Justice Is a Woman (13 page)

now eased herself to the front of the couch and, putting out her bony fingers, she clasped Betty’s knee

gently as she said, “If you come with me, girl, I’ll buy a house; we’ll make a home, you and I. I’ve plenty

of money, more than I know what to do with. That’s what I’ll do, we’ll make a home.”

It was a situation with which at present Betty couldn’t cope; at least not with words. She watched the

old lady lean back again against the couch; she watched her look upwards as if she were again lost in

thought as she said, “Life is strange, isn’t it? But George said to me: You’ll find

someone, Mary, who

will love you and look after you; you’ll never die alone. But who would have thought I would meet her in

a train on a journey from London to Newcastle? Do you believe in fate?”

“Yes, in a way.” There was a slight tremble in Betty’s voice which she couldn’t control.

“I ... I have the idea that life is mapped out for us from the start, yet at the same time I ... I question why

the roads on some maps are so rough and so hard.”

The old lady looked at her now in silence. It was the first silence that hid fallen between them, and it

continued while once more she put her head |j back and gazed towards the ceiling. But after a few

moments Betty had to break it. Looking at her watch, she said quietly, “Will you excuse me, Lady

Ambers? But I must be going; the chauffeur is waiting for me and he has to pick up my brother—in-law

from the factory at five o’clock.”

‘ Oh. Oh. “ Lady Ambers now pulled herself slowly to her feet and, holding out her hand, she said, “

You have given me your word; it’s a bargain. “

“It’s a bargain. But ... but I must impress upon you I must stay with my sister as long as she needs me.”

“Till after the baby is born?”

“Yes, till after the baby is born.”

“Well, then, let’s forget about this Lady Ambers nonsense. Call me Mary. And look’ she was still

holding Betty’s hand ‘do you think I might visit you now and again?”

“Oh yes, yes.” Betty smiled brightly at her.

“Of course; you’d be very welcome.”

“Well, I’ll do that. When things get really on top of me I’ll come along and see you ...

Will I have to

write and let you know?”

“No, no, you needn’t; just call when you feel like it.”

“And your sister won’t mind?”

“She’d be delighted to see you.”

‘ From what I saw of her I didn’t take to her much. But anyway, I won’t be coming to see her, I’ll be

coming to see you .. Ring the bell. “ She pointed to a thick be tasselled cord hanging by the fireplace, and

after Betty had pulled it she said, “ Goodbye, Lady Mary. It’s been a pleasure. “

“I’m so glad you think so, girl. It makes me feel I’ve still some life left in me. We had a laugh, didn’t

we?”

“We did, and thank you. Goodbye.”

The door opened, and when the footman entered, Lady Ambers called in a loud voice, as if he were

already on the drive, “See Miss Burton into her car, Rogers, and see she’s well tucked up.”

“Yes, milady.”

As Betty walked across the hall behind the footman she was amused by the fact that even his back

showed that his opinion of her had changed since he had opened the door to her.

David did not allow the footman to do the honours but himself saw that she had a rug

over her knees

before he took his own seat, and when they had passed through the gates he put his head back and said

loudly, so that his voice would penetrate the closed windows of the partition, “I hope you had an

enjoyable visit, miss?” Betty, bending forward, opened the window and said, “Most

enjoyable, David.

And she’s going to return the visit.”

“My! My!”

“Yes, that’s what I say too, David: My! My!” She sat back and repeated to herself, “My!

My!” and

then she thought. Poor soul. Poor old soul.

How would she like being companion to her ?

She would like it very much. Yes, she would. And she had promised to make a settlement on her. Had

anyone else ever promised to make a settlement on her in her life? No-one; apart from a small salary she

had received from Mrs. Boulton-Westbrook, she had worked for her keep among cousins

and aunts

since the war ended, and that was eight years ago.

Yes, she would enjoy being companion to Lady Ambers .. Mary. No, Lady Mary. That

would be

better.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Make a settlement on you? She’s saying that until she gets you.

