The Chainmakers (10 page)

Florence sighed. 'I can see your mind is already made up,' she said. 'I just want to remind you Robert...'

'What?' His blue eyes were bland over his teacup.

'You know perfectly well what...'

'Mother! You surely don't think...? I'm very fond of Anna, I wouldn't hurt her for the world.'

'Your record does not inspire confidence Robert.'

Robert slammed down his cup so that it almost broke the saucer. 'You would have to bring that up wouldn't you?'

'I'm not thinking only of you, there are the others too.' Florence said calmly.

'Therese will be there.'

'Yes, thank God!' Florence sighed, deciding she had to mend fences. 'Look dear, I'm not accusing you of any ulterior motive...'

'I should hope not!' Robert broke in.

'I'm only saying that Anna... well... she is an innocent.'

'She's more sophisticated than when she first came here, and who's idea was that? I was going to put her in the servant's quarters... like...' Robert searched for a word. 'Like ... an employee. It was you who insisted she be treated as a guest and eat at table with us. Now you' re saying ..'

'I'm not saying anything Robert, but I think on reflection perhaps I was wrong. I may have made it more difficult for the poor girl to accept her lot. And then her mother dying so suddenly a month ago... I told you I had a letter from Anna didn't I?'

'Yes.' Robert said shortly. He had had enough of the conversation and decided to be brutal. 'That is a prime consideration,' he said. 'I happen to know that Anna's father is a real drunkard and she will be alone in the house with him now. My plan will give her a break, and an increased income so that she can make a few choices of her own.'

Robert gave his mother a curt nod and left the dining room. Florence got to her feet and rang for the table to be cleared. She reflected sadly that it was not perhaps so easy to help those less fortunate than oneself, even with the best of intentions. It might be better to leave them alone, or just give them a little money to enjoy in their own way. And who was to say whether her world, the world she had tried to introduce to Anna, was an improvement on Anna's own? Materially, of course it was... but in other ways? Even so, a drunken father...

Florence went across to "The Chainmaker's Child" and stood a long time, staring at the dainty image. 'I think you may be in between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea my dear,' she said. She traced her fingers gently across the faint signature in the corner of the painting. 'Oh Andy,' she whispered, 'I do hope your family doesn't hurt your little chainmaker.'

~

'Gerron wi' it!' Ma Higgins commanded. 'Yo' ay got all day!'

Anna regarded her coldly. 'This ain't my job,' she muttered, as she carefully folded cart traces into a half size barrel.

'Wot did yo' say? I'll tek no mouth from yo' Miss Toffeenose!'

'I only said I don't get paid for this.' Anna stood her ground. 'I could be working on chain... the dog leads...'

Ma Higgins snorted. 'Yo' just do as you'm told ma wench,' she said, not unkindly. She did not mention that Anna was the only one of her workforce she could trust to count the correct number of cart traces into the barrel.

'Tell yer wot. Yo' get them traces counted out proper, an' down to Tommy 'Oskins, an' I'll put yer down fer a extra dog chain.'

Anna raised her eyebrows, Ma Higgins must have gone soft. It was impossible to make even half a dog chain in the time it would take her to do this small job.

'And in case yo' think I'm doolallytap,' said Ma Higgins, reading Anna's mind, 'There's another barrel to do after this 'un.'

Anna sighed. 'Alright,' she agreed. At least it was something different. It was a lovely Spring day outside and she would be able to breathe in the fresh air as she rolled the barrel down to the cooper for him to seal it.

'Mek sure Tommy 'Oskins does a good job,' said Ma Higgins as she turned away. 'Them cart traces is goin' all the way to Masser-chew-sits.'

Anna could not help but smile. Ma Higgins relished the lovely long American name, and pronounced it with a flourish as often as she could. Lots of their chains went to America, packed carefully in the wooden barrels which ensured they could be easily moved, and kept them in good condition on the sea voyage.

Having carefully counted out one hundred traces, Anna put the lid on the barrel and pulled it onto its side. She rolled the barrel carefully out into the dazzling light, laughing as the other women, infected by the bright spring sunshine, launched into "Rule Britannia" at the tops of their voices, assuring anyone who passed by that 'Britons... never never never... shall... be... slaves...' and beating time with their hammers.

Anna rolled the barrel carefully down the lane to the cooper's shop. She had to wait a few minutes before he could attend to her, and so took the opportunity to sit down on a small bank outside, where a few dandelions pushed their heads through the straggling unkempt grass. Anna picked off the flower heads and pushed them into the pocket of her baggin' apron. Not enough to make a brew for Clancy's Mom, she thought, but there might be a few more on the way home. She had an idea. Why not? Provided she did the washing first...

She got up quickly as the cooper beckoned. 'Will you seal this please? For Ma Higgins, and there's another one to come. They are for Massachusetts.'

'Leave it wi' me, ma wench.' The cooper gave her a wink. Anna smiled her thanks and then ran as fast as she could down the rutted lane, wrinkling her nose as she caught the stench from the overflowing middens in Tibbetts Yard. She ran down the bank to the forge where Clancy worked, and found him hard at it.

