Earthly Astonishments Read Online Free PDF Page B

Josephine’s curious eyes. She had no choice but to push open the door and creep through it, without knowing what she might find on the other side.

he heat and the smoke and especially the forest of legs were a shock. Josephine looked around in a panic for a hiding place. She slipped quickly under a table and crouched in the sawdust that covered the floor. From there, she could spy out on the tavern.
    She’d never seen so many brogans in one room. Men’s feet were just enormous! Other than Sylvester at the school and old Teddy Burns who delivered the coal, Josephine was not acquainted with men.
    She could hear a violin accompanied by the piano, but her only glimpse of the piano player was a salt-and-pepper beard above an emerald green cravat. Now that she was here, she didn’t know how to approach him.
    Then the musicians started a new song, and the din of conversation dipped momentarily for the crowd to hear what it was. A couple of men began to sing along amidst good-natured jeers.
    Josephine hugged her arms about her knees and closed her eyes with a silent moan. Suddenly a hand touched, then grasped her shoulder. Her heart stopped altogether.
    “Hey, you, Missy!” A woman’s face, shiny with sweat, was only inches from Josephine’s own.
    “I thought I saw someone creeping in under there. You’re a tiny thing, aren’t ye? Where’s your dad?” She was coaxing. “He shouldn’t have you in a place like this.”
    She had an accent that spread out her words. She might have been pretty if she weren’t so tired looking. Limp scraps of auburn hair peeked out from under a white kerchief. She must work in the kitchen. She wore an apron, and a sodden cloth was slung over her shoulder.
    “My dad’s not here.” Josephine had to lick her lips to make them work. “I came on my own. I need to speak with My Bob.” The woman’s face was blank. “Robert, I mean. The piano man.”
    “Robert isn’t working tonight. That’s Patrick playing now. And Toby, scratching on the violin.”
    This possibility had never occurred to Josephine. Whatever could she do? Must she wait until tomorrow to find Robert and Margaret?
    She noticed her own muddy fingers trembling. She clutched at her dress to steady them and felt the ridges of the coins in her hem. The woman was watching her closely. Josephine evaded her eyes and shimmied backwards a bit. She winced. Her bottom was still tender from the cook’s beating.
    “You’re alone then, Missy?”
    Josephine nodded.
    “Have ye eaten?”
    “No,” she whispered.
    “You’re so little! Ye need supper maybe?”
    Josephine nodded. Suddenly it occurred to her that she could pay for supper. But how to cut the coins out of her skirt without anyone seeing? The woman reached for her hand and helped her crawl out.
    “Will there be trouble for you?” Josephine asked, thinking what would happen to her if she fed anyone at the school door.
    “The boss won’t be back except to lock up,” the woman promised. “Stay close by me.”
    Josephine tucked herself against the woman’s skirt and followed her down a hall toward the kitchen.
    “Ah, Nelly, my dear!” A low voice stopped them. The woman holding her hand bristled. The corridor was filled with the shape of a man, a tall man, wide and burly.
    “Good evening, Mr. Walters,” said Josephine’s companion. “I didn’t know ye were with us this evening.”
    As the man leaned down, Josephine could see his grand, black moustache, reaching from ear to ear.
    “You must have work to do, Nelly. Perhaps I can entertain your friend a while.” His voice was rich and deep.
    He knelt down on one knee, trying to come face to face with Josephine. Briefly, he held his palm flat next to her temple and then moved it to his own chest.
    “I was getting the child a bit to eat, Mr. Walters,” said Nelly, not leaving easily.
    “Then do that,” said the fine, big man. “She’s hungry, of course. I can see that. She’ll eat at my table.”
    “Oh, no,