is bound to ’ave the supper on,’ she added, climbing up beside her. Kitty stared at Edith, then burst into tears. Putting her arm around the girl’s shoulders, Edith pulled her close.
‘Think we’d better get back to Red Cliffs as soon as we can,’ Pip said, urging the pony on. As Kitty sobbed her heart out, Edith and Pip exchanged troubled glances.
‘What on earth can have happened?’ Pip asked.
‘I dunno,’ Edith replied. ‘But sure as ’ouses, I’m goin’ to find out.’
Sarah put her hand to her aching back and pulled herself into an upright position. What a day it had been, she thought, tucking stray tendrils of hair back into its bun. She felt grimy and out of sorts, for having ascertained Mr Fothergill was not in possession of the school licence, she’d spent the best part of the afternoon searching through battered boxes. If only she’d got around to sorting them earlier, she mused, but there were always more pressing things to attend to. Smiling wryly, she recalled her godfather saying the very same thing.
Hearing the trap rattling up the driveway, she guessed Pip had collected Edith from the Gaiety. The girl had really taken to her job and would no doubt regale them all with stories of the latest happenings in theatreland over supper, she thought, smiling as she went over to the window. Then her eyes widened in surprise and she flew from the room.
‘Kitty, is that really you?’ she gasped, arriving in the kitchen just as Edith was helping her distraught friend through the back door.
‘We found her begging on the station steps,’ Edith explained, cuddling the trembling Kitty closer. ‘She weren’t sure about coming back but she was in such a state, me and Pip insisted,’ she added, staring anxiously at Sarah.
‘You did the right thing, Edith,’ she replied. ‘It’s good to see you again, Kitty,’ she added, frowning as the girl avoided her gaze and stared down at the floor. She was filthy and her hair, which had grown since she’d left the school, clung to her head in matted clumps. The pitiful sight tugged at Sarah’s heartstrings and, wanting to comfort the girl, she opened her arms. However, Mrs Daws shot her a warning look.
‘Well, young Kitty, it’s good to see you back and no mistake. But just looked at the state of you,’ the housekeeper chided, snatching a towel from the pulley. ‘April, bring that kettle of hot water out to the wash house,’ she ordered. ‘Now, young Kitty, a nice warm soaping is what you need. You’ve chosen a good day to visit ’cos there’s rabbit stew for supper. Cors, if you’d come a bit earlier you could have skinned the thing for me. Never seen anyone do it as quick as you.’
As the girl smiled for the first time, the housekeeper ushered her back outside, closely followed by April.
‘Good old Mrs Daws,’ Edith muttered. ‘She always knows what to say and do.’
‘Sit down and tell me exactly what happened, Edith,’ Sarah said, sinking into a chair and patting the one beside her.
‘Pip had to collect a parcel for Master Higgins, and when ’e went inside the station, I heard this girl begging coins from the passengers. It was Kitty, miss. She had a wild look in her eyes and kept staring this way and that. Right scared, she were, and did you see her feet? All caked with blood and mud and she’s got a right old bruiser on her cheek …’
Edith’s voice shuddered to a halt and seeing she was in shock, Sarah poured tea from the seemingly ever-full pot, added two spoons of sugar and placed the mug
before her.
‘Drink this, Edith. It’ll make you feel better.’
‘Ta, miss. I never seen Kitty like that, not even when she first came ’ere.’ She took a sip then scratched her head. ‘Something terrible’s ’appened, ain’t it?’
Sarah reached out and patted the girl’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her. It’s almost time for supper so I’ll go and get Master Higgins to supervise,’ Sarah said, getting to her feet.
‘He ain’t ’ere, miss. We saw him walking with Miss O’Reilly when we was on our way back. Looked right ’appy, they did. He were carrying ’er bag and they was chatting away so ’ard they never even saw us. Just like when we clocked them the other day, ’cept without that kiss,’ she grinned, the colour returning to her cheeks.
‘I see,’ Sarah replied, pursing her lips. ‘Well, if you’ve finished your drink you can go and tell the others to wash their hands and faces while I dish up supper. Ah, April,’ she said as the door opened. ‘How is Kitty?’
‘She’s in a bad way, miss,’ she replied, shaking her head. ‘I got to put the kettle on to heat again and then go for Dr Hawkins.’