They’re

skinflints, the Mentons, the Amberses, all that crowd; they’re known to be tight-fisted.

And you took it

in?”

“Yes, I took it in. And I believe her. Anyway, why are you getting so het up? I’m not going tomorrow;

I told you I’ll stay as long as you need me. “

“But you’ll hold her over my head.”

“What do you mean?” Betty’s tone was indignant.

“Just what I say. If I lose my temper with you or say a word out of place, all right, you’ll say, I’m off to

the old crone’s.”

“She’s not an old crone.”

“What is she then? She’s an eccentric old bag of rags.”

“She’s a lady . she’s a lady of the old school: she’s straightforward and she’s honest.”

“What do you know of her? Don’t be stupid and gullible, Betty. You met her on the train, you’ve had a

cup of tea with her, and now she possesses all the virtues.”

As Betty stared at her sister, Elaine cried,” Go on, tell me that you haven’t got to put up with me or my

temper, you can walk out now.”

“And that’s what I’m going to do.”

As Betty turned towards the door Elaine called in a voice that was just above a whisper,

“Betty, please,

I’m sorry. Don’t take any notice. I’m .. I’m just afraid you’re going to leave me.”

“And I am for the present.”

“Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you. Go on—’ Her tone softened.

“Go on downstairs;

Joe will be in in a minute. And stop worrying; nothing has changed.

And oh, I’d better tell you, she’s going to call. “ As Elaine’s mouth dropped into a gape, Betty left the

room, closing the door behind her, and as she made her way to her room she thought she should be

feeling quite pleased with herself that she was so much in demand, that she was wanted.

But did it matter

if you were wanted and needed by the whole world if there wasn’t someone particular

who needed you

for yourself?

Oh, she wished that she had never come here. Life had been dull and hard before, but her feelings

weren’t ravished then, as they were now.

It was nine o’clock in the evening of 26 April, 1927, and Elaine was deep in labour, as she had been all

day. The first pains had attacked her at five o’clock the previous evening and when the doctor saw her a

short while later, he smilingly told her she had a long way to go yet and that it might be the morrow

morning before she gave birth. He was back in the house at nine o’clock the following morning and after

examining her he again smilingly intimated that it could be a little time yet; but that she wasn’t to worry,

everything was all right; it was often like this with the first baby. He’d be back about noon.

Joe had engaged, a nurse, and unfortunately Elaine had taken a dislike to her on sight, for she not only

turned the bedroom into a replica of a hospital ward but she gave orders which she

expected to be

obeyed.

“Come on now,” she would say at frequent intervals, ‘bear down, do a little work, he or she can’t do it

all themselves. You wouldn’t expect it, would you? Come on now, bear down. “ When

she added

practical help in the bearing down, Elaine screamed, and not for the first time during the last few hours;

but this time she 127 added between shuddering breaths, “ Get out! Get out! Joe! I want Betty. Joe!

Joe! “

Joe burst into the room; then stood for a moment looking towards the bed, where the

nurse was

standing breathing almost as heavily as Elaine now, although still keeping her

composure. She nodded

her head at Joe and gave a peremptory wave of her hand as she said, “It’s all right. It’s all right. It’s just

that she is proving a little difficult.”

Joe now came quickly towards the bed, where Elaine was holding her arms out to him,

and as he

gripped her hands he glared at the nurse and said, “What do you mean, a little difficult?”

“Just what I said, Mr. Remington. She ... she won’t co-operate, she’s tense, all her

muscles are tense,

she’ll have to let go before it will come; she’s only prolonging the agony.”

“Agony. Agony. Yes, that’s what it is.” The tears were streaming down Elaine’s cheeks and she

tossed her head from side to side and moaned, “Oh Joe! Joe!”

“It’s all right, darling. It’s all right. It’ll be soon over.”

“Send her out, Joe. Send her out. I want Betty.”

“She’ll be here in a minute; she’s only gone downstairs for a bite to eat.”

