Lovers Meeting Read Online Free PDF Page B

children with them, to spoil their chances by whimpering or wailing.
    Albert Harvey hesitated. He was a man of intelligence who reasoned things out, did not make hasty, emotional decisions. But now those two oddities of Monkwearmouth and the child made him curious. He said, ‘Very well. Show her up.’
    Josie did not like the pantry, windowless and lamplit, but she liked Albert Harvey and smiled at him as her mother led her in. Albert found himself returning that smile and it was still in place when he faced Peggy Langley. Probably the matter was settled then. He asked, ‘What can I do for you, Mrs …?’
    Peggy supplied: ‘Langley, sir. Peggy Langley.’ She started, ‘I’m looking for a place, sir.’ That meant she was wanting to work as a servant in a house. She went on to tell of her experience in the Langley house: ‘I think I’m a good, plain cook and before that I was housemaid …’ She told him of her marriage to the son of the Langley house but said nothing of William’s reaction. That did not matter because Harvey could read between the lines. Peggy explained how she and David were on their way to America when he was killed.
    Harvey thought, That’s why the child is here. He guessed that, being alone and newly come to this city, the young woman would be reluctant to leave the little girl with strangers.
    Peggy finished, ‘So now I’m looking for a place.’
    Harvey did not mention Monkwearmouth; he had never made favourites for any reason and would not start. He had not been back there for over five years because his work kept him busy and he had no relatives living there now. But he remembered the Langley family, and old William in particular. He could guess why Peggy had not sought help from the old man, and while she had not pleaded he also guessed that she was in desperate need of the ‘place’ she was asking for. She was pale and her lips were pressed tight to stop them trembling; her hands in their black cotton gloves were clasped. And at her knee there was that small face smiling up at him.
    He said, ‘As it happens …’ Peggy listened in a daze of relief, catching the phrases that meant so much: ‘A month’s trial … live in … wage of twenty-six pounds a year …’ He finished, ‘When will you be able to start?’
    He was not surprised when she answered, ‘As soon as possible.’
    He suggested, ‘Would the day after tomorrow be convenient?’
    It would. Peggy had enough money to pay for her lodging for another two nights, but no more.
    In Monkwearmouth, old William Langley was uneasy in his mind. He had settled down to work in his office in the Langley house but his thoughts kept turning to his elder son, his wife and his child. William was now uncertain. Had he acted justly? He glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece, saw it was mid-morning and decided it was time he walked down to the shipyard. He rose from his desk and strode out into the hall. At that moment the knocker banged on the front door. He knew that the maid had gone out on some errand so he opened the door himself.
    The boy standing on the step held out an envelope. ‘Telegram for Mr William Langley, sir.’
    ‘I’m William Langley.’ He took the envelope from the boy and gave him a halfpenny.
    ‘Thank you, sir.’
    William closed the door, frowning, and tore open the envelope. He wondered who the devil was sending telegrams to him at his private residence. They came to his office at the shipyard but never to the house. Some clerk had made a mistake …
    He read the flimsy through the first time without taking it in – or maybe his mind rebelled against the news, refusing to accept it. He read it again and this time the reading was more difficult because his hands shook so that the paper shivered and the words danced. But the message was dreadfully clear: the shipping company regretted to inform him that David Langley, his wife and daughter had perished, lost with the SS Blackhill .
    He said, ‘No. No !’ But