Echoes Read Online Free PDF

was settling in on chests that were never strong, he could see both of them turning into pneumonia before long. People talked about the good seaside air, and the bracing breezes. They should be here in a doctor’s surgery in winter, Paddy Power thought gloomily, there’d be less of the folksy chat then.
    Molly said that David was getting on like a house on fire with his lessons, and that he did two hours on his own each morning.
    â€œShe’s a fine scholar Angela. Isn’t it a pity that she never got the recognition for it?” Paddy said, wearily taking off his boots and putting on his slippers.
    â€œNever got any recognition? Isn’t she a teacher above in the school with a big salary? Hasn’t she all her qualifications? That’s not bad for Dinny O’Hara’s daughter.” Molly sniffed.
    â€œYou miss the point, Moll. That’s a bright girl and she’s stuck here in Castlebay teaching children to be waitresses and to serve their time in shops. And what kind of a life does she have in that house? I mean the Little Sisters wouldn’t do as much for their flock as Angela does for her mother.”
    â€œOh I know, I know.” Molly was anxious to leave it now.
    â€œStill, a man on a white horse may ride into town one day for her yet.” He smiled at the thought.
    â€œI’d say she’s a bit past that now,” Molly said.
    â€œShe’s only twenty-eight years of age, a year older than you were when we got married, that’s what she is.”
    Molly hated when he spoke about things like that in front of Nellie. Molly hadn’t grown up here, she came from a big town and she had been at school in Dublin. She didn’t like anyone knowing her business nor indeed her age.
    She looked at herself in the mirror, no longer young but not too bad. She had made a friend of the buyer in that shop in Dublin and now there was no problem in getting clothes. Nice wool two-pieces, loose enough so that you could wear a warm vest and maybe even a thin jumper under them. You needed a lot of layers in Castlebay. And Paddy had given her nice brooches over the years so that she always looked smart. No matter who came to the house, Molly Power looked well-dressed and ready to receive them, her hair was always neat and well-groomed (she had a perm every three months in the town) and she always used a little makeup.
    She examined her face. She had been afraid that the climate in this place might have made her lined or leathery like a lot of the women, but then they probably didn’t use any face cream even.
    She smiled at herself, turning her head slightly so that she’d see the nice clip-on earrings she had got recently to match the green brooch on her green and gray wool two-piece. Paddy saw her smiling and came and stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
    â€œYou’re right about yourself, you’re gorgeous,” he said.
    â€œI wasn’t thinking that,” she said indignantly.
    â€œWell, you should have been,” he said. “A glamorous thing, not like a mother and wife.”
    She thought about being a mother for a moment. She had believed it would be impossible. So many false alarms. The weeks of delight followed by the miscarriages at three months. Three times. Then two babies born dead. And then when she hardly dared to believe it, David. Exactly the child she wanted. Exactly.

    Angela thought David was a grand little fellow. He looked like an illustration from those Just William books, with his hair sticking up, his shoelaces undone and his tie crooked. When he worked he sort of came apart.
    Wouldn’t it be lovely to teach bright children all the time without having to pause forever for the others to catch up. She looked at him as he worked out a chart of the winds and gave it to her triumphantly.
    â€œWhy are you smiling?” he asked suspiciously.
    â€œI don’t know. I could be losing my mind. I’ve noticed