'What's to do darlin'?' Clancy looked quite pleased at the interruption. He took a bottle of tea from the bosh, and wiped his brow before taking a swig.

'I must be quick, only slipped out for a minute,' Anna said, breathless from her run. She glanced around the forge, giving quick smiles of recognition to the men who without exception had stopped work to look at her. 'I thought perhaps we could go to Clent tomorrow as the weather is so good. Just for the afternoon I mean, I have to do the washing first. We could find dandelions for your Mom.'

'Sure that'll be grand, I can do with the fresh air,' Clancy agreed. 'I'll come for ye, about one o'clock.' He smiled happily as he watched Anna dash away up the bank. At the top she turned, breathless, and waved her hand. Clancy waved back, closing his ears to the coarse comments of his companions. He was pleased that Anna seemed to be emerging from the awful depression which had engulfed her when her Mam died. He felt a thrill of excitement. Perhaps everything would work out after all.

~

There were plenty of dandelions, and as Anna said goodbye to Clancy the following day at the bottom of Dawkins Street, she promised to deliver the infusion to his mother that evening, as soon as it was made.

'I've really enjoyed this afternoon,' she said, 'Thanks for taking me.'

Clancy's eyes softened. 'Ye know I hope to be taking ye much further than Clent, Anna,' he said quietly.

Anna smiled. 'I know.' She hesitated. 'It's... it's such a big decision Clancy. Let's take one step at a time shall we?'

Clancy nodded. He felt like kissing her on the cheek but thought better of it, someone might be watching. He should have done it when they were at Clent, he thought, where they found all those dandelions in the hollow...

'I'll see ye later,' he said, and walked slowly home.

Anna was lighthearted after her afternoon in the fresh air. She swung the basket of dandelion flowers and hummed a little tune as she walked up the ginnel and in at the back door. Her father was home, but he got up as she entered and reached for his jacket.

'Yo've been a while,' he said, a hint of complaint in his voice.

'Yes, been to Clent with Clancy collecting dandelion heads.' Anna surveyed the fire, which had burned very low. 'You could have banked the fire up Dad, it's nearly out.'

'Not my job to see to the fire,' he said briefly, pulling on his jacket.

Anna made no reply. She picked up the fire bucket and threw on some small coal. Then she riddled the ashes at the bottom of the grate with the poker to let air in underneath, and the fire began to draw.

'Anyway,' her father said crossly, 'No need to mek the fire up that much, not in this warm weather.'

'I have to cook the dinner,' Anna protested, 'And make up the infusion for Mrs. Sullivan.'

'Yo' needn't mek me any dinner,' George Gibson remarked, 'I'm off to the Sandley Arms. I wanted me dinner an hour since but there was none.'

'Well hang on a bit Dad, it won't be long.'

''Ang on? Ang on fer yo'? Who do yo' think you'm tellin' to 'ang on? In case yo 've forgot it ma wench, this is my 'ouse, an' I'll 'ave dinner when I say, not when you' m ready ter mek it!'

'I didn't mean that Dad...'

'I'll gerra pie at the pub. A fine thing when a bloke cor gerra meal in 'is own 'ouse after a weeks work! When 'is daughter is too busy flauntin' 'erself on the Clent 'ills like any brass faced tart.'

'Dad!'

'Well, it's true ay it?' he shouted belligerently.

'No it's not true! I was with Clancy Sullivan.'

'Arr. An' everybody knows what yo' was up to!'

Anna's face flamed crimson. 'Don't you dare... don't you dare say such a thing!'

'I'll dare what I want in me own 'ouse ma wench, an' do' yo' forget it! Yo' was off wi' that painter chap Nicholson the night yer Mom died...'

Anna let out a shriek and sprang at him. Her father swung his arm to fend her off, and caught her with a heavy swipe across her cheek. The blow knocked Anna across the room, and for a few seconds she blacked out as she slid slowly down the wall. George Gibson hesitated for a moment, then went out and slammed the door.

When Will arrived half an hour later, the kettle was singing on the hob, and Anna was seated by the fire, weeping quietly.

‘What's to do our Anna?' Will bent over and put his hand under her chin. His face darkened as he noticed the red marks on the side of her cheek.

''As our Dad been at it again?' he asked.

Anna nodded briefly. 'He wasn't drunk either,' she said 'Not this time.'

'What was it about?'

'I don't know really. I think it was because I'd been to Clent with Clancy to get dandelion flowers, but he knew we were going. He was cross because his dinner wasn't ready when he wanted it, but it was only six o'clock...'

She raised a tear stained face to Will. 'Oh Will, he called me names, said I had been up to things with Clancy... and Mr. Nicholson... and I haven't! Oh Will... I haven't, truly!'

''Course you 'aven't ma wench.' Will sighed. 'What we'm goin' to do with Dad I do'
know. 'E's gettin' worse...'

Anna began to weep again. 'He said...he said I was off with Mr. Nicholson when Mom died...' she broke down into heavy sobs.

'Arr... that's it. That's what's mekin 'im like this,' said Will. 'Come on our Anna, get a cup of tea on an' stop cryin'. We'll soon sort this out.'