Pure as the Lily (20 page)

“I don’t see why. What’s that got to....”

“Would you mind, sir?”

His head bowed, he took off his overcoat, and the policeman taking it from him folded it inside out as if careful not to crease it, and in doing so exposed the upper half of the flat bottle of whisky reposing there.

Of a sudden Jimmy knew he was going to be sick. He put his hand over his mouth and immediately he was led along a corridor and into a washroom.

It was dark when the shop door opened and the blackout curtain was pushed aside and the blonde woman came hurrying in and said to the girl behind the counter, “Mrs. Tollett, can I see Mrs. Tollett?”

“I suppose so.” Teresa went through the storeroom, picked up a broom and, directing the handle ceiling wards knocked three times, then yelled, “Mrs. Tollett! somebody to see you.” When Mary came into the shop and saw the woman she instinctively recognized her; she was Jimmy’s Doolally-tap, and her mouth fell into a small gape as she looked across the counter and said, “Yes?” Lally, her expression greatly troubled, as if she were about to burst into tears, said, “Can ... can I have a word with you?” Then she glanced at the curious eyes of the customers l5l directed towards her, and Mary said, Yes, yes, come through. “ She did not stop in the storeroom but led the way out into the back yard and up the stairs. In the sitting-room, she said, “Sit down Mrs....”

“Briggs. Mrs. Briggs.”

“Oh yes, Mrs. Briggs.”

They stared at each other until Mary said, “Are you in trouble?” Lally gulped, hitched her bust up with her forearm, and muttered, “No, no, not me; it’s... it’s Mr.

Walton.”

“Jimmy?”

“Aha. You see.... I, I’ll sit down if you don’t mind.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Mary pushed a chair forward towards the fire.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“I wouldn’t mind. Ta. But I think, I think you’d better listen first.

You see, I’ve been down to Shields, Albert’s auntie lives there. She’s old an’ on her own an’ I drop in when I’m down there you know. I was coming back ‘cos I wanted to get back afore it was black-out, you know? “

She nodded her head towards Mary and Mary said, “Yes, yes, I see.” She was becoming conscious of saying, Yes, yes. “

Well, it started to snow just as I got on the bus at the bottom of King Street. And then, when we got into the Market Place we got stuck like. I’d never seen such a crowd in me life, never, honest. “ Now she shook her head.

“Eeh! it was, well, as a man said to me, it was like as if the war was over, you know?” She laughed here, and then as if apologizing she looked at Mary for a moment with a straight face and went on, “Well, as I was sayin’, the noise was terrible. There were people hootin’ motor horns, singing an’ yelling an’

dancing, everybody was going round in a chain holding on to each other. I’d never seen anything like it, honest.”

When she stopped and smiled, Mary wanted to say. For God’s sake get on with it, woman. “

“Well, there I was sittin’ and I looked out of the window and I saw Mr. Walton.” Her voice dropped, and her face fell into straightness again.

“He ... he was talkin’ to the polis. And then there was a scuffle and he nearly fell and ... and then I saw them takin’ him away.”

‘jimmy. “ Our Jimmy?”

Mary now had one hand covering her cheek and Lally said, “I got off the bus but I couldn’t get through the crowd. When I did he was gone;

they’d taken him to the station. And there were two lasses there they seemed to know all about it They were A. T. S. and they said they had just been singin’ carols with the Salvation Army band, that’s all.

Everybody had been happy and singin’ carols, and he had started a sort of crocodile dance round the Market. It was like one big happy party, they said. And then the polls had come and they’d got nasty.

“

“Oh my God!” Mary’s head was bowed deeply on her chest, and when Lally said, “I thought I’d better come and tell you. You see, his wife well, she don’t talk to me much. An’ I heard he comes to you a lot

‘cos he’s fond of you like ,.. an’ it was on me way. I hope you don’t mind....”

“No, no, I’m glad you did, and thank you very much, it’s very good of you.”

“It’s a shame, he’s so nice, is Mr. Walton, he would do nobody no harm, nobody. I’ve never known a man like him, not so polite in his manner and such.”

“No, he would do nobody no harm,” Mary repeated, and then added, “Only to himself.” They looked at each other; and then Lally said very thoughtfully, “Aye, well, that’s life isn’t it?” As Mary looked back at the big, rather blousy blonde figure, she thought. What makes them think she’s daft? But Jimmy, their Jimmy. Oh my God! the police station. She never wanted to see the inside of a police station again as long as she lived, but she’d have to go down.