“I want Betty. I want Betty.” Her head was still tossing backwards and forwards on the pillow.

“All right, all right, I’ll go and fetch her now. Only in the meantime, darling, try ... try to do what Nurse

says; try to relax and then it’ll come.”

“It’ll never come; I’ll die. I’ll die, Joe. I can’t bear it. Do you hear? I can’t bear it.” She now gazed

pitifully up into his face, and he wiped the tears from her cheeks; then he stroked her hair back from her

sweat-dripping brow. But the next moment he was gripping her hand tightly as she pulled up her knees

and emitted a high piercing scream.

When he was pushed aside he made no resistance but hurried blindly out of the room, and he stood with

his back to the wall by the side of the door for a moment, pressing his fingers on his eyeballs and

swallowing deeply in his throat. Never again. Never again. He would never let her go

through this

again, ever. If she died he’d never forgive himself. But she mustn’t die. The child mustn’t die. He

wanted that child. Oh yes, he wanted that child. Boy or girl, he wanted that child, yet not at the price it

was costing. He ran down the stairs now and burst into the dining-room, but before he had time to open

his mouth Betty had risen from the table and, wiping the food from her lips with her

fingers, she said, “It’s

come?”

“No, no, Betty, no, no.” He bowed his head, then swung it from side to side.

“She wants you. She can’t stand that nurse. Nor can I, for that matter. How much longer, Betty?”

“I ... I don’t know, Joe. But if it goes on like this I think the doctor will take her to the hospital.”

“What!” His head came up.

“When did he say this?”

“He said as much when he left, just before you came m.

“What will he do for her there that he can’t do here?”

“I ... I think he may be contemplating a Caesarean.”

“Cut her up?” He screwed up his eyes.

“It’s quite safe. He ... he explained it to me.”

“Oh my God! Betty.” He was standing in front of her, and she took his hands and gripped them as she

said, “It’s all right, it’s all right.

Try not to worry. The doctor .. well, he didn’t seem too concerned. He said this often happens. “

“Often happens?” As he let his head drop back on his shoulders she gazed at him. He’d had his

twenty-seventh birthday the previous week but at this moment he looked like a man of

forty. His face

was grey, the lines across his brow had deepened, his dark brown eyes looked black and were sunk in

his head. His thick-set body, which in itself emanated strength, seemed to have sagged under his

clothes. But it wasn’t only during the last two days she had noticed the change in him, for she had seen it

creeping on him during the past three months, when things had not been running

smoothly . in the

boudoir.

True, Elaine’s tantrums would have tried a saint, and Joe, she had to admit, was no saint; he was

obstinate, and stubborn, especially on matters that involved principle, and his principles, unfortunately,

were centred mainly around the colour question as appertaining to David and the present predicament of

the miners, especially of the Egan family, because, she supposed, of their connection with Hazel. She

was puzzled herself at times about Joe’s concern for the welfare of David and Hazel, and had been

forced more than once to see the situation through Elaine’s eyes, and even to sympathise with her

attitude.

She patted his hands now, saying, “It’ll be all right, you’ll see;

this time tomorrow you’ll be deafened by a squawking hairn. “ He answered her smile

with a small

grimace and said softly, “ I hope you’re right, Betty Have you had enough to eat? “

“Yes, yes, I was finished.”

“You haven’t been downstairs ten minutes; you must be worn out.”

“Oh, don’t be concerned for me, I’m as strong as a horse. Now look.” She patted his hand again.

“Go and have a drink, a strong one. Then go up to your father; he’s almost in the same state as you.

He was for coming down this morning but I stopped him, because I wouldn’t have been

able to keep him

out of the room. And I can imagine what Madam Stiffneck would have said to that. Go

on now, do as I

tell you, go up to the top floor and hold hands.”

She left him now and went hurriedly from the room and up the stairs.

Before she reached the landing she heard Elaine’s cry, and when she opened the bedroom the cry

pierced her ears, and it was all she could do not to screw up her face against it.