On Sparrow Hill Read Online Free PDF Page B

agree it would be very nice to work instead of staying at home. My sister does not work, although she has many friends who keep her busy. My brother works. Since my father died, my brother has to do all of his own work as well as Papa’s. It was sad when my father died because I cannot talk to him anymore, but I know he is in heaven even though my brother says he is no longer sure there is a heaven. I reminded him Papa and Mama both told us there is a heaven, so I know that’s where they are. You cannot see heaven or God or Jesus, so this is harder to believe than some things. There are many things we cannot see that are real. Like wind. It can nearly make me tumble over if I stand on the cliffs behind my home, but I cannot see the wind—only the things it moves.”
    Berrie listened to Katie, trying her best to keep up with all of the shifts in topic, knowing she needed to find out more about the young woman to be of any help at all.
    “There are cliffs near your home, Katie? What town do you live in?”
    “There are cliffs by the water. I mustn’t go into the water because my clothes would become too heavy to get out of the water. Then I would drown. Wind is made of air, which you also cannot see. We all need air in order to breathe. I would not be able to breathe if I were under the water.”
    Cliffs and water. That could be almost any Irish coast from what little she knew of the island. “And what is the name of the town in which you live?”
    “I live in a big house . . . by the cliffs.”
    Berrie sighed, wishing she’d been the one to search for information with Daisy. Perhaps Mrs. Cotgrave would be more successful with Katie. “What is your brother’s name, Katie?”
    “Simon.”
    “And what kind of work does he do?”
    “He tells people how to make boats. And he fights the English.”
    “Fights the English?” Berrie frowned, imagining all sorts of ways an Irishman might fight her English countrymen. “Is he a soldier?”
    “No.”
    Just then the door opened again. Berrie gratefully acknowledged Mrs. Cotgrave with a nod, but the older woman shrugged and lifted her hands.
    Katie watched Mrs. Cotgrave walk around the table and retake her seat beside Berrie. Then Katie returned her gaze toward Berrie’s general direction. “When shall I begin teaching the wee ones?”
    “We haven’t actually accepted any students yet, Katie, so there are no teachers here just now except Mrs. Cotgrave and myself.” Berrie motioned to the paperwork in front of her. “All of these papers must be read and completed before we can begin accepting students for our residential program.”
    “So will I begin work tomorrow, then, instead of today?”
    “I’m afraid it will be a bit longer than that. Perhaps we should get in touch with your sister or your brother and have them take you home for the time being.”
    Katie’s eyes widened to small blue circles, and she looked at Berrie for the longest moment yet before staring once again beyond Berrie’s shoulder. “But I came to work here. I cannot go home. My sister has a new beau, and she doesn’t want me to annoy him the way I annoy her. She said if I live here everyone will be happier, until she gets her beau to kiss her, and then they’ll be married like Mama and Papa. Besides that, if I go home, I’ll not be able to leave again if my brother returns first.”
    “Where is your brother?”
    “In Dublin. My sister brought me here while he is away so Simon could not say no. He thinks only boys and men prefer working, and if a woman must work, she should do so at home with the wee ones at her feet.”
    Berrie frowned. If Katie’s brother truly was a man who fought the English and believed women only good for working at home and having babies, then he most assuredly would not approve of his sister being at a school run by an Englishwoman who intended to make this school her life’s mission.
    “Tell me, Katie,” Mrs. Cotgrave said slowly, “I wonder if you have