Ben would get him out on bail. But Betty, and her ma, my God! this would give them a handle on him.

Quickly she said to Lally, “I wonder if you would do something for me, Mrs. Briggs?” directed towards her, and Mary said, “Yes, yes, come through.” She did not stop in the storeroom but led the way out into the back yard and up the stairs. In the sitting-room, she said, “Sit down Mrs....”

“Briggs. Mrs. Briggs.”

“Oh yes, Mrs. Briggs.”

They stared at each other until Mary said, ^Are you in trouble? “ Lally gulped, hitched her bust up with her forearm, and muttered, “No, no, not me; it’s... it’s Mr.

Walton.”

“Jimmy?”

“Aha. You see.... I, I’ll sit down if you don’t mind.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Mary pushed a chair forward towards the fire.

“Would you like a cup of tea?”

“I wouldn’t mind. Ta. But I think, I think you’d better listen first.

You see, I’ve been down to Shields, Albert’s auntie lives there. She’s old an’ on her own an’ I drop in when I’m down there you know. I was coming back ‘cos I wanted to get back afore it was black-out, you know? “

She nodded her head towards Mary and Mary said, “Yes, yes, I see.” She was becoming conscious of saying, “Yes, yes.”

Well, it started to snow just as I got on the bus at the bottom of King Street. And then, when we got into the Market Place we got stuck like. I’d never seen such a crowd in me life, never, honest. “ Now she shook her head.

“Eeh! it was, well, as a man said to me, it was like as if the war was over, you know?” She laughed here, and then as if apologizing she looked at Mary for a moment with a straight face and went on, “Well, as I was sayin’, the noise was terrible. There were people hootin’ motor horns, singing an’ yelling an’

dancing, everybody was going round in a chain holding on to each other. I’d never seen anything like it, honest.”

When she stopped and smiled, Mary wanted to say, “For God’s sake get on with it, woman.”

“Well, there I was sittin’ and I looked out of the window and I saw Mr. Walton.” Her voice dropped, and her face fell into straightness again.

“He ... he was talkin’ to the polis. And then there was a scuffle and he nearly fell and ... and then I saw them takin’ him away.”

‘jimmy. “ Our Jimmy?”

Mary now had one hand covering her cheek and Lally said, “I got off the bus but I couldn’t get through the crowd. When I did he was gone;

they’d taken him to the station. And there were two lasses there they seemed to know all about it They were A. T. S. and they said they had just been singin’ carols with the Salvation Army band, that’s all.

Everybody had been happy and singin’ carols, and he had started a sort of crocodile dance round the Market. It was like one big happy party, they said. And then the polis had come and they’d got nasty.

“

“Oh my God!” Mary’s head was bowed deeply on her chest, and when Lally said, “I thought I’d better come and tell you. You see, his wife well, she don’t talk to me much. An’ I heard he comes to you a lot

‘cos he’s fond of you like ... an’ it was on me way. I hope you don’t mind....”

“No, no, I’m glad you did, and thank you very much, it’s very good of you.”

“It’s a shame, he’s so nice, is Mr. Walton, he would do nobody no harm, nobody. I’ve never known a man like him, not so polite in his manner and such.”

“No, he would do nobody no harm,” Mary repeated, and then added, “Only to himself.” They looked at each other; and then Lally said very thoughtfully, “Aye, well, that’s life isn’t it?” As Mary looked back at the big, rather blousy blonde figure, she thought. What makes them think she’s daft? But Jimmy, their Jimmy. Oh my God! the police station. She never wanted to see the inside of a police station again as long as she lived, but she’d have to go down.

Ben would get him out on bail. But Betty, and her ma, my God! this would give them a handle on him.

Quickly she said to Lally, “I wonder if you would do something for me, Mrs. Briggs?”

“53

“Anything, anything I can, Mrs. Tollett, an’ pleased, yes.”

“Well, would you not tell his wife, or anybody, until I get him home and then he can do the telling himself?”

“Oh, I won’t say a word, Mrs. Tollett. No, not a word. Anyway, as I said, I didn’t want to go to his wife ‘cos she’s no room for me. Not that I’ve done anything to her. No, I won’t say a word.”

“Thank you. I’ll get you a cup of tea.”

