Mary's Child Read Online Free PDF

hand and saw the Ward children, Ted, Frank and their sister Ida, running ahead. Chrissie wore her best again but the Wards, like most of the other children they found waiting in a crowd outside the National School, wore patched dresses and pinnies, ragged shirts and shorts. Nearly all were barefoot in the heat.
    The party had been organised for children of the neighbourhood by local businessmen and their ladies, to celebrate Victoria’s Jubilee. When the doors of the school were opened at last the children elbowed their way in to see tables piled with plates of thickly sliced bread and butter, slabs of cake. They were marshalled into place and held their hands together as the grace was spoken. Then they gorged themselves, sat solemnly still as the businessmen delivered patriotic speeches, then cheered ‘Her Majesty’. Every child was given a Jubilee mug bearing a picture of Victoria and all those of school age were presented with a Jubilee medal as well.
    Afterwards there were games like Oranges and Lemons, and dancing to a piano and a fiddle. Chrissie stayed by Mary, watching the games solemnly, until Frank Ward ran out of the crowd, grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
    He called to Mary, ‘I’ll look after her, Mrs  Carter!’
    Mary hesitated but let him take Chrissie into the crowd. She watched and saw Chrissie skipping, still solemn, between Frank and Ted Ward, then suddenly laughing, her face alive. Mary smiled just to see her.
    And when Mary put her to bed that night Chrissie murmured sleepily, happily, ‘It was a lovely party, Mam.’
     
    Little Jack Ballantyne did not have a party. His grandfather came to visit him in the nursery with the brightly daubed, long-tailed rocking-horse and the coal fire crackling brightly inside its guard of iron and polished brass. George Ballantyne stayed for a few minutes, after Jack had eaten his supper with Amy Jenkinson and before he went to bed. She had told him, ‘You can stay up a little bit tonight because your grandad is coming to fetch your mammy to his party.’ That was good enough for Jack. He had grown up not expecting to see much of his father. Richard Ballantyne spent most of his time travelling the world hunting for orders for the yard. When he was home he saw his little son for only a few minutes each day. Jack was much more familiar with the older, stern-faced George.
    Richard was away now and George had come this evening to take his daughter-in-law to the Jubilee party he was giving at his own house. There would be some sixty guests for dinner followed by dancing to an orchestra. Most of the guests were local dignitaries and their wives, with a sprinkling of officers from the local garrison.
    As usual, George brought a present for Jack. This time it was a box of lead soldiers. The old man sat on a straight-backed chair by the nursery fire and Amy stood by the door, both of them watching as Jack played, fighting imaginary battles, until Hilary Ballantyne, tall, slender and full-breasted, entered and said, ‘I’m ready.’
    She was a beauty, dressed in a silken gown that showed off her bosom and the long line of her legs. She carried a cashmere shawl in case the evening became chill and pulled on long silken gloves as she stood in the doorway. ‘Give me a kiss, Jack.’
    He went to her obediently and smelt the heady fragrance of her as she stooped, pecked quickly at his cheek and said, ‘There, off you go.’
    ‘Goodnight, Mama.’
    But she had already gone, leaving him standing by the open door. Amy pulled him aside so George Ballantyne could pass. He ruffled the boy’s hair as he did so. ‘Goodnight, Jack.’
    ‘Goodnight, Grandad.’ He moved forward to watch them go down the stairs but Amy Jenkinson took over then and shut the door, cutting them off from his sight.
    ‘Time for bed now, Master Jack.’
    As George paced along the hall at Hilary Ballantyne’s side he asked, ‘Have you heard from Richard?’
    She answered vaguely, ‘I had a letter