The Chainmakers (7 page)

His happy smile and the sound of his light Irish brogue caught at Anna's heart. Clancy was such a good soul, she would go a long way to find a better.

'Hello Clancy. What are you doing here?' she greeted him.

'Now what do you think a fella would be doin' down here at this unearthly hour, and on a Saturday morning
too?
’
Clancy chided gently. 'Waiting for his sweetheart, I should imagine. Trying to get a few minutes of her valuable time, busy as she is, dashing around all over the place...'

'Oh Clancy, I know. We haven't seen much of each other lately have we? But it won't be for much longer, I think this will be my last weekend.'

'Is the painting nearly finished then?' Clancy asked, falling into step beside her.

'There are two paintings. One is finished and one is nearly done. Robert is going to come over and make a few sketches at the chainshop next week, for the background.'

'Oh, so it's Robert now is it? You'll be having me jealous.'

Clancy's lighthearted smile faded to a quizzical look as he noticed a faint blush suffuse Anna's face, but she only said 'Don't be silly. He told me to call him Robert, and I call his mother Florence...'

'Well that's all right then.'

They walked on for a few minutes in an uneasy silence. Clancy had the feeling he had done something wrong but had no idea what. He cleared his throat.

'I wanted to talk to you Anna, my Mam isn't so good...'

'Oh Clancy, I'm sorry!' Anna was immediately full of concern. 'I intended to call and see her this weekend but our Dottie's been middling...'

'No... it's not that. I didn't mean that.' Clancy was having difficulty, and with sudden intuition Anna kept silent, allowing him to take his time.

'Well, it's like this. You know Mam has been poorly a long time... last week I got the doctor...'

'The doctor!' Anna was surprised. Doctors were rarely called at Sandley Heath unless you were on your deathbed, and she could not help adding 'How much did that cost?'

'Two shillings and sixpence,' Clancy said sourly, 'But I had to do it, she's lost so much weight. Anyway, according to Dr Lawrence she's not long to go.'

'Oh Clancy, I'm so sorry. Was it ... what you thought?'

'Consumption... yes. Of course we've both known it for some time but it's still a shock when the doctor tells you.'

'Yes, it is.' Anna felt a pang of guilt. She had been thinking of many things these last few weeks, but Clancy's mother had not been one of them. She squeezed his arm. 'I'll help Clancy, any way I can... as soon as Spring comes we can make an infusion of dandelion flowers, that helps the consumption...'

'I doubt she'll be here when the dandelions arrive,' Clancy said softly. He hesitated and then continued carefully, 'I've been thinking about what I'll do... after Mam is gone.'

'Yes of course.' Anna was sympathetic.

'I've been finding out more about America. You know I have two cousins there...'

Anna suddenly had an icy feeling of foreboding. 'Last time we talked about it you weren't sure.'

'I am now. I've definitely decided to go. There's nothing here for me except a life as a puddler, or perhaps a forgeman in twenty years time if I'm lucky, and there's nothing back in Ireland. I could never go while Mam is alive, but according to Doctor Lawrence she only has a few months at most.' He made an effort. 'Anyway, when it happens I'm off to America to see if I can better myself.' He looked a little sheepish, and then added, 'I dream of it Anna, doing really well there.'

'Oh Clancy dear...' Anna caught at his arm as they reached the canal. The boat was already there, and one or two passengers were climbing aboard. The bargeman, recognising Anna, gave her a cheery wave and indicated she should hurry.

'Clancy, I'm sorry, I have to go...'

'Yes. I just wondered if... what you thought about it.'

Clancy took Anna's arm as she clambered aboard, and then walked along the towpath to talk to her as she settled herself at the rear of the barge. He leaned towards her.

'Ye didn't say... Anna... ye didn't say...' he entreated in a loud whisper.

'What?' Her face was stricken. The bargeman took the tiller and the canal boat began to move away. Clancy walked alongside, eyes locked with Anna's.

'Are ye coming darlin'? To America? Are ye coming with me?' She did not answer. The boat drew away and she mouthed 'I'll see you next week...'

Clancy raised his hand in acknowledgement and watched the barge recede slowly. Then he turned away and walked back along the canal path. It was only when he reached the main road that he realised he had not asked Anna to marry him.

~

'Have you any idea?' Robert asked, his brush poised in mid air, 'Just how beautiful you are?'

Anna froze. His tone had been conversational, but he had never said anything like it before, and she did not know how to respond.

Robert laughed. 'Modest too, unbelievable in this day and age.'

Anna gazed steadfastly ahead. Eventually she said, 'What do you mean, what is unbelievable?'

'The fact that you are unaware of your looks. Most young ladies of my acquaintance who have any sort of beauty use their looks to get what they want.'

Anna blushed. 'If that is truly the case, I don't think they have a very Christian outlook...'

Robert let out a peal of laughter. 'Pious too! Oh Anna, you're priceless, really you are, even if a bit po-faced.' He studied her seriously and then resumed his brushwork before he added teasingly 'Is that what they teach you in Chapel?'