‘And what about Luke? Is there any news of him?’
‘She didn’t mention him but then she’s not really with it,’ April sighed.
‘Ah well, happen we’ll ask her when she’s recovered, then.’
The children had just sat down to supper when April reappeared with an anxious-looking Harry.
‘The doctor’s finishing with a patient and then he’ll be here,’ April panted. ‘I ran all the way and literally bumped into Master Higgins, didn’t I, sir?’
‘Yes, you did,’ Harry agreed. ‘Now you go and get yourself something to eat and I’ll see Dr Hawkins when he arrives.’
‘It’s criminal. I’ve never heard anything so appalling in all my life,’ Sarah muttered, staring into her mug.
‘It happens, dearie,’ Mrs Daws sighed. ‘Poor Kitty. Let’s hope that stuff the doctor gave her makes her sleep. Rest is what she needs. It was good of you to let her have your room, Miss Sullivan. Although you’ll have to check your bedding for lice. Riddled, she was. What would we do without carbolic, eh?’
Sarah grimaced. ‘I couldn’t persuade Edith to leave her. Cuddled up together like Siamese twins, they are.’
‘Well, Kitty looked out for Edith last year so I guess she feels it’s her turn to repay the favour. Makes you realize we’re getting something right at Red Cliffs, anyway,’ Harry smiled. Then his expression darkened. ‘But if I ever get my hands on that brute, I swear I’ll throttle him or worse.’
‘I can’t get over it,’ Sarah sighed. ‘What man climbs into a child’s bed and tries to … to …’ She shuddered, unable to finish her sentence.
‘Luckily Kitty was able to escape before he could … well, you know. Apparently, she gave him a right good kicking in his … er … private bits, which was when he retaliated by punching her in the face,’ Mrs Daws glowered.
‘Dr Hawkins said he’d tell Sergeant Watts what’s happened, so no doubt he’ll be here to take a statement tomorrow morning,’ Harry said.
‘Well I hope they catch that, that … monster,’ Mrs Daws replied, shaking her head.
‘It’s not likely if he’s already scarpered. I can’t understand how Kitty’s mother, knowing what he’d done, ran off with him. What possesses a person to even think of being with a man like that?’
‘Some women need a man, any man,’ Mrs Daws said, shaking her head.
‘But surely it’s better to be by yourself than with someone like that. The sooner women win the right to vote and have a say in how things are run, the better. You’d think she’d have stayed and looked after her daughter,’ Sarah cried.
‘At least she’s got us to take care of her, eh, Marmalade?’ Mrs Daws said, stroking the cat’s fur.
‘Well, it’s been a long day and I’d better get home to Mother before she wonders where I’ve got to,’ Harry said, getting to his feet.
‘I guess the tool shed must be coming along well, for I hear you had time to walk Miss O’Reilly home,’ Sarah said, giving him a searching look.
He nodded. ‘I offered to carry her bag for her. She realizes how important it is for the new bedding to be finished for the inspection and has taken it upon herself to do some of the sewing in her spare time.’
‘She’s a fine woman, that Miss O’Reilly,’ the housekeeper commented.
‘That is good of her,’ Sarah agreed. ‘But what about the shed and all those dirty tools? You know it’s vital to have everything ready for the inspectors to observe a sample lesson if we’re to secure that funding.’
‘Don’t worry, everything’s in hand. While I was finishing off the outside of the shed earlier, Solomon got the boys cleaning the worst of the tools with dry sand, while he and Bunter cut and trimmed a long branch to make the lathe. That boy’s been a real help. It was he who pointed out that working with metal can’t be done in the same place as woodworking, due to flying sparks, so we are going to clear out the empty stable as well. We can’t go up to the farm at the moment so we’ll spend Saturday afternoon doing that. Gosh, just talking about it all has made me tired,’ he yawned.
‘Me, too, Master Higgins. When I thinks of all the cleaning that needs doing round here, I feel like Annie Domino,’ Mrs Daws chipped in.
‘Annie who?’ Sarah asked, collecting their used mugs together.
‘You know, that friend of the doctor he was always going on about when he were fatigued.’
‘I think you mean Anno Domini, Mrs Daws, and the doctor meant he was getting older,’ Harry pointed out.