“No, no’—Lally stood up ‘you’ll want to get on. It’s only five minutes’ walk home. Thanks all the same.”

“I’m grateful to you, very grateful.” Mary gave her a small un mirthful smile now as they faced each other and added, “I’ve heard about you from Jimmy.”

‘you have! “ The big, pale face lighted up, and as the blue eyes sparkled with warmth Mary could see what attracted their Jimmy, the girl or woman that she was looked so kindly.

“He always speaks very well of you.”

“Does he? Well, fancy! But then, I couldn’t imagine him speaking bad of anybody. I’m not just saying it ‘cos he’s your brother, Mrs.

Tollett, but I think he’s a gentleman, I do, an’ I don’t care who hears me say it. “ Mary stared into the big placid face for a moment, then said, “It’s very kind of you to say so. Well, thanks again. I’ll get ready now, I’ll ... I’ll have to get me husband to go down with me. I’ll see you out.”

She saw Lally to the back door, where she shook her hand and again thanked her; then she flew back into the house and into the dining-room to Cousin Annie who was enjoying her tea, as she did all her meals, and she said quickly, “I’ve got to go and see Ben; give an eye to her, will you?” She nodded towards the wall.

“What’s your rush? Who was that came in ... Mrs. McArthur? What you going off like the devil in a gale of wind to see Ben for? He’ll be along shortly.”

She was going out of the door as she said, “I’ll tell you all about it when I get back.” She went into her room, grabbed her coat and hat and put them on as she ran down the stairs; then she was stumbling through the dark streets towards Flake Street, and Ben.

Jimmy in prison. He’d be thinking of their da all the time. Oh, the fool! the fool! But in a way it wasn’t unexpected for she had been waiting for something like this. And this was only the beginning. Yes, the way he was going, this was only the beginning. But singing carols in Shields Market to the Salvation Army bandl

‘“what’s he been up to?” Alice looked at Betty.

“Everybody’s been sniggering around the doors for days. And then just this morning, her across the road, the Cooper piece, shouts to me, “ Goodwill to men. By!

your Jimmy’s a lad. “ What’s he been up to?”

“How should I know? Goodwill to men? What was she meaning?”

“That’s what I’m asking’ you, lass.”

Betty looked around the living-room at the three-piece suite, at the shining modern sideboard, at her glass-fronted china cabinet; then she brought her eyes to rest on her hands where they were making steam marks on the lacquer polish of her extending table, and she looked at Alice and said, You know, when you come to think of it, he’s been funny, quiet’—she nodded now ‘more quiet than usual, because you can’t get a word out of him. “

They studied each other; then Alice said, bitterly, “Well, whatever he’s been at, I bet our Mary’s put him up to it. He’d never have the gumption to do anything on his own.

He’s my own son and God forgive me for saying it, and I never thought I would, but he’s gutless, he takes after him, he’s gutless. “

“Goodwill to men.” Betty was nodding to herself now. Yes, he has been funny since afore Christmas.

He looked pasty—like as if he was in for the ‘flu or something. “

“Where’s he gone?”

“I don’t know. He went out first thing this morning dressed up.” Dressed up? “

“Ssh! here he comes.”

They listened to the door being opened; they listened to him pausing in the hall as he took off his coat; then he was in the room facing them. Alice spoke first.

“What’s all this about?” she asked quietly.

“All what about?”

That’s what I’m asking’ you.

“Why should somebody shout across the street to me, “ Goodwill to men. By! your Jimmy, he’s a lad”? What’ve you been up to?”

“Oh, that!” He looked from one to the other with raised brows now, then said quietly, “Oh, you’ll know soon enough.”

“Know what soon enough?” They were both on their feet, but it was Betty who asked the question.

“Get the evening paper, it’ll be in there.”

“What-areyoutalking-about?”

He looked at Betty.

“About me being summonsed for causing a disturbance; it’ll all be in the paper.” WHAT! “ they both breathed the word together.

“Yes; I thought I’d let it come as a surprise. Anyway, if I’d told you when it happened, you might have worried, being concerned for me.”

“Jimmy Walton, what have you done?” Alice moved a threatening step towards him, and he said, “It’s no use me telling you, Ma, I’d only spoil it, reporters do it better. Why don’t you slip along to our Mary’s, Ma, the papers’ll be in the shop. It’ll save you a long trail into Ellison Street, and Mary will give you the whole details; she