Anna blushed. 'I have certainly been taught that vanity is a sin,' she responded hotly. 'There are many things more important than looks...'

'Of course there are.' Robert came across to her and smiled his warm, confidential smile, and Anna felt her heart melt. He turned her face slightly and said quietly, 'Hold it just there, I'm almost finished.' He went back to his easel and continued, 'There are many things more important than looks I agree, but beauty?... ah! that's a different matter. I speak as an artist, and to me beauty is the most important thing in the world.'

'And you are an expert on the matter of course?' Anna could not help but reply.

'Yes indeed I am, and before you belittle my expertise let me ask you a question. Do you think Anna, that everyone has such knowledge? Can every Tom, Dick or Harry recognise true beauty when he sees it?'

'Most people know what they find attractive,' Anna said. 'It is surely in the eye of the beholder...'

'What they find attractive, yes, but that is not true beauty. One can find many things attractive, from a pretty girl to a good dinner... or the cut of a jacket.' Robert waved his brush as if to emphasise his point. 'The appreciation of beauty has to be worked at, studied and explored. Beauty is a rare thing, and sometimes found in strange places by those who understand what they seek... but it is not for everyone to pick up, like a pebble on a beach.'

'I think you talk of a beauty I don't understand.'

'Perhaps. And yet... with time... I believe you might. Beauty can be found in an aged face, or a workman's face which shows character, just as much as in one which is young... and beauty is in wild and dangerous things, just as much as in those which are good and pure...' He broke off as he concentrated hard on a few touches of his brush. 'There... if I do any more I shall ruin it. You can come and look if you like.'

Anna went over to the easel, grateful for movement. She was filled with awe at the masterly way in which her likeness had been captured. She still had no idea why Robert had wanted to paint her in her black alpaca, against the background of the chainshop, especially as she now had an evening gown, a plain grey dress and a flowered dimity. But Robert had been adamant, and Anna was mortified to see the accuracy of his depiction, even to the brown rust stain on her skirt, and the darn near the hem which she had hoped did not show. Her gaze travelled back to the face, it was her face certainly, and she supposed it had a certain beauty, even if there were wisps of hair trailing to her collar. It was the eyes that gave the portrait life. They held a look... a look of... what? She looked deep into her own painted eyes and felt a slight thrill of recognition. The eyes held a challenge, almost an invitation...

'What do you think?' Robert's voice was soft, as if he understood her thoughts.

'It is... very like.' Anna said lamely.

'Well, it's finished as far as you are concerned,' Robert said, cleaning his brush. 'I have to put in some more background, and as I told you I'll need to do some sketches at the chainshop. I'll come over on Tuesday, and as a thank you for all your patience, when you finish work I'll take you to Dudley Castle for a late tea.' He grinned, 'A little treat for both of us, as we've worked so hard.'

Anna was filled with a rush of happiness at the thought of spending more time with Robert, she had feared that after this weekend she would not see him again. 'It sounds wonderful,' she said. 'Thank you... Oh!' Her face fell.

'What is it?'

'It will be dark...'

'Yes, that's why I want to go then. I expect you have been before? In the daytime?'

'Yes, I went once in summer, the view is grand from the top.'

Robert laughed. 'Exactly. Your idea of beauty perhaps? Well I want you to see the view at night.'

'But we shan't be able to see, and as for tea, I think the castle closes early in winter...'

Robert laughed again, but it was an indulgent sound. 'What a goose you are! A guinea opens any door Anna, even Dudley Castle.'

~

Saying goodbye to Florence was difficult. During the weeks she had been visiting High Cedars Anna had come to admire and respect the qualities of this extraordinary woman, and she knew she would miss her a great deal. Florence had taught her so much, had opened her eyes and made her look beyond the grimy confines of her life at Sandley Heath, and Anna hardly knew how to thank her.

'It's not just the dresses and shoes, and everything,' she said, stumbling in her appreciation. 'But our talks... the way you explained things, took so much trouble with a complete stranger...'

'A stranger? Never!' Florence rejoined, taking Anna's hand and leading her to stand in front of "The Chainmaker's Child," now back in its rightful place on the wall of the sitting room. 'Look Anna, look at yourself, dancing on the bellows at the forge, only ten years old. What makes you think you were ever a stranger here? I have lived with you in my house for over eight years, and when my husband was alive he often used to refer to you as his little girl. He loved this picture, thought it was the best thing he had ever done, which is why he would never sell it. So you see Anna, you have been part of this family for a long time, I have seen you every day, and in an odd way I felt I knew you.' Her voice softened as she observed the tears in Anna's eyes. 'Come along,' she said kindly. They walked together to the door, where the trap was waiting to take Anna to the canal barge, the pony's breath condensing in the cold February air. Florence kissed Anna soundly on both cheeks, and tasted the salty tears which now ran unheeded down her face.