A Carriage for the Midwife Read Online Free PDF Page A

Sophy betimes to visit me in London,’ said de Bever. ‘She is the only soul left in the world who truly loves me.’
    Calthorpe was about to protest, but thought better of it; and so the Belhampton attorney and his wife had been elevated to county gentry. Sophia had grown to womanhood under their guardianship, and had more than repaid them by acting first as nurserymaid and later as governess to their children; but of late her situation had grown increasingly irksome, and she longed for a little place of her own where she could come and go as she pleased. Her grandfather’s allowance was not sufficient to give her independence, but she was able to help a few needy families, recommended by her friend Mrs Coulter, though the midwife discouraged her from crossing the Beck into Lower Beversley.
    They’re a rough lot with no respect for their betters, Miss Sophia. Best leave them to poor Parson Smart.’
    A shout from below indicated that the carrier had arrived at the kitchen door, and Sophia too went down to find out what errand had brought him to Bever House under such difficult conditions.
    The kitchen was buzzing with activity as Dick and his son made themselves at home, much to the irritation of Martin, who frowned when his wife set two steaming mugs of hot cordial in front of the arrivals. Sophia sat on a chair in the corner from where she could discreetly watch and listen, an outsider here as much as upstairs.
    While the four children gathered round young Dick, who was warming himself on the hearthstone, old Dick stretched out his legs under the table.
    ‘Here, Martin, a little summat fur the still room, from the rectory,’ he grinned, tapping the side of his prominent nose and handing over a leather bag that clinked as the butler took it. Everybody knew that smuggled brandy made its way up to Beversley, but Martin was infuriated by Dick’s over-familiarity and lack of discretion.
    ‘A word in yer ear, Martin – Oi got a packet here fur Mr Calthorpe, to put into ’un’s hand an’ no other ’un’s!’
    ‘Ye may give it to me, then, for ye may go no further’n this kitchen,’ the butler told him loftily.
    ‘Ah, that Oi will not! I got me orders.’
    ‘Hand it over at once, d’ye hear? Or I’ll send for Mr Calthorpe’s agent.’
    Dick drew the packet from the depths of an inside pocket. ‘And moind ’ee takes it straight up to yer master! It be from Lord de Bever’s Lunnon house by its mark, and ha’ lain at the post house in Belhampton these two weeks past, ’cause o’ the snow.’
    Martin left the kitchen, leaving old Dick to harrow Mrs Martin and Sophia with gruesome tales of unburied coffins and an outbreak of the dreaded white throat at the House of Industry.
    A scream from Caroline brought Sophia to her feet.
    ‘What have you been telling her, young man?’ she demanded of young Dick.
    ‘Oi ain’t said nothin’, miss, only told ’em how poor ol’ Goody Firkin froze to death in the snow.’
    ‘Goody Firkin?’ repeated Sophia in horror. ‘Isn’t she a poor, crazed old woman who lives at Ash-Pit End?’
    ‘Not any more, her don’t,’ cut in old Dick, glaring at his son for ruining his best story. ‘Sexton found her in the churchyard o’ Little St Giles, stiff an’ stark. Must ha’ laid there all night. Her eyes were open an’ staring as if—’
    ‘Stop, stop, don’t say any more,’ begged Edward, deathly pale.
    Osmond’s lip curled. ‘Stop, stop, Dick, boo-hoo, boo hoo!’ he mocked, but Sophia turned on him.
    ‘
Be quiet!
’ she commanded with such cold fury that he shrugged and was silent.
    ‘Good God, how can we live in luxury and idleness while the poor are dying outside the gates?’ she went on, trembling with emotion. ‘It is a disgrace, a scandal! I’ll tell you what, Mrs Martin, I shall no longer lead a useless life in this house. From now on I shall visit the poor of Beversley, whatever Mrs Calthorpe says!’
    They all stared at the young woman as she stood