‘Exactly,’ Mrs Daws said. ‘Everything takes me so much longer these days. It’s a good job April’s so willing. She’ll be taking over before I’m much older.’
‘Oh, Mrs Daws, I do hope we’re not working you too hard,’ Sarah cried.
‘Well, this place takes a fair bit of running, Miss Sullivan. Right, Marmalade, it’s time you went out for the night, then I’m away to my bed.’
‘I’ll sleep in here tonight, then I can hear if Kitty needs anything,’ Sarah said.
‘And I’ll report for duty bright and early,’ Harry replied, giving her a mock salute.
The next morning, although pale, Kitty was more like her normal self.
‘The resilience of youth,’ Mrs Daws commented when Kitty insisted on answering Sergeant Watts’ questions straight away.
‘Go easy on her, Sergeant,’ Sarah whispered as they gathered around the table. Mrs Daws set cups of tea in front of them, then took her seat.
‘So, young Kitty, you didn’t like this man your mother had, er, moved in with?’ he asked, his gaze sharp behind his glasses.
‘He were ’orrible,’ Kitty replied. ‘Kept giving me sly winks and making rude remarks when she weren’t there. I’d have left sooner if it weren’t for Luke.’
‘She took your brother with her?’ he asked. Kitty nodded. ‘And left you to fend for yourself?’ Kitty nodded again.
‘When your mother came to collect you, she said she had a job lined up for you, Kitty,’ Sarah prompted.
‘If you can call being nice to that creep’s customers a job,’ Kitty snorted.
‘What exactly did this man do?’ Sergeant Watts asked, pencil poised.
‘Sold things,’ she muttered.
‘And do you know where these things he sold came from?’
Kitty gave him an old-fashioned look. ‘Stole ’em.’
‘That’s a serious allegation, Kitty. Can you be certain of that?’ Sarah asked.
‘Cors. I mean, do you know any shops that sells things during the dead of night? All ’is punters came to the ’ouse to pick up their stuff. ’E’d steal to order, see. Some of it were expensive things yet they got it for a song. It were my job to get them to up their prices.’
‘But how could you do that?’ Sarah frowned.
Kitty gave a long-drawn-out sigh then looked at her pityingly. ‘You
don’t know much about life, do you, Miss Sullivan? I ’ad to smile and be nice,’ she said, making quotation marks with her fingers when she said ‘nice’. ‘Lousy creeps. ’Ands like flamin’ octopuses.’
‘Have a drink of your tea, Kitty. It’ll make you feel better,’ the housekeeper urged, two spots of anger staining her cheeks.
Kitty grinned, giving a glimpse of her former self. ‘Dear Mrs Daws, that’s your answer for everything.’
‘You’ve been very helpful, Kitty,’ Sergeant Watts said. ‘I don’t suppose you could give me a description of this man.’
‘Cors I can,’ she snorted. ‘He ’ad skin like a leather belt and always wore stinkin’ overalls. Me mum refused to wash them they were so filthy. ’Is teeth were all yellow ’cos he always had a fag hanging out the corner of his mouth and ’e leered like a loony. Gave me the creeps.’
Sarah frowned at this description. Surely it couldn’t be …?
‘Don’t suppose you know his name?’ the sergeant asked.
‘Cors I do,’ Kitty spluttered. ‘Honestly, Sergeant, you must ’ave forgotten what a good memory I’ve got. Mostly called ’imself Slates but sometime he used Tiles. Used to think it funny, for some reason.’
‘Not Slater or Tyler?’ Sergeant Watts asked.
‘Nah, it were definitely Slates or Tiles. Still, it’s close, ain’t it?’
‘It is indeed,’ he agreed, glancing at Sarah.
‘Now, Kitty, you’ve been most helpful but I think that’s enough for one day,’ Sarah told her.
‘Yes, you come with me, young lady, and I’ll settle you into bed,’ Mrs Daws said, getting to her feet.
‘But it’s daytime,’ Kitty said, trying to stifle a yawn. ‘Besides, I can see to meself,’ she grumbled, but let the housekeeper lead her away.
‘Well, that links neatly with my findings,’ Sergeant Watts said, frowning down at his notes.
‘Do you think it’s the man who robbed us?’ Sarah asked, voicing her suspicions.